11/17/2015

Christmas Is In My Heart Quilt Project



Welcome to my post for the Blog Hop 
I want to thank Marian of Seams To Be Sew for organizing this blog hop. 
And a big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring the giveaways each day. 
They are fantastic sponsors.

Participating in blog hops pushes me to do a little extra quilting
and look for new ideas. 

We were to design a project that incorporated at least one heart in it. 
 I had a few ideas in mind until 
a book was placed on the Freebie Table at our guild meeting. 

I skimmed the photos in "True Friends Art to Heart" by Nancy Halverson
and found Heart Wreath Quilt by Teri Christopherson. 



I knew this was the pattern I would use to make this table topper. 


It will serve two purposes. The first for this blog hop post. 
The second, as my gift exchange item for our guild Christmas party.

I like the outline of the hearts made with red snowflake fabric. 
I used the Christmas tree fabric for the center of the hearts to say 
"Christmas is in my Heart" without having to use words.
And the backing makes it reversible for the season. 


I have a tip to share with you as to how I quilted the center of the hearts. 
I am not talented when it comes to free motion quilting of swirls and curves.
So I take a piece of paper cut into the shape of the area I want to quilt. 
I fold the paper in half and draw a design. 
Then I cut it out, see how I like it and spray some basting spray on the back of the paper. 
Place it where I want it and free motion stitch around the paper pattern. 



When I finish one part, I take the paper pattern off and put it on the other side to quilt it.
I like this method. Perhaps, as I use it more and more, I will get better at working without a pattern. 


Enter today's giveaway as you visit each blog participant for today. 

Tuesday, November 17
Patchwork Breeze (you are here)

There is a new giveaway each day, so visit the other participants each day. 
You can find the information
about those blogs HERE

Thank you for visiting. 
Have a great month sewing whatever quilting project is on your worktable. 





61 comments:

Anita said...

A great table topper, and thank you for the quilting tip!

Betsy said...

I love the quilting tip.I would have never imagined using a stencil pattern for quilting

Lisa England said...

That is a great tip! It also works if you draw the design on freezer paper and then iron it on the quilt. Just peel it off when finished. Often the freezer paper will stick again for another use or two.

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Love your tablerunner! I love decorating with them. I have done something similar when doing FMQ as I'm learning. Love your quilting design!

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Your runner s just adorable!!

Dorian said...

Thats really cute. Great job!

Patty said...

Lovely mini.

Allison said...

Such a beautiful table runner! I love it.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Beautiful Runner. Thanks for sharing your template tip.

Denise :) said...

I love the Art to Heart books -- I've got a great collection of them. They're filled with such wonderful projects! Yours is no exception -- very cute runner and very Christmassy!! :)

Carol said...

I love the table runner and you have a great idea for quilting! That's like using a "ruler" without the cost. :) Thanks for sharing your lovely creation!

Needled Mom said...

Those are wonderful hearts. I like your idea of how to quilt your design too.

Charlene McCain said...

Your table runner is beautiful! I love all the work you put into the quilting of this piece. Thank you for the tip on how you quilted your design. I have never tried free-motion quilting, so I may give your technique a try.

Anna brown said...

Nice hearts ty for sharing its a great idea to put in my book of likes.....happyness04431@yahoo.com

genie holt said...

That's a great tip! I'm just getting back to trying free motion quilting after giving up once before and I think following a pattern like this will relieve a lot of tension on my part! Thank you for participating in the blog hop.

lalaluu said...

Great tip about the paper pattern. I'm going to have to give it a try! I might use double-sided tape instead of basting spray, though, since that's what I have.

allthingzsewn said...

Great idea for your FMQ, Really cute topper. And FMQ turned out
beautiful and show up really well.

Mom C said...

I think that is so smart! And the runner is darling. Thanks.

@lutzcats said...

Very nice hearts and quilting tip....thank you for sharing your talents with us today.

dcargill said...

Love the table runner. It would be cute to use Valentines fabric also.

Kwilt Krazy said...

Love the runner! What a neat idea, Thanks for that tip!

JANET said...

Great block. Great tips. What more could anyone ask for?!! Thank you.

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

Very pretty! Thanks for the quilting tip.

cjmont said...

love your table runner and the fmq tip.

