Hey everyone! Today we're making a sweet Christmas baby quilt, and we're letting the characters on this fabric tell the whole story.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric
This is the 12 Days of Christmas Character Jade cotton fabric, from Quilting Treasures.
It comes from the 12 Days of Christmas collection by Julie Lynch for QT Fabrics.
It's 100% cotton, and it runs 44 to 45 inches wide. That's our standard quilting cotton width, folks. Easy to cut. Easy to plan around.
The print features beautifully illustrated holiday characters from that classic song. Lords-a-leaping. Maids-a-milking. And all the birds, too. This print pulls the characters front and center. That's the charm here.
The color story is really really pretty. Rich teal and jade. Joyful red. Charcoal and gray to ground it. Plus soft aqua, dark turquoise, and little touches of lime green.
That jade base keeps it soft, not loud. Perfect for a little one, but you still want real Christmas color. And because the characters are the artwork, we won't chop them up small. We'll cut big and let them be seen.
The Project: A First-Christmas Baby Quilt
A baby quilt is such a good first project. Or a tenth project. No judgment here, y'all.
Finished size for this one is about 36 by 42 inches. That's a lovely stroller size. A good tummy-time size. And just right for draping over a nursery chair for December photos.
Here's why this fabric suits it. The characters are playful without being tiny. A family will spot a new favorite every time they look. Super duper cute. And we're keeping the piecing simple. Big blocks. Straight seams. No fussy corners to fight.
Materials
- 1 1/4 yards of this Character Jade fabric for the large blocks and outer border
- 1/2 yard of a soft aqua or light gray tonal for alternating blocks
- 1/4 yard of a joyful red tonal for a narrow inner border, completely up to you
- 1 1/2 yards of backing fabric
- Batting at least 42 by 48 inches, so you have extra all around
- Matching thread, 50-weight for piecing
- 3/8 yard for binding, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Your usual rotary cutter, ruler, and a fresh needle — I use a size 80/12 for piecing cotton like this
Brief Steps
Step 1: Cut your character blocks big. Cut six blocks about 10 1/2 inches square from the Character Jade fabric, centering a character in each one if you can. Take your time lining those up. It's not a race.
Step 2: Cut the alternating blocks. Cut six blocks the same size, 10 1/2 inches square, from your aqua or gray tonal. These quiet blocks give the characters room to breathe.
Step 3: Lay it out. Arrange blocks in three rows of four, alternating character and tonal. Step back and look before you sew.
Step 4: Sew the rows. Sew blocks together with a steady quarter-inch seam allowance. Press seams toward the tonal blocks. Then join the rows and press again.
Step 5: Add the borders. If you're using the red inner border, cut strips 1 1/2 inches wide and add them to all four sides. Then cut Character Jade strips 3 1/2 inches wide for the outer border and add them the same way.
Step 6: Layer and quilt it simply. Backing wrong side up, batting, then top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or spray baste, whichever you prefer. Stitch in the ditch around the blocks first. Then echo around a few characters, or do a gentle meander in the tonal blocks. Use a relaxed 2.5 stitch length. Slow down at seam crossings, where a rushed needle likes to skip. Ask me how I know.
Step 7: Bind it soft. Join your 2 1/2-inch strips, fold in half, and sew around with that same quarter-inch seam. Turn it to the back and finish by hand or machine. Completely up to you.
Corey's Tips
First, wash everything or wash nothing. Be consistent. That red and that jade together will thank you if you prewash and press well before you cut.
Second, if a character lands a little off-center, leave it. Seriously. You're your own worst critic here. A baby is not checking your centering with a ruler. It doesn't have to be perfect to be loved and used every day.
Third, keep the quilting open and soft. Quilting every 3 to 4 inches keeps it cuddly and drapey. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Just like that.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 12 Days of Christmas Character Jade Cotton Fabric 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
