Last gasp of Christmas

      It is finished, the improv Christmas Trees wall hanging. I like it so much, I hung it up near my side door so I can love it each time I leave the house or go into the basement. It is ok it is out of season now, it makes me smile. I love the fabric I found on clearance at Joann's for the back. I never use glitter fabric, but this was fun.

All quilted

Bound

Detail

Back

     And also, a tablerunner that was made from cut off HSTs from the Christmas Tree quilt I made last year. I could not throw them out, so I sewed them into 4s and then arranged into a tablerunner that was gifted to an admiring friend.

All sewn

Quilted (on the Singer 301) in gold thread and bound

Back

Either it is very early or very late

      The Christmas Tree quilt is totally done. Quilting, binding, label attached. I even washed it so it is all plumped up. So, depending on your point of view, the quilt is very early or very late.

The quilt with plaid binding before washing. When washed, it puffed up and the binding lays flat. Because I do glue binding, it looks wavy here now, but it isn't.

Back of quilt- Panel plus additions

Detail

Oh, and that boo-boo I cut into the border edge? I found two scraps of border fabric, front and back, and sewed them to the edge of the border, right sides facing the quilt. Because I sew on vintage machines, bulk is never an issue. 

Then I pressed both pieces towards the edge, inserted a tiny slice of batting, and trimmed the border edge even with the rest of the border. I used a litttle Elmers glue (washable) to hold that edge together when I sewed on the binding. The result I think is hardly noticeable.

The two miniscule scraps left.

Back

Front

All fixed

O Christmas trees, O Christmas trees...

      I finished piecing the Christmas Tree top (Tree Farm from Moda, free pattern) but added some changes I think worked for the better. I thought the trees were too close with no air between them, so I added white sashing strips and I added the trunks. I did not like the way the quilt just ended at the white edges. I was able to use scrap strips from the trees for an inner border, but the only the dark ones looked good. They were sewn in hunks, whatever was left, randomly. For the outside border, I wanted cheery but calmer than a Christmas print. I found a beautiful red bubble batik in the stash. I only had 1" WOF left over after cutting  5" strips.

There was an oops wrong value strip at the top I saw after sewn,
so I had to rip and change out for the green above it.

     I have absolutely no idea when I will be able to quilt it. I do have the backing and need to sew that together to show. I feel guilty, but I am keeping this one. I have always wanted a Christmas quilt. It is about 69" x 81".