Maybe next christmas

Shortly before the holidays a friend asked me if I was ready. I thought about it and decided that I was nearly ready for LAST year's holiday season. Things just seem to go faster and faster. Before we know it, it will be summer, and then it was be winter holiday time again. 

I didn't get this done in time for this year, so I'm getting a jump on things for next year.

Holiday Tree Wall Hanging

This is a small (~16"x18") paper pieced wall hanging. 

It is an original design, but loosely inspired by several christmas tree blocks I've seen floating around. 

EQ7 Design

I designed the entire thing in EQ7, printed the foundations, pieced, quilted (see picture of back) and then embellished with small felt balls (cut in half), and rick rack. The wool felt balls are beautiful and come in lots of colors and sizes (Tami Pfeil, http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandbehgFELTS). I actually had to order more balls, because the dog ate all but a few of the first set while my back was turned. 

The background fabric was not the best choice -- a little too much pattern to show the dense, swirly background free motion quilting. The back shows the quilting a bit better.

Back of Wall Hanging

I used Fast Finish Triangles in the upper corners for hanging (http://www.alzquilts.org/paqdisplay.html). 

It looks like the Fast Finish tutorial link is no longer valid, but here is another link -- or just google. http://www.heirloomcreations.net/sewing-tips/how-to-hang-small-quilts/

For the Fast Finish Triangles, you basically cut 2 squares of fabric that are about 1/3 or so of the width of the quilt, fold on the diagonal and iron (I sometime put a little fusible tape next to the fold inside and iron again to make it firmer). After the quilt is quilted and you are ready to bind, position the right angles (cut edges) of the folded triangles in the upper right and left corners of the quilt. I usually stitch them down in the outer seam allowance to make sure they stay put while I sew on the binding. 

Leave a comment and your email if you would like the instructions and PDF's of the foundations.

Happy New Year and happy quilting.