Day 8: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the last day of our Home for the Holidays blog hop! 

This week we've be featuring a variety of small sewing projects to add holiday cheer to your house. These are fast and easy--you can still make them for this year, or bookmark the tutorial until after the holidays! We hope you enjoy these tutorials--and don't miss a chance to win a bundle of the fabrics featured each day!

Today, Stephanie Palmer from Late Night Quilter is sharing a tutorial on her blog for making quick Cinnamon Scented Coasters. A sweet-smelling quilted project--we love it! She used both the Peace on Earth and Season's Greetings fabrics. 

Here's Stephanie:

I love to give my friends brightly colored baskets filled with goodies during the holiday season.  I often fill them with cookies, tea and a cute mug.  These cinnamon scented coasters are the perfect addition to your tea-themed basket to let your friends know you went the extra mile to make something special for them. 

Please hop over to my blog for the tutorial, and enter to win A Quilter's Planner while you're there! 

Thanks Stephanie!

We're also giving away a bundle of holiday fabric here in connection with Stephanie's tutorial. Leave a comment letting us know that you follow the Inspired by Fabric blog (if you don't already, sign up in the sidebar at right using the email or blog reader option). In your comment, also let us know: what's your favorite seasonal scent? Giveaway is open through Monday, December 21st at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is now closed.

See the entire Peace on Earth collection by Ro Gregg here.

See the entire Season's Greetings collection here.

Check out each day of our Home for the Holidays Hop!

Day 1: The Ho Ho Ho Pillow

Day 2: The Present Pillow

Day 3: Snowflake Pillow

Day 4: O Christmas Tree Pillow

Day 5: Peace on Earth Table Runner
Day 6: Snowflake Table Topper
Day 7: Let It Snow Applique Quilt

Day 6: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the sixth day of our Home for the Holidays blog hop! 

This week we'll be featuring a variety of small sewing projects to add holiday cheer to your house. These are fast and easy--you can still make them for this year, or bookmark the tutorial until after the holidays! We hope you enjoy these tutorials--and don't miss a chance to win a bundle of the fabrics featured each day!

Today Dawn from Spring Water Designs is here sharing a snowflake table topper made using Ro Gregg's Peace on Earth collection. We love the large off-center fused snowflakes showcased on the beautiful coordinates in Ro's collection.

Here's Dawn:

This week I got to play with these luscious fabrics from Ro Gregg's Peace on Earth fabric line to make something for the Inspired by Fabric's Blog Hop :)

I decided to make a Holiday Table Topper for my dining room table.

To make it, you'll need:

1/2 yard of the Large Holiday print for the borders, cut:
     (2) 4-1/2" x 30-1/2" strips
     (2) 4-1/2" x 18-1/2" strips

1/4 yard of the Green Diamond print, cut:
     (4) 6-1/2" squares

1/4 yard of the Pink Diamond print, cut:
     (4) 6-1/2" squares

1/4 yard of the Dark Green print, cut:
     (1) 6-1/2" square
     (4) 4-1/2" squares

1/2 yard Cream with round snowflakes for setting squares, cut:
     (6) 6-1/2" squares

3/8 yard Red print for binding, cut:
     (4) 2-1/2" WOF strips

1/2 yard of Cream Textured print for applique snowflakes

First to start, arrange your squares in rows in the configuration shown in the above photo. (Or switch out the green and pink diamonds if you prefer ~ it's your table topper!)

After applying fusible web to the back side of some of the light textured fabric, I cut 8 snowflake shapes using my AccuQuilt GO! and the Holiday Medley Die #55043.  If you don't have a GO! Cutter, you can use any snowflake shape that you want and scale it 4 - 5" in size.  You can click Here for a link to a blog post from Inspired by Fabrics Home for the Holidays series last week that has some snow flake shapes you can download.

