Why new holiday fabric collections arrive at quilt stores in the summer

It’s hard to think about sewing or quilting with Christmas holiday fabrics in the summer. But late Spring and Summer is the time of year when all the new holiday and seasonal fabric collections arrive at our favorite quilt shops.

Hand stitched holiday decorations from the Winter Dreams collection from FIGO Fabrics. 

Summer delivery for Christmas fabrics?

These hand stitched decorations were made with a holiday fabric panel from a collection called Winter Dreams from FIGO Fabrics. The fabric collection was delivered to quilt shops this past June. 

I found inspiration in the Winter Dreams project panel and was moved to embellish the motifs with hand embroidery—melding colors of floss, perle cotton with various stitches. Being that the embellishing was done by hand, this project would not be a quick, over-night completion. 

Fabric panel from the Winter Dreams fabric collection by FIGO Fabrics.

So, unless you have a gang of Santa’s elves to help you, making handmade gifts or decorations for the holidays is going to take time… likely time you won’t have this time of the year—the short, busy timeframe between Halloween and when the decorations go up and gifts are slid under the tree. 

Hand embroidered heart.

The hand stitching on these decorations took a number of hours over a course of several months. It was my portable travel project during this time. Now that it’s November, I pulled out these embroideries—I finished 8!—to match them with coordinating fabrics for the backs. 

Three embroidered stars ready to be sewn to a backing fabric.

Stitched and turned right side out, these stars are ready for the filler/stuffing.

Once stitched and turned right side out, the pieces were stuffed. I used batting scraps for the stuffing and then hand stitched the opening with Scanfil organic cotton thread and the ladder stitch (not a whip stitch) for an invisible closure.

Batting scraps used for the filler/stuffing.

The sewing, turning, and stuffing takes a bit of time. Here are two finished trees that I think are quite charming and festive.

Hand stitched stuffed holiday decorations.

So this is why holiday fabric lines are delivered from May to July. And why quilt shops and independent sewing centers promote "holiday making" with classes and events in the summer. If one waits until November, you might be giving an IOU as a gift... and your decorations will be held over for next year. 

Stitched and stuffed holiday heart decoration.

A few tips about these holiday stuffies

A few things to note about the motifs on the Winter Dreams project panel:

• there are no seam allowances for the motifs. If making stuffed decorations, you will need to take the seam allowance out of the printed areas.

• I used a 2.0 stitch length on the machine to sew the fronts to the backs. Leave an opening for stuffing.

• Clip the inside acute angles (on the trees, between the star points, and the top of the heart) for easier turning. Clip the seam allowances up to (but not into) the stitching line.

• I used the ladder stitch to close the opening after stuffing. It makes a neater, more invisible join.

• Thread a needle with a strand of embroidery floss or perle cotton and sew a loop into the stuffie so it can be hung.

• This was the perfect travel project for me because it was small, portable, and required minimal supplies—an embroidery hoop, a small baggie of left-over strands of embroidery floss, a needle, and a pair of scissors. 

Coordinating fabrics for the backs.

The clock is ticking... are you in a hurry?

Check with your local quilt shop for the Winter Dreams collection. There is a project panel and several coordinates in this fabric line. For a quick holiday project:

• Forego the hand stitching and embellishing and just sew and stuff the motifs. 

• Use a fusible appliqué technique to appliqué the motifs onto a base fabric. Think: mug rugs, pillows, a banner, or table runner.

• The panel has a bunting project that could be no-sew by using a fusible.

• Fuse the motifs onto card stock for gift tags or greeting cards.

• Embellish the motifs with fabric paints or crayons.

• Find a pattern for quick patchwork and make something all by machine.

Enjoy your holiday making!

Adding color flavor to 4-patches with decorative stitches and 12 wt. thread

Notes to self: "A little spice goes a long way," "Less is more," and "It's all in the details."

4 patch blocks with decorative machine stitching.
Yarn-dyed wovens from Diamond Textiles. 12 wt. Spaghetti by WonderFil Threads.

