Think Outside the Quilt: Fun Holiday Projects to Make & Give
Holiday sewing doesn’t have to mean making a quilt!
Many of our loyal fans have asked for more table runners and home décor projects. We heard you! Fabric Café is excited to introduce our Studio Collection.
Shake up your holiday gifting by creating these fun-to-make projects. Our new Festive Gatherings Table Runners and Christmas Wishes Tree Cozy patterns provide options for fabulous home décor projects sure to WOW as gifts and/or to add pizazz to your holiday home.
We’ve got all the details!
Introducing The Studio Collection
These patterns are a larger 8.5″ x 11″ booklet offering more home décor type patterns with a little more fabric selection! We’re happy to launch these patterns just in time for your holiday sewing!
You’ve come to know and love our simple pattern strategies. We’re introducing a slightly different methodology with the new Studio Collection patterns. Each Studio Collection pattern booklet is organized into clear cutting instructions, diagrams, and detailed step-by-step instructions, all in a larger format than our traditional stand-alone patterns. Make one or 100 of these projects and each one is successful and stunning because of our tried-and-true Fabric Café strategy!
First Up – our Festive Gatherings Table Runners. Five (that’s right FIVE) different runner designs bring you lots of variety in one Studio Collection pattern! As with any pattern, read through the instructions carefully. Since these are a little bit different from our 3 and 5-yard patterns, it’s best to take a minute to familiarize yourself with the fabric amount and placement.
Off we go! Five runners all using a total of 2½ yards. One full yard and three - half yards of fabric are all you’ll need to make great home décor projects. A slight variation from our quilts. We wanted to design with a little more fabric variety for these patterns and they are dazzling! All runners are also generously sized to make a statement! Make one for your own holiday table and/or for a hostess gift!
The Evergreen Lane Table Runner guide is shown above. Fabric positions are assigned as usual. Note, while the suggested types of fabrics are standard throughout, this time, the amount of fabric for the positions may vary. It will always be one-yard and three – half-yard cuts (2½ yards total to make the top) but the 1-yard cut maybe the # 1 position for one pattern or a #3 position for another. It’s still super easy, just be sure to keep in mind the amount of fabric for each position.
Evergreen Lane - 18½″ x 74½″ A double-focus pattern allowing you to showcase dynamic prints for a showstopper finish perfect for your holiday table or buffet.
Tip: Customize it! You can customize these runners easily to make them appropriate for the size you need. Drop a block if your table or space is smaller, add a block if you need a longer runner.
Let’s look at the other fabulous runners. You are sure to be inspired to whip up some gifts this season! Make one for a friend or family member.
Starlight - 18½″ x 72½″ A one-block project comes to life with an offset layout!
Merry Blossoms - 20″ x 80½″ A stitch-and-flip and double focus pattern with a fabulous faux scalloped edge.
Snowdrift - 20½″ x 74½″ A one-block design. This pattern has a slight difference in the fabric placement where the #3 position uses a full-yard.
Kindred Hearts 22½″ x 80½″ A large focal-print opportunity. Sized for big tables, bed scarves, dresser scarves or even on the back of your sofa!
Any ½ yard prints will work in any ½ yard position. The 1-yard position needs to stay in the 1 yard. It’s just as easy as our 3 and 5-yard quilts. You’ll be making these again and again with success in no time!
Tip: Fabric play time! Non-holiday fabrics will be just as fantastic. The Starlight runner in patriotic fabrics will be a Star-Spangled Stunner. The Merry Blossoms runner in bright springtime fabrics will simply Bloom Bright! Make your sweetheart Valentine a tablescape to remember with the Kindred Hearts runner in sweet and soft romantic florals. How will you reimagine these runners in everyday fabrics?
Christmas Wishes Tree Cozy
We set you up for fun with table runners, but we have another super fun project to introduce to you…
It’s a new take on a tree skirt. The Studio Collection Christmas Wishes Tree Cozy is here! A 3-dimensional finished project you can enjoy year after year! If you looked up versatile in the dictionary, you might just find this project!
Choose your:
- Fabric combinations
- Applique motif
- Pieced block
- Number of sections
- Finished size
It’s REVERSIBLE!! Get creative and bring extra joy to your Christmas Tree this season.
Here’s a closer look at the project -
You will make eight sections that are sewn and are then connected by hook & loop tape. The pattern includes applique motif options and pieced block options. For the applique, you can create a bow or heart with this pattern. For the two pieced sections, we provide patterns for a gift box motif and a traditional star block.
We provide everything you need to create different options for your tree cozy. In addition to the detailed pattern, we help you determine the size needed for your tree and, most importantly, we provided a chart for materials by number of sections you make!
Individual sections allow for so much creativity - Here are some ideas!
Make a different motif for each panel. With 8 sections, you could really get creative with using more applique or pieced blocks for each section. Try using leftover or orphan blocks you have in your stash. This project provides the opportunity to use those blocks you have held on to for that special project.
How about a “family tree” tree cozy! Embroider each family member’s name on different panels along with a decorative motif. You could have a panel for each child with their first Christmas year. Don’t forget about your furry family members too. How adorable would a pawprint applique or dog bone be with your dog or cat’s name!
There are so many gorgeous Christmas panels available out there. Using a large panel in different sections of your tree cozy would be striking and artistic.
Embroidery by hand or machine will add a special touch. Incorporate little beads or specialty metallic threads for some sparkle!
Remember, the tree cozy is reversible! You can have DOUBLE the fun in creating your tree cozy and change it up for a different look each year by putting something different on each side.
Heads Up!
Tree Cozy project does require some additional supplies. You’ll need the following:
- Heavyweight fusible stabilizer
- Paper-backed fusible web (for applique)
- Sew-on hook and loop tape.
We’ve teamed up with Bosal to create our very own custom Christmas Wishes Tree Cozy stabilizer package. We offer an 8-piece pre-cut package for you to grab and go!
We also have our Good Tidings Tree Cozy Kit.
The kit includes:
- Pattern
- Two 1-yard cuts of coordinating fabric
- Two half-yard cuts of coordinating fabric
- Custom Bosal Tree Cozy stabilizer – 8 pre-cut pieces
You’ll need to add the paper-backed fusible web and hook-and-loop tape (sold separately)
Fun, functional, and easy-to-store, our Tree Cozy project is something we have wanted to offer for some time. We are excited to share it with you!
We know our Fabric Café friends are super creative! We’d love to hear how else you would use this type of pattern.
Why stop at Christmas? Maybe you have large planters for Easter – make this a planter cozy instead? Have a friend with a green thumb? Make a smaller version for smaller house plants! Have fun and get cozy!
Think Outside the Quilt!
Gift giving ideas and holiday sewing has more options than ever with our variety of different home décor projects. Table runners, the Tree Cozy, and another great go-to our popular Make It Home book.
Featuring 7 quilt patterns with 14 matching home-décor projects. Skip the quilt if you want and make those pillows and table runners, and wall hangings!
‘Tis the season to be sewing up a jolly good time!