I laid out the snowflakes on the pink and green squares ~ and to give it the look of snowflakes softly falling, I did not center them on the squares, but off-set them on each square.  Play here to find an arrangement that's pleasing to you...and if you like them centered on the squares, that's ok too ~ again, do what you like and have fun :)

Tip: You might want to pin the snowflakes in place once you choose the position of each one on the square, so they don't get shifted around when you are taking them to your pressing station.  Snapping a photo of your overall arrangement is helpful too in case you get things turned around between pressing and sewing.

 

Then using a pressing cloth underneath to protect your ironing surface, fuse the snowflake in the position that you chose on each square.  If you chose to off-set them, let them hang over the edges in some places like the one shown above.  

 Then once fused, trim off the extra snowflake parts that hang over the edge of the square.

I like the effect that occurs of the snowflakes "peeking" through the squares when they are placed on the edges like this.

Next I top stitched on the snowflake from tip to tip across each snowflake.  If you prefer, this step can be done at the quilting stage to stitch through all layers of the quilt on the snowflakes.  

Next sew the rows together, pressing each seam allowance toward the setting square.  This helps to nest the seams together in the next step when you sen the rows together.

After sewing the rows together, I pressed these seams open as I think that helps things to lay flatter, and I'm making a table runner so I want it as flat as possible.

Then, add the long border strips to the sides, pressing the seams towards the border strips.
Finally, after adding the 4-1/2" green corner stone squares to the ends of the shorter border strips (again press those seams towards the border strip), sew these units to the ends of your table runner. 

To complete your table topper, layer with batting, and backing fabric and quilt.  I did a quick allover, swirly free motion design going around the snowflakes.  Bind using the red strips you cut for binding.

 Finally, add a few Holiday decorations, and...

Merry Christmas!

Thanks Dawn! 

Head over to Dawn's blog to find out how you can win a bundle of the Peace on Earth fabrics.  This contest is now closed.

See the entire Peace on Earth collection by Ro Gregg here.

Check out each day of our Home for the Holidays Hop!

Day 1: The Ho Ho Ho Pillow

Day 2: The Present Pillow

Day 3: Snowflake Pillow

Day 4: O Christmas Tree Pillow

Day 5: Peace on Earth Table Runner
Day 7: Let It Snow Applique Quilt
Day 8: Cinnamon Scented Coasters

Day 5: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the fifth day of our Home for the Holidays blog hop! 

This week we'll be featuring a variety of small sewing projects to add holiday cheer to your house. These are fast and easy--you can still make them for this year, or bookmark the tutorial until after the holidays! We hope you enjoy these tutorials--and don't miss a chance to win a bundle of the fabrics featured each day!

Today Connie from Freemotion by the River is here sharing a patchwork table runner made using Ro Gregg's Peace on Earth collection. Two coordinates help the large focal print to shine, and a tonal outer border adds the perfect frame. 

Here's Connie!

I'm glad to be taking part in the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!

The beautiful Christmas collection I'm working with is called Peace on Earth by Ro Gregg. The dark green border I used is from the Leather collection. The size of the table runner is 19" x 43".

Materials:
1/3 yard Christmas print
1/3 yard cream print
1/3 yard light green print
1/2 yard dark green
2/3 yard backing

Cutting:

Cream print:
cut one - 5 1/2" WOF (width of fabric) strip
     sub-cut - three - 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" squares
cut two - 2 1/4" WOF (width of fabric) strips
     sub-cut - 24 - 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" squares

Light green print:
 cut two - 2 1/4" WOF (width of fabric) strips
     sub-cut - 24 - 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" squares
cut three - 1 1/2" WOF (width of fabric) strips for first border
     sub-cut - 2 - 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" pieces
     sub-cut - 2 - 1 1/2" x 38 1/2" pieces

Christmas print:
cut two - 5 1/2" WOF (width of fabric) strips
     sub-cut 12 - 4" x 5 1/2" rectangles

Dark Green Border:
cut three - 3" - WOF (width of fabric) strips
     sub-cut 2 - 3" x 19 1/2" pieces
     sub-cut 2 - 3" x 38 1/2" pieces

Dark Green Binding:
cut three - 2 1/2" WOF (width of fabric) strips

Make the Table Runner:

Use a 1/4" seam allowance for the entire project and press to the darkest fabric.

