Season's Greetings! Welcome to our special feature, where we uncover the stories behind some of the most beloved holiday season patterns. We delve into the unique perspectives of designers as they share what inspired their designs and what they cherished most during the creative process. Join us as we unravel the tales behind these festive patterns, offering insights into their creation and the inspirations that brought them to life.
🎶'Tis the season to be quilting, stitch stitch stitch, to the quilting itch!’🎶
Starlight Tree Farm Quilt Pattern designed by Marcea Owen of Cotton Street Commons.
Living in Northern Utah, situated atop a mountain, surrounded by a forest predominantly composed of majestic-looking Pine Trees, which they adore, Marcea shared “My beautiful pines were definitely my inspiration for Starlight Tree Farm. Each tree is slightly different which reminded me of going to a Christmas Tree Farm, where each tree is unique.”
Winter holds a special place in their heart as the snow delicately adorns the branches of these trees. Drawing inspiration from their surroundings, they incorporate many of their beloved elements into quilt designs.
Let’s discuss what aspects Marcea found most enjoyable while creating the pattern and her hope for you to feel or experience while making the quilt.
A quality trait of a good designer is their ability to visualize a design with its various possibilities and colors. Marcea is no different and when she is designing a new quilt, she aims to craft a versatile pattern that adapts well to various colors and fabrics. Each rendition of the design carries its own distinct personality. Leaving room for imagination, the quilter of this pattern is gifted with versatility in the ability to produce multiple interpretations of the quilt. The Starlight Tree Farm design possesses a unique quality: without the inclusion of tree trunks, the trees seamlessly transform into whimsical cakes! These cakes can embody different occasions such as birthdays or weddings, altering the quilt's entire appearance. Vibrant and bold colors could infuse a holiday spirit, even transforming the pattern into a celebration of the 4th of July. While Marcea has a specific color palette she favors, she relishes observing the diverse fabric choices made by others.
When creating any Cotton Street Commons patterns, meticulous attention is devoted to ensuring the clarity and comprehensibility of the instructions. Recognizing the significance of starting a quilt, is just as important as completing the quilt, all Cotton Street Commons pattern instructions are thoughtfully detailed and accompanied with colored graphics for ease of understanding.
Especially during the Holiday season, Cotton Street Commons believes there’s much to be gained from investing time and affection into crafting a memory for someone else. Marcea of Cotton Street Commons says perfectly, “A quilt is that memory that will be treasured forever.” Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of Cotton Street Commons patterns.
View more patterns from Cotton Street Commons here.
Christmas 1964 Designed by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios
In 1964, the inspiration for a Christmas project struck when Scott was scouring images of midcentury Christmas scenes. The recurring motif of Christmas Tree designs in various and sometimes eccentric color combinations caught his attention. Having inherited two tinsel trees, the desire to replicate these images in a quilt emerged. Initially contemplating a wall-hanging featuring all four trees, Scott ultimately crafted a full-size quilt displaying these four trees. However, he realized that a single tree could stand alone as a wonderful quilt as well. As a future project aspiration, Scott envisions transforming one tree into an Advent Calendar, an idea that excites him with the prospect of creating something playful and engaging.
Just like with all of his patterns, there's a profound joy in witnessing their transition from mere sketches on paper, evolving into intricate designs on graph paper, and finally materializing with fabrics. Each time, Scott's delight in the transformation, observing how the colors and prints of their selected fabrics harmoniously unite, frequently surpassing his initial expectations.
While crafting this quilt, Scott would like you to know, “I hope that they will be encouraged to explore their stash and come up with very creative and colorful trees that hold meaning for them.” Scott Hansen’s aspiration is for individuals to relish the process of creating a quilt or wall-hanging that will bring joy to their family for generations to come.
A message to you from Scott of Blue Nickel Studios this holiday season, “I hope that all will find hope, joy, love, and peace during the Advent season. Put away strivings to do all of the 'things' of the season, and take time to rest and create as much as you can.” Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of Blue Nickel Studios patterns.
View more patterns from Blue Nickel Studios here.
The Christmas Butterfly Pattern by J Minnis Designs.
Enjoy taking part in crafting one of the holiday's most cherished beginner-friendly patterns, The Christmas Butterfly. J Minnis has designed various beginner-friendly ornamental patterns that have delighted the quilting community, and today we dive deeper into the inspiration behind, The Christmas Butterfly.
