Christmas in July: Wintry Wall Banner

Welcome to Benartex's Christmas in July Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! We shared holiday-themed tutorials all last week and have two this week, so be sure to check out all the tutorials and see how to win some fabric to get your own holiday sewing started!

Today Wendy from Ivory Spring is here with an adorable wintry owl wall banner using Greta Lynn's Shades of Winter collection from Kanvas. Check out Wendy's tutorial and then scroll to the bottom to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Shades of Winter.

Hello Everyone, this is Wendy from Ivory Spring. It is lovely to be part of Benartex's Christmas in July blog hop. It is ALWAYS lovely to be in any of Benartex's blog hops.

My hop project for the 2015 Christmas in July blog hop is a banner quilt using Kanvas' Shades of Winter fabric line.

Here's the wall banner:

When I look at fabrics with designing in mind, I first must decide which takes the center stage of the design -- the fabrics, the blocks, or both.  I took a quick survey at the Shades of Winter fabrics and instantly decided that I should let the fabrics do the talking in my final design.  The prints on these fabrics are simply amazing!!

***

First we have the focal print - which I call "All owls want to be in the selfie shot" print.  Doesn't the print look like all the owls just crowded themselves in for a group selfie shot?

And then, we have the snowfall print.  That is the most brilliant "polka dot" print I have ever seen -- the dots graduate in sizes!

So, to make the banner, we will need:

5/8 yard of focal print

cut lengthwise, 1 (5 1/2" x 20 1/2") rectangle

5/8 yard of tree print

cut lengthwise, 2 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") rectangles

1/8 yard of owl on branch print

fussy cut 4 (3 1/2" x 3 1/2") squares, showcasing one owl in each square

1/8 yard of gray snowfall print

cut widthwise, 2 (1 1/2" x 42").  Subcut 1 (1 1/2" x 20 1/2"), 4 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") and 4 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") rectangles

1/8 yard  of orange snowfall print

cut widthwise, 1 (1 1/2" x 42").  Subcut 4 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") and 4 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") rectangles.

Assembling frame blocks

Sew 2 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") snowfall rectangles to the opposite sides of 1 (3 1/2" x 3 1/2") fussy cut owl square.  Sew 2 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") snowfall rectangles to the remaining opposite sides of owl square to complete 1 frame block.  Repeat to make 2 orange framed and 2 gray framed blocks.

Assembling banner top

Sew the frame blocks into a column, alternating the colors.

Sew strips and pieced column to complete banner top in the following order from left to right: 1 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") tree strip, pieced column, 1 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") tree strip, 1 (1 1/2" x 20 1/2") gray snowfall strip, 1 (5 1/2" x 20 1/2") focal strip.

And here you have it - a banner, once quilted and bound, that is ready to hang on that little nook in your house!

Further options

You can easily expand the design by making more blocks, as shown below.  I don't think you would EVER go wrong with buying more fabrics than you need! The possibilities.... 

I hope you liked my hop project -- meanwhile, do check out what others have contributed to this wonderful hop. 

If you are into owls, have you seen my "Owl Be Your Friend" quilt in McCall's Quick Quilts, using Benartex's Forest Friend-zy fabrics? Click here to find out!

With that, "owl" see you in Benartex's future hops, and oh, Happy Christmas in July!

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Shades of Winter collection, make sure you're signed up to follow our blog. Leave a message below letting us know that you do so, as well as which colorway you like best in the Shades of Winter fabrics. Giveaway is open through Saturday, August 1st at 11:59 pm EST.

And be sure you've visited each day of our blog hop to see all the different Christmas in July tutorials featuring our holiday fabrics!

Here's our schedule:

Monday: Santa Sack by Chris from Made by Chrissie D using Happy Holidays Snowmen

Tuesday: Tree Skirt by Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Homespun Holiday

Wednesday: Throw Pillow by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Ornamental Splendor

Thursday: Wonky Star Placemats by Kristen from KD Quilts using Santa's Here

Friday: Christmas Card Organizer by Melissa from My Fabric Relish using Frosty Forest

Monday: Table Runner and Napkins by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts using Frosty Forest

Tuesday: Wendy from Ivory Spring using Shades of Winter

Christmas in July: Table Runner and Napkins

Welcome to Benartex's Christmas in July Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! We shared holiday-themed tutorials all last week and have two more this week, so be sure to check out all the tutorials and see how to win some fabric to get your own holiday sewing started!

