Sew in Love {with Fabric}: 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.