Saturday, July 29, 2017

Christmas in July: Blog Hop Day 4

 It's July...the sun is shining...flowers are blooming...
So of course it's the perfect time to start planning for Christmas! 

Today is the last day of our Christmas in July series. If you like what you see, the fabrics are available in stores now, so you can get started on your favorite featured project now and be done before the holiday rush begins! 

Crank up the air conditioning, pull out your wool hat, and enjoy our Christmas in July series!







Our last Christmas in July project is a door banner that can be displayed all season long! It uses wintry prints from the aptly named Winter Story collection--black, red, and gray. Enjoy the tutorial and read all the way to the bottom to find out how you can enter to win a bundle of Winter Story fabrics. 

Materials:
1/3 yard of gray pinecone print
5/8 yard red swirl print
1/4 yard white solid
1/4 yard black solid
3/4 yard black branch print
1 yard backing fabric (we suggest the cardinal and snowflake print!)
30" x 38" piece of batting
Fusible web

Love these wintry fabrics!

Cutting:
From the gray pinecone print:
(1) 9-1/2" x 24-1/2" piece

From the red swirl print:
(8) 4" squares
(3) 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding
(2) 1-1/2" x 24-1/2" strips
(2) 1-1/2" x 17-1/2" strips
Reserve remainder for applique

From the white solid:
(8) 4" squares

From the black solid:
(3) 8" x 9" pieces

From the black branch print: 
(Note: Cut these strips in the order listed--fabric is directional)
(1) 5" x 26-1/2" lengthwise strip (branches running vertically)
(1) 2-1/2" x 26-1/2" lengthwise strip (branches running vertically)
(1) 5" x 24" widthwise strip (branches running horizontally)
(1) 2-1/2" x 24" widthwise strip (branches running horizontally)


Making the Banner:
Note: Click here to download the letter templates. Print out each template at full size.
Step 1: Trace the J, O and Y templates onto the paper side of fusible web. Cut out 1/4" past the drawn lines. Fuse letters onto remaining red swirl fabric. Cut out each letter on the drawn line.
Step 2: Cut fusible web pieces slightly smaller than the (3) 8" x 9" black pieces. Fuse to the black pieces. 
Step 3: Remove paper backing from the back of each letter and a fuse letter onto each black solid piece, leaving at least 1/4" of black showing all around the letter. 

Step 4: Cut out around each letter, leaving approximately 1/4" of black showing. 

Step 5: Remove paper backing from each letter and arrange on the 9-1/2" x 24-1/2" gray pinecone piece as shown. Letters should be at least 1/2" from background edges. When you're happy with the spacing, fuse in place. 

Step 6: Draw a line on the wrong side of each 4" white square. Pair right sides together with a 4" red swirl square. 

Step 7: Sew 1/4" on either side of the drawn line. Cut on the line to create two units. Press each unit open to make a half-square triangle (HST) unit. Make 16. Trim HST units to measure 3-1/2" square.



Step 8: Lay out the HST units into 8 rows of 2 units each as shown. Sew the units into rows and join the rows to make the peppermint stripe unit. 



Step 9: Sew the peppermint stripe unit to the right side of the JOY unit. 

Step 10: Sew 1-1/2" x 24-1/2" red swirl strips to opposite sides of the banner center. Sew 1-1/2" x 17-1/2" red swirl strips to the top and bottom. 

Step 11: Sew the 2-1/2" x 26-1/2" black branch strip to the left side and the 5" x 26-1/2" black branch strip to the right side. 

Step 12: Sew the 2-1/2" x 24" black branch strip to the top and the 5" x 24" black branch strip to the bottom to complete the quilt top.

Your banner top is done! Layer backing, batting and banner top, baste, and then quilt as desired. Use the (3) 2-1/4" x 42" red swirl strips to bind. Add a hanging sleeve and display all winter! 


For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Winter Story fabrics, leave a comment below letting us know your favorite holiday color combination. Giveaway closes Monday, July 31st at 11:59 pm EDT. 