Sew the 2 1/4" squares together as shown below. Make 12 groups.

 Follow the diagram below to put your blocks together.

 Sew the rows together.

 You will make three blocks for the table runner.  They are 12 1/2" square unfinished.

Join the three blocks together.

Add the first border. Sew the sides first and then the top and bottom.

For the final border add the 3" x 38 1/2" pieces to the top and bottom. (this ensures your fabric will be wide enough for the border)

Then add the 3" x 19" pieces to the sides.

Add your batting and backing and quilt as desired. Use the 2 1/2" strips of dark green for the binding.

Enjoy your new table runner for the holidays!

Thanks Connie!

Head over to Connie's blog to find out how you can win a bundle of Peace on Earth fabrics. 
This contest is now closed.

See the entire Peace on Earth collection by Ro Gregg here.

Check out each day of our Home for the Holidays Hop!

Day 1: The Ho Ho Ho Pillow

Day 2: The Present Pillow

Day 3: Snowflake Pillow

Day 4: O Christmas Tree Pillow
Day 6: Snowflake Table Topper
Day 7: Let It Snow Applique Quilt
Day 8: Cinnamon Scented Coasters

Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

We're excited to be sharing holiday-themed tutorials with you over the next two weeks, all using our seasonal fabrics! 

Pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa and turn on the carols to get yourself in the mood...maybe even use that snow spray on your windows?! Then, sit back, relax and get inspired with some fantastic (and quick!) holiday projects.

We'll post the first tutorial on Tuesday, so be sure to stop back then.

p.s. If you missed our holiday fabric showcase, see the collections here:

Holiday Editions

Season's Greetings

Ro Gregg's Peace on Earth

Home for the Holidays: Ro Gregg's Peace on Earth fabrics

The Christmas carols have been playing on the radio 24-7 since the day after Thanksgiving...it's officially the holiday season! This week we've been showcasing our holiday collections, and then starting next week we'll be sharing some quick and easy decor tutorials.

Here is Ro Gregg's holiday collection, Peace on Earth:

And the coordinating panel:

The collection also includes an apron panel:

We asked Ro to tell us about the inspiration behind her beautiful Peace on Earth collection.

Q. Tell us about the panel. Why did you choose to feature a reindeer? 

Ro: Reindeers are Santa's helpers too.  They pull the sleigh and deliver the gifts all over the world. Deer are one of my favorite animals; as a child we nursed a baby fawn that lost its Mother.  I designed the deer to be festive with metallic scroll antlers, and I think the filigree in the borders emulates that feeling.

Q. Can you tell us about some of the prints? 

Ro: Festive Christmas balls and Rosewood poinsettias are showcased on a background of Harlequin damask.

Symbols of peace is a signature piece. The doves contain designs from Marblehead prints and other coordinates. 

Miniature metallic reindeer with festive medallions—such a perfect symbol of Santa's helpers. This is my favorite print from the collection. The doves and reindeer are flying around the night sky with the full moon and medallion-like planets. It just feels like Christmas Eve. 

Q. How would you describe the style of this collection? 

Ro: Traditional decorative christmas with an ornamental flair.

Q. Why do you like adding the metallic gold to the holiday collections?

Ro: I think metallic gold goes well with holiday celebrating.  It makes the patterns festive with its shimmer.

Q. How did the collection get its name?

Ro: I first came up with the theme "Peace On Earth" as a reflection of what we all wish for around the globe and how it is affecting all of humanity. Christmas is a peaceful, joyous season. The dove fabric actually has the word "peace" and musical notes inside some of the doves.

Q. What else makes the Peace of Earth collection special?

Ro: It works beautifully with the Glistening Christmas prints, many of which are included here, such as the winter wonderland of metallic trees and the North star shining bright. The colors work flawlessly together for holiday projects.

"Celebrate" by Mara Quilt Designs, the free quilt pattern available on our website, surrounds the panel with pieced ornaments and stars.

Download the free pattern here.

See the entire Peace on Earth collection by Ro Gregg here.