Christmas in July: A Moose for Christmas

It's the middle of July...the sun is shining...flowers are blooming...

So of course it's the perfect time to start planning for Christmas! 

Over the next two weeks, we'll be sharing all things winter holiday related with you. The fabrics are available in stores now, so you can get started on your favorite reindeer, snowflake, or Christmas tree quilt pattern 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!

Today we're sharing Cheryl Haynes' A Moose for Christmas line. If you loved her Moose on the Loose collection, you'll be happy to see this holiday version! 

We asked Cheryl what inspired her to decorate her popular moose motifs for Christmas. (Who can resist a moose with ornaments on its antlers?!)

What inspired the A Moose for Christmas?

When I did the original moose quilt pattern (that inspired Moose on the Loose), I was working on a cross stitch project at the same time. It was an ornament called ChrisMoose—a moose head with ornaments hanging on the antlers. The moose panel idea came from the cross stitch pattern.

Tell us more about the panel.

I added in the poinsettia sections because I like poinsettias, and they have a holiday feel. The ornaments were a natural fit because they’re also hanging on the moose.

What are a few of your favorite prints from the collection?

I just love the moose heads with the stocking caps. It’s cute, and it makes a great border.

I also really like the other holiday-themed fabrics—the ornaments, the poinsettia, and the holly. What’s fun about these prints (like the moose head print) is that they correspond well with different parts of the panel. They make great border prints for pillows or small quilts made from panel sections.

How did you choose your palette?

I tend to like darker colors. I really wanted to use black as the background (in the panel), and I chose reds, greens and golds that would pop with the black. Many of the prints will also coordinate well with the Moose on the Loose fabrics—the fabric tones are very close.

How do you choose your tonals?

I prefer tone on tones to solids—I like the richness. I’m also a basket maker, and I do my own reed dyeing. I like the way hand dyeing looks; it’s never one solid color, and it looks natural. That extends to fabric as well, so my tonals are checks, swirls, and other small, subtle prints.

  

What do you like best about the collection?

I love it on the black background. I love the way the red and the gold and the green pop on black. It’s very festive and fun! Who knew a moose could be for Christmas? And…you just might see moose again in the future!

Use Cheryl's panel (and coordinates) in a variety of free quilt patterns! 

Merry Moosemas! designed by Heidi Pridemore, features pieced borders around the panel.

Click here to find the free quilt pattern.

 Follow Cheryl's directions to turn the various panel pieces into table runners, pillows, and card holders. 

Click here to find the free patterns.

Cheryl has an additional free pattern on her website--a classic patchwork square quilt that allows the fabric to shine. Click here to find it. 

Click here to see the entire fabric collection.

Click here to find the free quilt patterns.

Click here to see more of Cheryl's work. 

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Moose on the Loose

If you liked Cheryl Haynes' Folk Art collection, we're pretty sure you'll also fall in love with Moose on the Loose. This collection, in Cheryl's signature folk art style and palette, centers around a lovable moose face and has a north woodsy feel. 

Why a moose?

I have a quilt pattern called Moose on the Loose. When I went to Keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire some years ago, I fell in love with the cutest little stuffed moose for my son. That was when I designed a moose face—every time I look at the moose face, I think of that stuffed toy and my trip up there. The quilt ultimately led to the fabric collection.

Tell us about the main moose in the panel.

The panel features the moose facing forward, just like my original pattern. I had a lot of fun doing that—I love the moose head. I even did a punch needle design with the same pattern.

What’s one of your favorite fabrics in the collection?

I love the allover moose head print that mimics the panel. I think it’s really cute. Overall, I love the darker colors of the entire line. And my husband has already told me that he want moose fabric curtains for his camper.

Tell us about the Moose in the Cabin free quilt pattern.

I like log cabins myself. I think they’re easy to make and I love playing with the colors. You can do so many things with them, putting colors in different positions. I wanted something simple and North Woods-ish. The greens and browns in the line worked really well for this. The moose and the trees are just quick fuse appliques; I think they go well with the north woods theme.

If you love the prints in both Folk Art and Moose on the Loose, great news!

One thing I like is that a lot of my lines go together. The palettes are similar. You can take fabrics from different lines and use them together.

Click here to download the free pattern for Cheryl's Moose in the Cabin quilt.
Click here to see the entire Moose on the Loose pattern.
Learn more about her Folk Art collection here.

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