Carol Swift said...

That is the best idea ever for quilting that sweet design on your beautiful runner! I am no queen-of-FMQ so this is what I need to do. Thank you for sharing your runner and showing how you quilted it!

Unknown said...

I am still learning FMQ and I LOVE you idea on how to do it! I will definitely be trying that. thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I love your table topper, and your tip for quilting is very clever. I will have to try it. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Mary Ann said...

Love the table runner. Just perfect for Christmas. And thanks for the quilting tip. I need as much help with FMQ as anyone. :)

Brenda said...

Humm! I love the idea of using the paper patter like that. Thanks!

Lisa said...

What a great idea! I am going to try it! Love your table topper too! I am losy at free motion so any trick that might help, yippee! Thank you for sharing

Stitchin At Home said...

Great idea for the FMQ motif.

LJ said...

How nice that you gave those guild books/patterns a new life. This was a perfect choice for this hop. I, too, struggle with FMQ; I must give your method a try. Thanks for the idea.

Moira said...

I like your idea of using the paper cutout as your pattern for quilting. I'll have to remember it. Thanks for sharing!

Laura said...

Love the hearts and what a great quilting design. I sometimes use freezer paper which sticks to the fabric, but is harder to pull away if one quilts over it.

MaryBeth said...

I just used the same technique to quilt a table topper for Thanksgiving!! Aren't we clever??!!

Quilting Tangent said...

Merry Christmas.

Sally said...

Delightful table topper and thanks for the quilting idea!!

teacherspn said...

I am still learning to free motion quilt. I really like your idea of using basting stray

Unknown said...

Thanks for the FMQ tip. I'm just learning and think I will use your method.

MoeWest said...

I really like this runner and your quilting on it! Thanks for the fmq tip. I'm going to try this.

Sharon - IN said...

What a nice table runner, pretty quilting, and helpful tip. Thank you! Merry Christmas!

Teatime Creations said...

Cute project. Thank you especially for the lesson on how to free motion. It is not a technique I am comfortable with and your hints help. Merry Christmas.

Amanda Best said...

I really like your idea to make easy free motion quilting stencils, so easy, yet so effective!
Your table runner is very pretty and I am sure who ever receives it at your guild party will be thrilled.
My email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com
thanks!

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

A great table runner. Clever idea using the stencils.

margaret said...

very nice table topper.

Pamela said...

Thanks for the great quilting tip! I'm going to try this!

Calicojoan said...

Beautiful and what a fabulous way to mark for free motion! Great idea.

In stitches and seams said...

nice runner,I really like the shape you cut our for your quilting. I have used a similar method for quilting, A paper snowflake cut out of freezer paper with the wax on the back.
in stitches

Zenia Rene said...

Genius idea...especially if one can draw! Great little pattern too.

Michele T said...

This is such a great idea for quilting a design!!! Thanks!!

Joan H. said...

What a helpful idea for quilting designs. Your project is so lovely.

Vicki H said...

Great table topper. Thanks for the tip to make a quilting template.

Just Quilt It said...

I love the way you made the pattern for your quilting. Lovely tablerunner!

wendy said...

Very nice! And thanks for the quilting tip!!!

wendy said...

Very nice! And thanks for the quilting tip!!!

Tu-Na Quilts said...

Good tip on the free motion. I am a beginner so I appreciate knowing that others find it difficult too. Thanks for sharing.

Marian said...

I love the table topper, and the 2 hearts coming together that way. I like the tip, unfortunately I can't order the spray glues, the USPS won't let them ship overseas because of the aerosol nature of the can. So I do this same thing with freezer paper instead. I use my Silhouette to cut the freezer paper shapes, then just lightly iron onto the blocks so it doesn't flatten everything down, it is just enough to get the freezer paper on long enough to stitch around it. :)

Renee said...

What a great table topper! I love the clever way you used it to state Christmas is in your heart. :) As a novice when it comes to quilting, I love the tip you shared with the basting spray and paper. Thank you!

Michelle said...

Cute table topper. I use basting spray too. I love it. Never quilted with a template. Not sure I could use it without stitching on the paper.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

One of those ideas Im thinking...why didn't I think of that!!!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Again...thanks for sharing under our Christmas theme. :)