Today Nikki, from The Girl Who Quilts is here with a snowman-filled star table runner and napkin set using the Frosty Forest coordinates. Check out Nikki's tutorial and then head over to her blog to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Frosty Forest plus two of Cherry Guidry's Frosty Forest patterns.

Hi! I'm Nikki, from The Girl Who Quilts! Today I'm going to share a tutorial for a cloth napkin and tablerunner set using the adorable Frosty Forest fabric line by Cherry Guidry.



Let's get started!

Here are the prints that I used for this project:

1 yard of Jubilee Geo Multi

1 yard Jubilee Geo Grey

1/8 yard Frosty Snowflake Green

1/2 yard Dot Jubilee Red

1/4 yard Jubilee Geo Green

1/4 yard Snowman Swirl Grey

1/4 yard Snowman Swirl Turquoise

You will also need 18" x 50" of batting if you choose to quilt your table runner.

Cut the following pieces from your fabrics:

From Jubilee Geo Multi:

4 squares at 17" x 17"

From Jubilee Geo Grey:

cut 3 binding strips at 2 1/2" x WOF

(Save remaining fabric for backing)

From Frosty Snowflake Green:

2 strips at 1 1/2" x 12 1/2"

2 strips at 1 1/2" x 14 1/2"

From Dot Jubilee Red:

4 strips at 1 1/2" x 12 1/2"

4 strips at 1 1/2" x 14 1/2"

1 square at 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

4 squares at 4" x 4"

From Jubilee Geo Green:

8 squares at 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

8 squares at 4" x 4"

From Snowman Swirl Grey:

4 squares at 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

4 squares at 4" x 4"

From Snowman Swirl Turquoise:

2 squares at 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

8 squares at 4" x 4"

Here are the different size pieces for the table runner:

The backing fabric (folded on left), binding strips and napkin fabric:

To finish the edges of the napkins, draw a line 1" from each edge of the napkin square on the wrong side of the fabric. Use a pencil or a pen that does not disappear or set with heat:

Next, fold each edge in to the drawn line. This should create a 1/2" fold (first edge is shown folded below, repeat with all 4 edges):

Once all 4 edges are folded into the lines, fold in again by 1/2" on all 4 edges:

I like to pin the corners in place:

Now stitch down all of the folded edges, being sure to catch the corners in the stitching:

Repeat to create all 4 napkins!

To make the table runner, begin by drawing a diagonal line on the back of each Dot Jubilee Red 4" x 4" square and each Jubilee Geo Green 4" x 4" square:

Next pair each red 4" x 4" square with a Grey Snowman Swirl 4" x 4" square.

Pair each green 4" x 4" square with a Turquoise Snowman Swirl 4" x 4" square.

Stitch 1/4" from the both sides of the drawn line. Repeat for all of the paired squares:

Trim the squares apart on the drawn lines:

Press your seams (you can choose to press open or to one side):

Now square up all of these half square triangles to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". I like to use a 6 1/2" square ruler and line up the diagonal line of the ruler with the seam line of each half square triangle:

Next sew the half square triangles into pairs, as shown below. Press the seams. You will create 4 sets of the grey/red and 8 sets of the green/blue:

Now we will work with one block at a time. Begin by laying out the red and grey block as shown:

Sew the pieces into rows and press the seams:

Next sew the rows together and press the seams to complete the block:

 

Attach a 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" Frosty Snowflake Green strip to the top and bottom of the block. Press seams:

Now attach a 1 1/2" x 14 1/2" Frosty Snowflake Green strip to each side of the block. Press seams:

Repeat the above steps to create TWO blue/green blocks with red borders.

Stitch the 3 blocks together with the red/grey block in the center and press the seams:

For the backing, the remaining piece of Jubilee Geo Grey fabric must be cut into 2 pieces measuring approximately 28" x 20" and pieces together along the 20" sides to create a piece measuring approximately 55" x 20".

At this point you can finish your table runner with a simple backing or quilt it. I prefer to quilt my table runners.

To finish the table runner with a bound edge, sew together the 3 binding strips of Jubilee Geo Grey and bind using your favorite method!

Look at that, it's only July and you've got a Christmas decoration and/or gift all ready to go!