Follow along with our Christmas in July Blog Hop!
Wednesday: Mulberry Lane Placemats by Lisa Ruble
Thursday: Nordic Holiday Star Quilt by Debby Kratovil
Friday: A Moose for Christmas Pillow by Cynthia Brunz
Saturday: Winter Story Wall Hanging by Benartex blog design team

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83 comments:

  1. I love the banner! These fabrics are beautiful too. I have loved all the fabrics you have shown. Thank you so much for the awesome Blog Hop and giveaways.

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    1. I forgot to say that my favorite colors to decorate with are red and gold Thanks again for the giveaways.

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  2. i have always loved the traditional red and green, but am really liking all the aqua i am seeing.

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  3. That is wonderful - a great hanging for the holidays. I am a red and green Christmas person, but prefer the forest green with a darker red.

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  4. Red and anything else ... lol or a dark green and something else. I love Christmas crafts so almost any color makes me happy. I had trouble with the aquas but they have definitely grown on me. I will be making this banner. Thank you.

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  5. Traditional holiday colors. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  6. Pretty banner & templates-very nice! I am partial to the pale Christmas blues & snowy whites-soft & pretty! Thank you, Susan

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  7. I like the traditional red, green, white, but I also like white and gold.

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  8. I like red and silver. I've also enjoyed blue and silver on the years this combo was available.

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  9. This is cute. I love the font you picked for the letters. I still love red and green with gold, but also have a fondness for blues and silver. Thanks for the fun this week.

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  10. Oh so lovely! I love blue and silver!

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  11. I like blues, white and silver. Although traditional red, green and gold is pretty too.
    dragonfly9716(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. Reds and greens are my favorites with some silver mixed in.
    Thanks,
    Peggy
    Peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

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    1. I decorate with read and greens so I can say that is my favorite. Beautiful banner, thanks.

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  13. I like varied shades of green, with a little yellow.

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  14. I like blue and white, with a bit of silver. Just seems wintery to me!

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  15. I have been using white with a small holly print, then red and green works for me. I like the winter look of the fabric.
    K.L.R.

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  16. Guess I'm old fashioned; I still like red and green the most!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  17. Love the Joy banner! My favorite holiday color combination is red & gold.

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  18. Beautiful banner!
    I love to use green and gold with red.

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  19. Wonderful banner.
    I love Purple,
    black and orange
    for Halloween!
    Carla from Utah

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  20. I like red, green, silver, and aqua for Christmas. Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  21. Traditional red & green, but I'm loving a little punch of black lately too!
    basaran.family@rogers.com

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  22. I love the banner! My favorite color to use is red and I think my favorite combination is red/black/gold. I also like green/black/silver. So hard to decide!

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  23. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobbal.netJuly 29, 2017 at 2:51 PM

    Oh, I love your door quilt! I am very traditional using red, green, and white.

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  24. Hi,we love the traditional red+green for Christmas! Maybe better get started on Christmas Gifts for loved ones!!! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  25. I like red and white. It seems so wintery. I like green with it sometimes. It just depends on what color of green it is.

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  26. I love this! the red fabric just sings Christmas season!

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  27. Cute banner! I am an oddball.... red is not a favorite color so I really like the aqua's that I have seen in Christmas fabrics lately. Also like blue and white.

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  28. I love blue and silver, a touch of white for snow.

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  29. I like darker reds and green for Christmas.

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  30. I like the traditional reds and greens. Thank for the hop!

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  31. I prefer the darker reds...winter berries and the birds are gorgeous! I'm traditional but the silver and blue is very pretty!

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Love the banner. Thank you for the tutorial. I like the darker red and greens for Christmas colors.

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  34. Dark red and green! Love this project

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  35. Cranberry and olive....it's still red and green, but a little more subdued and 'regal' :) (Mickey Louth on fb....I don't have any of those other options.)

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  36. I like the lighter shades of green, mixed with deep red and silver. Nice wall hanging tutorial. Thanks!

