Happy Christmas!

I debated for some time, well the entire time I was making this and starting this post, what to call this quilt. In the end, because the centre block is English Wedding Ring, I felt that I needed a nod to English Christmas, and there they say, 'Happy Christmas', not 'Merry Christmas' so that is the quilt's name. But, as is often the case with my quilts, there's a bit more to that name than just the English Christmastime greeting.

I was at first dismayed, but then pleased (almost always a silver lining) to see that we had a skiff of snow this morning. Perfect background for a new quilt!

Some of the text print reads 'over the river and through the woods' and 'to Grandma's house we go' which immediately makes me think of calling it Grandma's House, but that is the name of my bench pillow which is part of the Rainbow Neighbourhood pattern. Sidenote: did you know that that New England poem, from 1844, has 'to Grandfather's house' in it, not grandma's house?!

On the wall in my sewing room dormer nook

When I was trying to find an appropriate name that evoked peace and happiness at this time of year without being religious, I googled names of secular Christmas songs. I knew Happy Xmas was a song by John Lennon, noting that he spells Christmas Xmas to further the secular angle, which I really like. However, I don’t like the look of Xmas and I did want the quilt name to be the English greeting. However, that song, a wish for peace in the entire world, and end to war, is exactly what my heart aches for, especially in countries such as Gaza and Sudan, where horrific violence, war crimes and genocide are taking place and yet the world virtually changes the subject every time genocide and Gaza and taking a stance against US-backed Israel comes up. I continue to be deeply enraged at the genocide in Gaza, but now that I’m hearing more about Sudan and this past week US escalations towards Venezuela, I have to do a hard stop in my brain, and go and do something positive in my tiny corner of this world. Creating is key.

Happy Christmas, subtext ‘war is over’ back. I'm pretty pleased with how straight the back lined up with the front, especially since the Santa block is not square, but slightly rhomboid. I did some stitching in the ditch as always to stabilize the quilt before doing the large all-over meander. Cotton flannel is between the front and back layers. In my ongoing 'use it up' modus operandi, I used up as much as I could of the two larger chunks of fabric left. 

I am just so very happy that I finally used one of these vintage Debbie Mumm pre-printed blocks. 

I played thread-spool chicken with this quilt on my Avanté, and boy, was it close. I ended up finished the little bit of ditch-stitching of the ribbon border on my Bernina with this much left, (it ran out), and then finished the last few seams with a similar colour of Aurifil. I made sure to complete the meandering with the So Fine.

I stitched my initials in one of the rose star points. I had just enough of the poinsettia fabric left to cut three 2 ¼" strips  for the binding. A part of me was hesitant, I'll admit, as it's a beautiful Hoffman Fabrics fabric, but this leftover chunk has sat for years so it needs to be used. Had I used it for a final border, as Rose did in her rendition of my pattern, it would have only been about an inch in width.

I assure you the satin label is sewn at the top of the quote

Speaking of labels, I have only six left now out of my last order of 200(!) so I put in another order. These are from a company in France called Ikaprint. They currently have the same deal as my previous order where if you buy 100 labels you get another hundred free. US$26 which is CA$37, pretty good I’d say!

Here is the label (stitched in as an integral part of the backing) which is now written on! I went back in and added …war is over. Fifty-odd years from now when whoever missing possession of my quilt, hopefully they will understand the double meaning of its name. Check out how well the very light blue rayon bobbin thread blends in with the various colours on the back.

This pattern, Arabesque, is my newest one, and it's kind of cool because you can start with the English Wedding Ring block, or another 10" block of your choice, do Round 1, and then add however many of the ensuing six rounds that you like and in whatever order that you like, as they are all 3". 

One more shot of the quilt. As you see, it is a great wallhanging which I have done instead of the table topper original plan. All the direction prints that I fussed with, as well as the work I did to take out and insert the pink/gold stars SiaS need to be on display!

Quilt Stats:

Size: 27.5" x 27.5"

Pattern: Arabesque by moi!
Fabric: rose woodgrain fabric is Gold Dust Inspirations by ?; brown reindeer fabric is Spirit of Winter by Whimsicals for Four Corner Designs for A E Nathan; background text print is Snowbound by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass & Co.; soft green snowflake is a Keepsake Calico; poinsettia print is Nature's Celebration by Hoffman International; gold stars print Winter Stars by R.E.D. International Textiles; pink holy sprigs Better Not Pout by Nancy Halvorsen for Benartex

Batting: 100% cotton flannel

Backing: leftover of above and Mumm's the Word for MM Fabric

Quilted: on Avril, 14 951 stitches

Threads: pieced with Aurifil; quilted with So Fine by Superior Threads 100% polyester colour 403; 100% rayon by Floriani in the bobbin

As mentioned, Rose of somethingrosemade made my pattern. Like overnight, I swear. When I first asked her along with a few others if they were interested in testing it, she said she wouldn't be able to until January, which was not a problem, I said, as that might stir up another sale or two. I sent her the finished published pattern and said that she didn't need to test it, and if she wanted to still make it, or a few rounds, in January, that would be great but certainly not necessary. She said it was perfect timing as she'd finished up th projects she had needed to, and she'd take a look... It seemed like a day or two max when she sent me not one but TWO makes!!🤯🤩 She's a rockstar for sure. Note her slight changes to the design... Love! Once she's back from the Grandparent House, she says she'll quilt these up, so check out her blog and Instagram for the reveals.

Linking up

From Bolt to Beauty

Songbird Designs

Quilty Girl

Quilting & Learning-What a Combo