These 4-patch blocks were pieced with squares from a charm pack from Diamond Textiles and leftovers from jackets I made with these fabrics. These yarn-dyed cotton fabrics are rich with texture. Some have a pronounced plaid or check while others have a more subtle pattern. A few have a brushed surface. They all whisper, "comfort."

My original ideas was to combine the 4-patches with wool appliqué blocks.

Auditioning the 4-patch blocks with wool appliqué.

But there needed to be a better dialog between the brighter colors of the wool and the 4-patch blocks.

Enter: 12 wt. thread (Spaghetti from WonderFil Threads) and decorative stitches!

Sewing across the seams with decorative stitches.

Putting my sewing machine's built-in decorative stitches to work not only started the "color conversation" but it was fun to experiment with fabric pattern and stitch combinations.

Decorative machine stitches using 12 wt. thread.

WonderFil's 12 wt. cotton thread holds its own. The decorative stitches add detail and color to the blocks. I do like to "spin" the seam allowances at the intersection of the 4-patch blocks (see photo below). This makes a flatter seam and easier sewing of the decorative stitches across the intersection. You will be thankful you used this seam allowance technique when you get to the quilting step, too.

Spinning the seam allowances on the 4-patch blocks.

I am pleased with how this sprinkling of decorative stitches is adding a wonderful new flavor to my 4-patch blocks. 

4-patch blocks with decorative machine stitches in 12 wt. threads.

Hey there, blog stalker: do you add decorative stitches to your patchwork or appliqué?

Discovering the lightning bolt stitch—and remembering to use it when sewing knits

The lightning stitch, or lightning bolt stitch.
I knew of this stitch. I've heard it referenced many times in tutorials and TV programs about sewing with knit fabrics. I just never remembered to use it when I had a knit project under the needle... until recently.

The Lightning Bolt stitch is great for sewing knits.

I had a knit top already cut out just waiting for some sewing time. It's made from one of Art Gallery Fabrics' solid color knits (one of the fabric companies I rep). The color is orange creamsicle. I've sewn several long and short sleeve tops with AGF knits and my collection continues to grow.

Knit top in orange creamsicle by Art Gallery Fabrics.

These knit tops are soft, comfortable, wash up well and are easy to pack for traveling. This cotton fabric has a wee bit (5%) of spandex in it which gives it stability and memory... and makes it easy to sew.

Decorative stitching on yarn-dyed woven fabrics.

Anyway... back to the lightning stitch and how I happened to discover it...

Lately, I've been immersed with stitching on yarn-dyed wovens from Diamond Textiles (another fabric company I rep). This project features decorative machine stitching on 4-patch blocks. It's an exercise in color and contrast—thread color vs. stitch vs. fabric color and pattern, and how each plays off the other. It also got me using the myriad of decorative stitches that are built into my sewing machine again. (We just don't use these stitch beauties enough!) While experimenting with stitch selections, I noticed stitch #17 on my machine.

Behold! The lightning bolt stitch!

[I guess that lightning bolt finally hit me.]

So my pre-cut knit top was an opportunity to try out stitch #17—the lighting bolt stitch. I used this stitch for the armhole, side and shoulder seams. Then, the seam allowances were edge finished on the serger for a neater inside. The bottom hem and the sleeve hems were serged and turned it under once. From the right side of the work, the hems were sewn down by machine using the lightning stitch. The bottom hem has a fusible tricot strip inside to keep it from rolling.

Using the lighting stitch on a knit top.

The lightning stitch takes a bit longer to sew because it goes forward and back as it stitches. But it is neat, strong and still allows the fabric to stretch without the stitches popping. I think I like it better than a small zigzag (or wobble stitch) that I had been using. It has a more polished, finished look.

Finished knit T-shirt ready to wear.

Another knit top for my wardrobe and another stitch experience added to my garment sewing skill set. Good ol' stitch #17 did a good job for me. 

Don't wait for the lightning bolt to hit you in the head—try this stitch on your next knit project.