The pattern draws its inspiration from a stunning butterfly pin received as a gift. Initially conceived during spring, its original fabric rendition wasn't intended as a Christmas ornament. In the spirit of spring, the butterfly design was created with the intention of being clipped onto wreaths and incorporated into floral arrangements. Crafting the body of the butterfly presents an enjoyable process—using materials like pearls, wooden or faceted beads strung on a chenille stem, wrapped around the butterfly to form its body.
For J Minnis Designs, the process of designing new Christmas ornaments begins as early as March, April, and May. Originally conceived as a springtime butterfly, it evolved into The Christmas Butterfly. “I hope makers enjoy creating Butterflies for all seasons. Not just Christmas.” With care, Joyce encourages you to, “leave them in places someone may find them. Make someone's day!” Utilizing fabric scraps, artisans can craft butterflies in two different sizes, encouraging diversity in design by using various fabric remnants, including border prints that often yield some of the most cherished creations.
Joyce believes cherished moments await everyone, “I hope you make memories while making handmade Christmas Ornaments. Children love to help, little ones may not be able to sew but they can sure string beads on chenille stems.” It's suggested to have a few pre-sewn ornaments ready for decoration.
A message J Minnis wishes to convey is, sharing the joy of one's creative endeavors with friends and family. Within their ornaments, Joyce often includes a poem that makers can duplicate and present along with their creations. Frequently, Joyce receives inquiries from individuals asking permission to make these ornaments for church bazaars or for sale, to which she enthusiastically responds, encouraging them to do so. Their advice includes copying the poems onto cardstock to accompany each butterfly, adding an extra touch to the gift!
Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of J Minnis Designs patterns.
View more patterns from J Minnis Designs here.
Merry! Merry! Quilt pattern by KariePatch Designs.
Featured in over 100 publications, Karen of KariePatch Designs has enjoyed designing cheerful patterns tailored to bring joy to every room in your home. Her most beloved aspect of quilting involves crafting whimsical applique patterns. Some years before conceptualizing Merry! Merry!, she created a Christmas quilt featuring stockings and trees. Recognizing the contemporary quilter's inclination towards smaller projects, she opted to transform the design into a table runner, introducing the addition of a snowman to offer customers multiple options for their creation. Oh, What Joy!
In the process of designing any project, Karen derives the greatest pleasure from the "hunt" for precisely the right fabrics to represent the individual applique characters. Her preference is to infuse a sense of movement and liveliness into her quilts, often achieving this effect by utilizing bright fabrics with diverse scales. Within Merry, Merry, she effectively incorporated rick rack to imbue the table runner with a sense of motion and dynamism.
Karen's goal for all quilters making her patterns is to encourage the use of a personal preferred color palette and the flexibility to "tweak" the layout according to their preference. Karen has since crafted a sample featuring three snowmen with a tree positioned between each figure. During her teaching sessions, she consistently advocates the approach of selecting elements one enjoys the most and subsequently making alterations to suit personal tastes. Ultimately, Karen believes this method leads to greater satisfaction with the final results.
To Karen, quilting embodies the essence of sharing. She perceives quilting as an avenue through which one can offer comforting gifts to family, friends, and those in need, whether it's a quilt, a basic hot pad, or a baby blanket. "It is giving of our talents we receive a fulfillment of joy and happiness." - Karen, KariePatch Designs.
Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of KariePatch Designs patterns.
View more patterns from KariePatch Designs here.
A Snowman Christmas Mini Quilt Pattern by Heather Kidd of Stringtown Lane Quilts.
When contemplating the creation of a mini quilt to adorn their home during the holiday season, Heather Kidd of Stringtown Lane Quilts began reflecting on their fondest aspects of Christmas. The ambiance of Christmas music has always been instrumental in evoking the holiday spirit for them. Singing Frosty the Snowman with their children holds a special place in their heart, making a snowman an essential element for their quilt design.
Their family tradition of hunting for Christmas trees, especially when partially covered in snow, became another significant inspiration. Among the plethora of holiday candies, the perennial favorite at their house happens to be candy canes! With a family that has never experienced Christmas without snow—considering it an indispensable part of the holiday—their doodles on paper merged into a Christmas scene.
When unsure of where to place a candy cane applique, the idea for a candy cane stripe border emerged, serving as the unifying element to bring their Christmas vision together. Thus, the creation of A Snowman Christmas Mini was born—a representation of the shared love for Christmas, snowmen, presents, and the magic of the holiday season.
Heather has a profound affection for applique, finding joy in the meticulous details that bring charm to their designs. Adding subtle elements like snow on the tree, a scarf on the snowman, and bows on the presents enhanced the adorable aesthetic they aimed to achieve. Another delightful aspect was conceptualizing the triple-color candy cane stripe, where the addition of tiny green stripes augmented the overall design, elevating it beyond the simplicity of red and white.
