I now have a pillow for my Christmas decorating, I know shocking right. It took this blog hop to accomplish something I've been meaning to do for the past few years...ugh yes I said years. But it is done and best of all you can add some 'Joy' to your holidays too as the pattern is free. Thanks to Sarah of
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for hosting the '12 Days of Christmas in July' blog hop and giving me the push to finally make a Christmas pillow or maybe it's a wall hanging.
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| 'Joy' wall hanging |
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| pillow cover nice and crinkly after a wash |
The hop runs from July 14th to the 25th. Make sure to visit all the blogs participating the schedule is at the end of this post. Make sure to leave a comment as Sarah is counting them for an extra special giveaway, you can read more about it on her blog
Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
The pattern is for the pillow front or a wall hanging if you prefer. Either way have fun and add a little 'Joy' to your Christmas decorating. As you can see in the above photo I used three different greys for the background.
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| pillow front |
Makes an 18'' x 18'' finished pillow
front or wall hanging.
Fabric Requirements
Chevrons:
1/4 yard of each a light, light medium
and medium grey.
Snowman:
A variety of larger scrap pieces work
well.
The snowman can be made from a 10''
square, the letters from (2) 8'' squares.
Cutting for the chevrons/ flying geese:
Traditional Method:
A(light) cut (3)
- 5 1/8'' x 5 1/8'' cut diagonally once
B( lt medium) cut (3) - 5
1/8'' x 5 1/8'' cut diagonally once
C(medium) cut (3) - 5
1/8'' x 5 1/8'' cut diagonally once
A(light) cut (6) - 3 7/8'' x 3
7/8'' cut diagonally once
B( lt. medium) cut (6) - 3 7/8'' x 3
7/8'' cut diagonally once
C(medium) cut (6) - 3 7/8'' x 3
7/8'' cut diagonally once
The Snowman Applique pieces
are cut using the templates supplied. If you are doing turned edge
applique remember to add a 1/4'' to the template pieces before
cutting them out. The pieces are reversed and can be downloaded in the PDF on
Craftsy.
Background:
Use a 1/4'' seam allowance.
Traditional Method
Step 1:
Sew one small triangle (B)
to one diagonal edge of the large triangle (A); press toward the
small triangle. See diagram 1.
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| diagram 1 |
Sew the second small
triangle (B) to the other diagonal edge of the large triangle (A) to
make a flying-goose unit; press toward the small triangle. See
diagram 1.
This makes one 3 1/2'' x 6
1/2'' goose. Make (6) BA units.
Step 2:
Repeat using small triangle
(C) and large triangle (B). Make (6) CB units.
Repeat using small triangle
(A) and large triangle (C). Make (6) AC units.
Step 3:
Join 3 BA units, see
diagram 2. Make 2.
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| diagram 2 |
Repeat using 3 CB units.
Make 2.
Repeat using 3 AC units.
Make 2.
Step 4:
Join as per diagram 3.
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| diagram 3 |
This completes the background.
Applique Snowman:
Use your favourite method for applique.
Instructions follow for fused machine stitched applique.
Fusible Applique Method:
Step 1:
I like Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 because it
leaves less weight in the finished product and it's a double sided
fusible. Trace your pattern on the side of the paper where the
fusible adheres to the paper more strongly (usually one side of the
paper releases more easily than the other - trace on the side that
does not release easily).
On the larger pieces, less fusible is
needed making the finished center more pliable.
To do this, take your original tracing,
and cut from the inside, approx 1/4" inside the traced line.
Rough cut beyond the traced line on the outside of the fusible. See
diagram 4 as an example of
the letter 'J'.
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| diagram 4 |
Step 2:
Adhere to fabric as per package
directions.
Cut on the traced lines.
Step 3:
Align the pieces using the placement
guide. A light box or window help for proper placement.
Press to fuse as per your package
instructions.
Step 4:
Machine stitch using your preferred
stitch and settings. I like the buttonhole stitch myself.
I quilted a 1/4'' on each side of the chevrons and around all the elements in the snowman.
Here are the blogs participating in the 12 Days of
Christmas in July blog hop!
Friday, July 14th
Saturday, July 15th
Sunday, July 16th
Monday, July 17th
Tuesday, July 18th
Wednesday, July 19th
Thursday, July 20th
Friday, July 21st
Saturday, July 22nd