Thanks Nikki!
Head over to Nikki's blog to enter for a chance to win some Frosty Forest fabrics (plus two of Cherry's patterns) for yourself!

And be sure to stop back each day of our blog hop for a different Christmas in July tutorial featuring our holiday fabrics!

Here's our schedule:

Monday: Santa Sack by Chris from Made by Chrissie D using Happy Holidays Snowmen

Tuesday: Tree Skirt by Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Homespun Holiday

Wednesday: Throw Pillow by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Ornamental Splendor

Thursday: Wonky Star Placemats by Kristen from KD Quilts using Santa's Here

Friday: Christmas Card Organizer by Melissa from My Fabric Relish using Frosty Forest

Monday: Table Runner and Napkins by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts using Frosty Forest

Tuesday: Wintry Wall Banner by Wendy from Ivory Spring using Shades of Winter

Christmas in July: Card Organizer

Welcome to Benartex's Christmas in July Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! We'll be sharing holiday-themed tutorials this week and beyond, so be sure to stop by each day to see a new tutorial and have a chance to win some fabric to get your own holiday sewing started!

Today Melissa over from my fabric relish is here with an adorable Christmas Card Organizer made using the Frosty Forest panel and a few coordinates. Check out Melissa's tutorial and then head over to her blog to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Frosty Forest plus two of Cherry Guidry's Frosty Forest patterns.

Hey fabric lovers! I'm Melissa over from my fabric relish and you know know what I like about doing blog hops? It's making the time to finally make something that has been on my "to do" list for some time. This is one of those examples.... 

 

 When Benartex asked me if I was interested in doing a blog hop, I almost declined. Not because I didn't want to, but because I am solo-parenting for the most part this summer and with teaching kids camp and longarming customer quilts, I didn't want to stretch myself too thin. But I gave all the adorable Christmas fabrics a glance and once I spotted Frosty Forest, I couldn't resist. I knew exactly what I would make with it....

   

 A Christmas card organizer! 

I love getting Christmas cards during the holidays and like to be able to look at them and have them out on display, but they can become quite cluttered just sitting on counters or mantles. At my old house, we had this great spot that I would hang some twine and hang them with clothes pins. I really don't have a great spot for them at the new house but since I'm not lacking in wall-space why not a wall hanging? This wall organizer goes together very quickly with very little fabric! 

Here's what you need: 

 Finished Size: 23" x 41"

• (1) Frosty Forest Panel
• 1 yard coordinating fabric - this will be for the bottom pocket panel (sub-cut a 24" x 20" piece) and pocket lining (use the remaining fabric to cut pocket lining from Step 2 below). If you would like to use a different print for the pocket lining, you only need (1) fat quarter for those.
• 1 3/4 yards - backing
• 1/3 yard - binding
• 3/4 yard of twill tape, ribbon, or burlap rope (optional)
• Baby size batting or a piece of scrap batting measuring more than 25" x 43"

 

 Now lets get started! 

 1. Cut the top and bottom portions of the panel (future pocket pieces) from the panel and trim off the excess on the side of the main panel (trim on the dashed black line). Make sure you keep at least an additional 1/4" seam allowance. Next, trim the pocket panel pieces also keeping a 1/4" seam allowance. 

 2. Cut your pocket lining pieces the exact size of your front pocket pieces using the remaining fabric from your bottom pocket panel fabric of from an additional fat quarter if you like.

 

 3. To make the pockets, take one pocket front piece and one lining piece and place them right-sides-together (RSTs) and sew a box around the perimeter using a 1/4" seam allowance and leaving a 2" opening along the bottom side of the pocket. Clip the corners between the stitched line and the raw edge to remove some of the bulk. Turn right-side-out through the hole you left, poke your corners, and carefully press. Topstitch around the perimeter of the pocket whole stitching the opening closed. Do this for all four pocket pieces. Set the pockets aside. 

 

{Progression of making the pocket panel pieces}  

 4. Take the bottom pocket panel piece (24" x 20") and sew it to the bottom side of the panel using a 1/4" seam allowance along the 24" side. It's okay if the sides are a bit longer; you can trim those off. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of this part. 

 5. You will want to quilt your panel before attaching the pockets; therefore, make a quilt sandwich and quilt as desired. Once you finish quilting, you can now square up your quilt.