One of the most gratifying moments for them is when all the applique pieces are neatly ironed onto the quilt, signaling the culmination of preparation and the commencement of the final stitching phase. This stitching phase is what adds the finishing touch, completing the intricate design Heather envisioned.
Heather expresses, “My biggest hope of what people will feel while creating this design is joy.” Joy—joy for the holiday season, life's simple pleasures that bring smiles, and the blessings and relationships in their lives. They hope that as individuals work on this pattern, it triggers reflections on what has made Christmas a special time for them and their loved ones.
Encouraging a personalized touch, they aspire for creators to select fabric prints that resonate with their own creative impulses and evoke a unique charm, infusing their individuality into the design. Ultimately, their desire is for the process of working on this pattern to be a conduit for joyous sentiments and personal expression.
The advice Heather Kidd shares with others reflects their own ongoing aspirations. They express hope that amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, individuals can strive for balance—a balance between engaging in enjoyable activities with loved ones, crafting lasting memories, and actively participating in these moments. Furthermore, they encourage finding moments of stillness and rest amid the festive chaos, allowing for an appreciation of the beauty surrounding the season. Acknowledging the passion many quilters have for their craft, they reassure that it's okay to take breaks from the sewing machine to channel creativity in different ways, particularly by cherishing and creating memories with those who matter most.
Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of Stringtown Lane Quilt patterns.
View more patterns from Heather Kidd of Stringtown Lane Quilts here.
Ugly Christmas Sweaters Embroidery Pattern By Bruce Allen Designs for Fabric Confetti.
Several years ago, there was a surge in popularity for ugly Christmas sweater parties during the holiday season, with everyone vying to create the most eccentric and outrageous sweater designs. At that time, relatively new to embroidery and digitizing, Bruce saw an opportunity to embark on a personal project—crafting a festive piece specifically for adorning the walls during Christmas.
Having recently acquired some delightful Christmas fabrics exuding a retro vibe, Bruce envisioned using these fabrics as the foundation for his creation. This notion guided his approach while digitizing each pattern block, aiming to infuse a nostalgic essence into every detail. Upon presenting the finished project to his friend Vanessa, of Fabric Confetti, he were taken aback when she enthusiastically suggested, "This is so cute… you have to release a pattern for it!" That very moment marked the inception of Bruce Allen Designs for Fabric Confetti.
While going through the process of designing each sweater, Bruce strived to maintain a whimsical atmosphere in his creations. Drawing inspiration from memories of vintage holiday greeting cards from their childhood, he carefully selected colors that echoed this nostalgic sentiment. Bruce’s meticulous approach extended to the selection of each appliqué fabric, ensuring that it harmonized with the desired retro vibe they aimed to achieve.
In crafting two sweaters, Bruce intentionally designed them to allow for "fussy cutting" of the appliqué using specific fabrics he had in mind. This particular technique later gained popularity among others who undertook the quilt project, resulting in numerous charming versions of these specific sweaters.
Bruce’s hope for anyone stitching out the Ugly Christmas Sweaters is to, “just have fun with it. It makes a quilt that will bring a chuckle to many who look at it, so keep that in mind when you are picking fabrics.” A quilt shop owner in Arizona who took a unique creative direction, crafting a sample in blacks, grays, reds, and white, incorporating an argyle pattern for sashing and borders—a novel approach Bruce hadn't envisioned yet himself. “Make it to speak to the kid in you and revive your childhood Christmas memories.” Bruce shares.
Since the inception of the Ugly Christmas Sweaters pattern, they've ventured into creating several other designs. Upon a customer's request, Bruce developed a collection of Ugly Christmas Sweaters mug rugs, and miniatures suitable for stitching on various items like dinner napkins or tea towels. His repertoire also includes a popular collection of Wonky House designs. Despite initially creating the Ugly Christmas Sweaters pattern for personal enjoyment, it unexpectedly became one of their best-selling patterns.
Bruce's message to anyone reading this is simple: create things that evoke emotions within you, the kind that brings a smile to your face and gives you a sense of joy. They believe that when something brings personal happiness, it often radiates that joy to others as well, eliciting smiles and positive feelings from those who encounter it.
Be sure to check the QBPN site for a comprehensive list of Bruce Allen Designs for Fabric Confetti patterns.
View more patterns from Bruce Allen Designs for Fabric Confetti here.
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