Sewing Quilty Christmas Stockings

My New Project

I have wanted to make quilted Christmas Stockings for years and every December the clock has ticked down to Christmas Eve with no stockings even started and we hang our old knit stockings.  The knit ones are a treasure from the past hung the first time for our oldest chid's first Christmas 29 years ago, but they are not handmade and I love homemade.

Last night I dug out some of my oldest Christmas fabric stash and found strips I started piecing years ago for another long forgotten project.  Today those strips and such are going to be stitched into a stocking. 

The template I am using is one I made a few years ago that I found on Maywood Studios Free Quilts & Projects site.  To find this template and their free patterns click on this link, then on "Quilts & Projects" and the "Free Patterns ... Make Something" and then scroll down the page until you see the stockings.

Time to sew!

 

Have a Happy Quilty Day!

Quilty Christmas Open House

 Merry Quilty Christmas!

... to all my online quilting friends and welcome to my blog if you are here for the first time via the Quilter's Christmas Party from Sew Cal Gal.

My Christmas Tumbling Blocks small quilt is done!

This quilt was made with no "y" seams, no templates, no paper piecing.  I used only a regular straight quilting ruler and cutting mat. The pieces are triangles and diamonds that are chain pieced into strips and then the strips are sewn together to form the blocks.  To learn more about my method for making these Easy Tumbling Blocks, click on this link or visit "My Tutorials" at the top of this page.

Here are a few more pictures of the quilting. 

Ready, Set, Quilt!

Since my fabrics in this quilt are very traditional, I decided I wanted to use a quilting pattern similar to ones I have seen on antique quilts. 

Walking Foot Curves

To do this I used the walking foot on my home sewing machine and quilted gentle curves over the blocks.

This quilting is interrupted by a very important catnap!

As always, I had my ever present Quilty Kitty Helpers with me in my sewing room.

For the border, I did simple straight line stitching about 1/2" apart.

The I adding my binding by machine and turned and hand stitched it to the back. I always finish my quilts with these quiet hand stitching moments.

My favorite part of quilting is that moment when I complete that last stitch on the back binding ...  tie the knot ...  snip the threads ... smooth the quilt ... turn the quilt over and see my beautiful quilt finished ... and realize ...

 "I made that!" 

That wonderful feeling never gets old no matter how many quilts I make, how big or small they are, how much I struggled with them, how imperfect they are. 

I am really pleased with my quilt and am planning to make a Tumbling Blocks Baby Quilt someday.

Click Here for links to the Complete Tutorial

This and all my free tutorials may be found in

 My Tutorials

If you try this method, please let me know as I would love the feedback.  If you piece a quilt this way, I would love to see a picture!  If you use this method and post pictures and write about it, please link back to my blog.

I will be making more posts today for the

Quilter's Christmas Party. 

Sew please stop back later if you have the time.

My Quilty Door is Always Open

Ho! Ho! Ho!

 ... and a ...

.. for more of My Quilter's Christmas Open House

Please

Read

On ...

Oh, Christmas Tree!

 

Today was our family tree gathering and decorating.  It is a beauty!  Katniss is enjoying a nap in one of her favorite chairs which is now covered with a Christmas quilt that I made a few years ago.  The chair is near the tree and in front of a warm radiator.  Katniss, as a former homeless and shelter rescue kitty,  knows and appreciates a good thing.

 

May you and yours have a healthy, happy and quilty holiday season!

 

:)