Probably not the words you want to hear..
Each year after the Christmas rush I say to myself - “next year.. I’'ll make something Christmassy - I’ll start in maybe July”.
Needless to say it hasn’t happened again..
So, in order for the festive season to not be a total write-off sewing wise - I’m going to try and get some festive spirit.
I’m going to immerse myself in all things Christmas this week and see if I can come up with some quick sewing wins. But first some inspiration of Christmas’s past.
Here goes..
A couple of years ago I made this for a girlfriend who needed a bit of a lift after a particular awful year.
I didn’t take a photo of the finished bound quilt but it was inspired by a quilt by Maria Tamaokoa in Quiltmania 140. I shrunk the blocks a bit and did a different layout. I had to use 2 layers of the blue linen as I didn’t have any dark batting and the white batting was showing through. I handquilted with 12wt thread. I think in total it took me a couple of weeks - in amongst everyday life. If I had machine quilted it or just tied it, it would have been much quicker.
My sewing girlfriends have a Kris Kringle each year when we get together for our Christmas dinner. Over the years there’s been some gorgeous mini Christmas quilts pass amongst us - here’s some to inspire your Christmas sewing.
One year I made these felt ornaments with a kit from Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched. This was one of the rare occasions where I started and finished something before Christmas. Every year when I get them out, they make me smile.
We’ve been lucky to have had a couple of Christmas’s in Paris. It’s somehow easier to get into the festive cheer there. From carrying home a tree, to shopping for Christmas lunch at the open air markets, strolling the streets bathed in Christmas lights - the French do Christmas so well. A visit to Le Bonheur des Dames was festive spirit on overload.
We had snow one year in December before Christmas - not the norm for Paris but a totally new experience for us. As an Aussie it was exciting until we released all buses and taxi services were halted and we had to head underground to get back to where we were staying on the other side of Paris with a not insignificant amount of fabric (curtain fabric mostly) - not the easiest thing to juggle in the metro.
Here in Perth, it’s a little different. It’s usually getting hot when we trek out to the Christmas tree farm in our local wine region. Christmas lunch usually involves seafood and salads and a splash in the pool afterwards. Not sure what’s going to happen this year, our weather is so mixed - spring hasn’t really decided to show up and stay.
Anyway, I’ve gone off on a tangent with my Christmas memories.
So, Christmas sewing..
What to sew..
Hand or machine piece?
Definitely needs linen..
Do I go not too obviously Christmassy or go the full shebang?
I suppose if I’m honest, what I end up sewing is not that important. It’s hopefully the Christmas spirit that builds as I sew.
Christmas can be difficult for many. I myself have mixed emotions about it and this Christmas could be a little emotional, missing a very important family member but the aim is to stay positive.
In the past, often the Christmas spirit wouldn’t hit until we got to our local Carols by Candlelight . There’s something about picnicking, singing and candlelight under the stars that can’t help but lift your spirits.
This year we will be going to the outdoor cinemas to watch Elf to get our dose of Christmas spirit - a picnic, family and a few giggles (even though we have seen Elf countless times as my girls were growing up) - will definitely give us some festive cheer.
Either way, hoping you get the chance to do some Christmas sewing and the festive spirit comes to you.
Wish me luck with mine. I’ll let you know how I go.
Join my newsletter here and I’ll keep you posted.
Until next time, happy stitching
Mel
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