Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Img_0120

I know, I know.  Christmas isn’t anywhere close.  It’s only May for heaven’s sake.  Still, if I want a Christmas quilt by the holiday season, now is the time to get it made.  If I wait until Fall to get this top to my quilter, it will be touch and go if I will have it in time to actually enjoy it in December.  Plan ahead when you can, girls.

Let me tell you about this quilt top.  I used a fat quarter bundle of "Christmas Presence" fabric by April Cornell for Moda.  The pattern is called Return to Sender by the Miss Rosie Quilt Company.  (I am in a bit of a Miss Rosie rut.  I promise to start a couple of new projects by some other designers very soon!).  The quilt pattern got its name because it is a one block quilt, featuring a block known as Envelope.  In the blocks with a lot of contrast, you can see the envelope design pretty clearly.

Contrast.  That was my big issue with this quilt.   The fabric group consisted of various red, black, green and cream prints, and the pattern instructions called for using every bit of fabric, and to be SURE to include lots of blocks with low contrast (red/black, red/green/ green/black).  So I did.  When I laid all the blocks out and asked my dh what his opinion was, there was a long pause while he gathered his thoughts and said, "Well.  That is a busy one isn’t it?"

I had made 72 blocks, and over 30 of them were what I would call "low contrast".  After mulling things over, I decided to spend the rest of the day replacing those 30 low contrast blocks with blocks that had a higher degree of difference in value between the two fabrics in each block. 

Over 100 blocks later, I laid things out again, using mostly blocks with loads of contrast, so you could really see that envelope design.  I decided I preferred that look, and stitched the top together.  Hmmm.  It is still "a busy one"!  Now that I look at the photo above, I don’t know if I made the right choice or not.  Would my quilt look better if I had included the low contrast blocks?  Would it be more interesting? 

All I know is, now I have over 30 lovely low contrast quilt blocks left over with no home.  I made my choice and have to live with it.

I do have a notion as to what I may do with these 32 left over blocks, and will post about that tomorrow.  Stay tuned, you may like my idea!

Img_0121_2

26 responses to “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas”

  3. The quilt is lovely. I just love April Cornell fabrics. If I started a Christmas quilt now, it MIGHT be ready by Christmas – of 2008 that is! Why does it take me so doggone long to finish anything these days? Arrggh!

  4. The quilt is lovely. I just love April Cornell fabrics. If I started a Christmas quilt now, it MIGHT be ready by Christmas – of 2008 that is! Why does it take me so doggone long to finish anything these days? Arrggh!

  7. I think it turned out great, Nicole. I love the busy-ness. Too bad you didn’t take a picture with the low contrast blocks – it would have been fun to see both versions. But I’m sure you made the right choice – you have a great eye!

  8. I think it turned out great, Nicole. I love the busy-ness. Too bad you didn’t take a picture with the low contrast blocks – it would have been fun to see both versions. But I’m sure you made the right choice – you have a great eye!

  11. Why not just lay a couple of low contrast blocks here and there and see, but I like the contrast. Very pretty!

  12. Why not just lay a couple of low contrast blocks here and there and see, but I like the contrast. Very pretty!

  15. Your Christmas quilt looks lovely! I just love holiday fabrics. I never seem to know what to do with my collection. It certainly looks like a good pattern to use them on. Thanks for sharing!

  16. Your Christmas quilt looks lovely! I just love holiday fabrics. I never seem to know what to do with my collection. It certainly looks like a good pattern to use them on. Thanks for sharing!

  19. I think it’s beautiful!
    I wouldn’t call being in a rut with Miss Rosie’s quilt patterns. Her patterns are beautiful. I love scrappy quilts!

  20. I think it’s beautiful!
    I wouldn’t call being in a rut with Miss Rosie’s quilt patterns. Her patterns are beautiful. I love scrappy quilts!