Christmas Quilts {traditions}

Welcome back to Day 7 in WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd !

     Today I am sharing one of my traditions that will leave you feeling WARM all over! 
                                                  {and I like that!}

What is the best way to stay warm on a cold evening during the Christmas season?

                                     A Christmas Quilt!

Whether it's on the couch or a comfy bed, there is nothing I would rather come home to snuggle up with on a cold Winter's night {well except a warm body}!  A Christmas quilt sure makes things snuggly during the holidays as you lay by the fire or watch a movie or whatever you find yourself doing at home.

Being a quilter myself and loving to use them besides just making them, a tradition of Christmas Quilts was just meant to be.  I have made different quilts for my children and they had small baby type Christmas blankets until one year when I was teaching a group of beginner quilters a basic nine patch class. {After the holidays I will do an easy tutorial on this.}  I needed new samples so this is when the tradition began!  I had lots of Christmas fabrics already laying around {most quilters do}!   So I started cutting strips and when I finished there was enough to make two quilts.  Perfect! 

Christopher and Chelsea's quilts are used from the same scrappy nine patch blocks but have a different feel because of the sashing fabric I used in between them.  Also a great example to teach the students.

 

Here's a closer look at a couple of blocks.

When choosing a back for a Christmas quilt you will want it with a holiday feel too!  For Chelsea's I chose this delightful old fashioned print with dressed up girls taking part in Winter activities!

For Christopher's I used this great reproduction print of a Dick & Jane Christmas!  {I only recently learned that due to a licensing and copyright issue that all Dick & Jane fabric was discontinued years ago.  WOW!  I have more of this and a bolt of the regular iconic American Dick & Jane still!}

So for my youngest daughter Claire, I used some of my treasured Aunt Grace 1930's reproduction fabric and made her a Christmas quilt as well!

And backed it with Christmas kittens in dresses of course!

Now in my mind a special Christmas Quilt needed to be hand quilted once it was pieced  together! Some quilts that are used all of the time or my famous Every Babies Blankie {which I will share after the holidays too} I do have machine quilted, but not my special quilts!  I quilted in the ditch and followed the piecing lines but on Chelsea's I wanted to round out the blocks so I quilted round "snowballs" in each square!  This really does soften a square quilt up when you see it in person!

Now once the quilt is pieced, backed, quilted and then bound it needs to be labeled of course!  All of my quilts {with the exception of my Every Babies Blankie again, since I make so many of them} have my famous lovingly hand stitched quilt label!  {I also have plans to make and sell these after the holidays when my new website gets up and running.  I can make you one in any color!}  EVERY homemade quilt needs one of these!  

Who wouldn't sleep better under a quilt after reading this message?!  Snuggly and warm huh!  I told you this post would leave you feeling WARM all over!

I know that for many making or even having a homemade Christmas Quilt is something that will never happen but this doesn't mean that you can't share in this tradition too. {And if you're ready to attempt to make one yourself I would love to help you!}  Nearly every store now days {or online} has a large selection of Christmas flannel sheets {I love putting these on too} that you can put on your bed.  Also you could buy a red, plaid, or any holiday style blanket or throw, to curl up with on a cold Winter's Eve!  Remember to only put them out during the Christmas season so it seems like more of a special treat!


What will you be snuggling up to this Christmas Eve?