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  37. I am a traditionalist. I love reds and greens and white
    this is such a cute wall hanging.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  38. I love cream, moss, and merlot😍

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  39. These fabrics are so pretty! Blue and silver is my favorite combination for Christmas. These colors would work all winter long.

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  40. I like red and white together for the holidays.

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  41. red, white, and blue... yeah, really. :)

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  42. I have always loved traditional colors!

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  43. I usually do the traditional red and green, but I'm really liking the blacks and blues that make a little more elegance.

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  44. Blue and white with silver. .happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  45. Blue and white with silver. .happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  46. Cramberry red , gold, and dark green. Cute "Joy" project! lutzcats (at) yahoo ( dot ) com

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  47. I love the metal tones- silver, gold, copper and bronze. We have a tree decorated in these colors and I love it!
    Sandy A
    scotty4me39 (at) yahoo:dot:com

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  48. Silver and blue, or red and gold.

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  49. Silver and blue, or red and gold.

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  50. I'm pretty traditional. My favorite will always be red, green, and gold. Still trying to get my head around pink, blue, and silver at Christmastime. Reminds me of the metal Christmas trees when I was very, very little, the silvery ones...still not my style. Give me red, green, and gold any day.

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  51. Such a pretty banner...one that reminds us all of the JOY in the season! I really like Christmas colors of any kind, but lately it's light blue and silver--like a frosty winter day.

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  52. Red, green and white are my favorite Christmas colors.

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  53. I like traditional Christmas colors - red and green with some sparkle from silver and gold!

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  54. I like red and green but honestly I love every color. The brighter the better in my book.

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  55. My favorite colors for the holiday are red and green with a little blue thrown into the mix. dquilterguy48329 (at) prodigy (dot) net .

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  56. I love all the colors of Christmas, but love any colors with gold and silver. But, any Christmas colors will do. Thanks

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  57. I love white on red but have a fondness for anything that sparkles.

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  58. I like Red white and gold to decorate for Christmas.

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  59. I love the traditional colors red, white, and green but love to have the greens in brighter shades.

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  60. I bought some fabric in it last year, that had aqua and silver in it. I really liked this combination, and have been trying to replace some decor to reflect those colors.

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  61. Love the Traditional Red, Green & White..and Blues with Winter/snowflake prints too. :)

    Love your Banner..and Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way :D

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  62. My favorite Christmas color combination is the traditional red, green and white. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  63. A very traditional read and green with touches of gold is my favourite scheme.

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  64. I love blue, green & silver for Christmas!

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  65. Red, green and blue. And of course some white with snowflakes on it. Thank you for the giveaways. I love the banner.

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  66. I love the modern combo of red, lime green and aqua! The project is super cute, love how the black around the letters really makes them pop.

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  67. I love the JOY banner, thanks for sharing! My favorite Christmas color is...SNOWFLAKES!! So I usually make my snowflakes out of whites, creams, blues and purples, favorite colors for sure!

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  68. Lovely Joy banner! I love Red and White combo for the holidays!

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  69. I like red and white or deep blue and white for classic Christmas colors.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  70. Anything with sparkle! Love the Joy wall hanging.
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    kakingsbury at verizon dot net

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  71. Thanks for the JOY banner - love it. I like All greens and reds for Christmas with lots of white and silver.
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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  72. What a cute tutorial. My favorite color combination for Christmas is red and white.

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  73. Reds and white for holiday combo's.
    Thank you so much for a great week of inspiration. I love the Joy banner too , especially the striping w/the HSTs...uniquely done!

    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  74. I have enjoyed looking at all of the projects. Thank you for providing such cute ideas and the chance to win some of this darling fabric line. My favorite colors to decorate for Christmas is red/green/gold.

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  75. I love red and green for Christmas!

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  76. I love the banner. I think I'm going to make some for coworkers for the holiday.

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  77. I prefer traditional bright red & bright green for Christmas.

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  78. I really like the burgandy colors for Christmas!

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