Night comes early these short December days, but as soft pink dusk fades to a deep teal night, the stars come out to shine.

It’s almost Christmas! I hope you are feeling the holiday spirit and will soon get to relax with family and/or friends. Happily, my Christmas Forest quilt is complete just in time to wish you a very merry Christmas!

This patchwork tree quilt is made with the Christmas in the City fabric collection by Art Gallery Fabrics, plus a selection of Art Gallery basics and their Pure solids (Ocean Fog, Spruce, Zambia Stone, Evergreen, London Red and Ruby). Thus all the patchwork has that light, silky Art Gallery feel, and the colors harmonize easily. Christmas in the City is still available at Sojo Fabric and Fat Quarter Shop, should you be tempted to start some holiday sewing for next year!

I sewed the triangle-shaped Spruce trees with traditional piecing methods and the more complicated Fir Trees with the foundation piecing tree pattern from the Penny Sampler, used normal and in reverse. Plus, I created a new straight version of Fir Tree, for a pleasing variety.

The triangle trim along the bottom edge is taken straight from the Hourglass group in Pas de Deux. Why reinvent the wheel, right? It’s nice to mix and shake my patterns into something new.

The sprinkling of stars across the top of the quilt includes two fancy, paper pieced stars. I found the pattern for these in the treasure trove of free paper piecing patterns at Wombat Quilts. It’s the Nick’s star pattern, but simplified.

I’m not really in love with how the stars came out across the top. I wanted them scattered and random-feeling, but perhaps a bit more planning would have been best.

I am happy with the quilting! This snowy quilting pattern is called Flurry, and it’s a favorite with my customers. Many snow patterns are much too dense. This one has a softer, open style in the flake and the snow swirls. It gives the quilt that dreamy winter feel, don’t you think?

This cozy quilt is backed in Art Gallery Fabrics’ snowman flannel and bound with that fun Falalalala print, both from Christmas in the City. I prewashed the flannel, in order to head off any excessive shrinking. She’s ready to be used and enjoyed!

I can imagine Christmas Forest quilt becoming wrapped up in someone’s holiday traditions. May she bring a bit of beauty and magic to this busy season, year after year. I’ve listed the quilt in my Handmade shop today.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and joyful holiday!

xoxo,

Rachel