   

 6. To attach the pockets, you will simply sew them to the quilt along the sides and bottom of the pocket (NOT THE TOP). Be sure to backstitch! My pockets are spaced as shown below.

 

 7. Baste your twill tape/ribbon/burlap rope along the top about 1" down from the top of the quilt using a 1/8" seam allowance. Make sure you are happy with the swag length before sewing in place. You might want yours to hang lower or higher than mine.

 

 8. Attach your binding and you are finished! If you have a preferred method of hanging wall hangings (for example: corner pockets, hanging sleeves), you will want to attach that at this time as well. I'm quite lazy and just use thumb tacks.

   

 I hope you get a chance to make a Christmas card organizer before Christmas. You only have 5 months! If you would like to win a bundle of Frosty Forest, plus two patterns from Frosty Forest designer Cherry Guidry, head over to my blog and find out how to enter to win! 

   

And be sure to stop back each day of our blog hop for a different Christmas in July tutorial featuring our holiday fabrics!

Here's our schedule:

Monday: Santa Sack by Chris from Made by Chrissie D using Happy Holidays Snowmen

Tuesday: Tree Skirt by Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Homespun Holiday

Wednesday: Throw Pillow by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Ornamental Splendor

Thursday: Wonky Star Placemats by Kristen from KD Quilts using Santa's Here

Friday: Christmas Card Organizer by Melissa from My Fabric Relish using Frosty Forest

Monday: Table Runner and Napkins by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts using Frosty Forest

Tuesday: Wintry Wall Banner by Wendy from Ivory Spring using Shades of Winter

Christmas in July: Wonky Star Placemats

Welcome to Benartex's Christmas in July Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! We'll be sharing holiday-themed tutorials this week and beyond, so be sure to stop by each day to see a new tutorial and have a chance to win some fabric to get your own holiday sewing started!

Today Kristen from KD-Quilts is here with an easy placemat design using E. Vive's Santa's Here collection. Check out Kristen's tutorial and then head over to her blog to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Santa's Here.  

 Hello! My name is Kristen Danis and I blog over at KD-Quilts. I am thrilled to be here today sharing a super simple placemat tutorial with you! For me, when I'm sewing home decor items for Christmas, I instantly think of patchwork and stars. There's just something that makes it feel like Christmas cheer.

This tutorial makes a 16x14 inch placemat. Size easily adjustable.

These can easily be made with a fat quarter bundle. I used Santa's Here by E. Vive from Benartex (and you can win your own bundle...keep reading!)

Cut 55 2.5 inch squares out of prints for patchwork

9 2.5 inch squares for star

fabric for backing and binding

Up first is making the star units:

2 star squares + 1 patchwork square = one star side. Four needed per star.

 

 Place one star square over a patchwork square. No exact science here, remember it's wonky!

Sew 1/4 inch and trim. Press open.

 

 Place another star square over the two sewn together. Again, no exacts. Just be sure you are covering where the first star square is and overlapping to the side on the patchwork square. Press open.  

Trim unit down to 2.5 inches. Repeat three more times, each time using a different patchwork square.

 

Sew star unit together as follows:  

 Continue sewing the rest of the patchwork placemat. Your rows should have 8 squares per row and be 7 rows tall. I made a set of four placemats with one star per mat and changed where the star is located in each one. I chose to quilt echoing the star (you can see the back side of the placemat, which shows off the quilting, below). It made a fun design on the rest of the placemat and the star stands out. It gives a little more interest than plain straight lines, and is still super easy.

  

 Thanks for checking out my project and be sure to take a look at all of the other wonderful Christmas in July posts on Sew in Love with Fabric!    

Thanks Kristen!

Head over to Kristen's blog to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Santa's Here to play with!

And be sure to stop back each day of our blog hop for a different Christmas in July tutorial featuring our holiday fabrics!

Here's our schedule:

Monday: Santa Sack by Chris from Made by Chrissie D using Happy Holidays Snowmen

Tuesday: Tree Skirt by Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Homespun Holiday

Wednesday: Throw Pillow by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Ornamental Splendor

Thursday: Wonky Star Placemats by Kristen from KD Quilts using Santa's Here

Friday: Christmas Card Organizer by Melissa from My Fabric Relish using Frosty Forest

Monday: Table Runner and Napkins by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts using Frosty Forest

Tuesday: Wintry Wall Banner by Wendy from Ivory Spring using Shades of Winter