American Patchwork & Quilting December 2015
1 of 26
December 2015
The December 2015 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting is on sale from October 6--December 1.
Missed it? Order a digital issue here.
1 of 26
2 of 26
Homage to History
Designer Pam Buda's prairie-style fabrics and quilt patterns have their roots in ordinary pioneer women.
2 of 26
3 of 26
All that Glitters
Designer: Wendy Sheppard of Ivory Spring
Quiltmaker: Sherry McConnell
Fabrics: Gold Standard and Simply Sterling collections by Maria Kalinowski of Kanvas Studio for Benartex
Combine silver and gold to get a luxe look for the season. Double Sawtooth Star blocks in metallic prints add a splash of shimmer to your decor.
3 of 26
4 of 26
All that Glitters Color Option
Into the Wild
Combine African-theme prints and bright batiks in a quilted throw. Solid black sashing creates crisp lines and makes the savanna scenes in the center of the quilt come to life.
4 of 26
5 of 26
Christmas Cottage
Designer: Diane Nagle of Peddlecar Quilts
Fabrics: Winter Village collection by Lynette Anderson for RJR Fabrics
Sew a table runner fit for the season using foundation piecing and machine appliqué.
5 of 26
6 of 26
Christmas Cottage Color Option
Designer: Laura Boehnke
Fabrics: Gathering Basket collection by Kim Diehl and Cozy Yarn Dye Flannels, both from Henry Glass & Co.
Quilt tester Laura Boehnke opted for soft purples and greens instead of traditional reds and greens for her fusible-appliqué version of Christmas Cottage. She combined flannels and florals for a holiday table topper that easily transitions to spring. Fussy-cutting plaids makes easy work of the house windowpanes.
6 of 26
7 of 26
O Tannenbaum Pincushions
Designer: Lisa DeBee Schiller
Felted wool cones embellished with hand embroidery and fringe become the perfect Christmas tree pincushions. They also double as adorable holiday decor-for your sewing room or any room in the house.
7 of 26
8 of 26
Festive Towels
Designer: Kathleen Malarky
Let cute holiday prints do the work of decorating your home. Use them to band bath towels, as designer Kathleen Malarky did here.
8 of 26
9 of 26
Travel Trio
Designer: Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis
Make custom travel accessories so it's easy to identify your bag on the baggage carousel. Tammy Silvers used white and black prints and contrasting green topstitching to craft her luggage strap, luggage tag, and laundry bag.
9 of 26
10 of 26
Seeing Clearly
Designer: Becky Goldsmith of Piece O' Cake Designs
Woven Plaids are from the Brushstrokes collection by Pepper Cory for Studio E Fabrics.
Combine quilting cottons and felted wool with easy appliqué. Choose your favorite design from Becky Goldsmith of Piece O' Cake Designs or make all three eyeglass cases (or rotary-cutter holders!) and give them as gifts.
10 of 26
11 of 26
Pretty Pleats
Designer: Liz Taylor of Liz Taylor Handmade
Fabrics: Hip Hooray collection by Lizzie Mackay for Blend Fabrics
If you fall in love with a fabric collection, snag this idea from designer Liz Taylor to use lots of it. Top your favorite print with skinny pleats in the coordinating prints.
11 of 26
12 of 26
Santa Hat Pincushions
Designer: Lisa DeBee Schiller
By adding faux fur trim and folding the tip down, designer Lisa DeBee Schiller made easy Santa hats using a basic pattern.
12 of 26
13 of 26
The Perfect Setting
Designer: Tonya Alexander
In this nod to a traditional Thousand Pyramids quilt, diamonds pieced in the colors of gemstones shine on a muted background.
13 of 26
14 of 26
The Perfect Setting Color Option
Designer: Laura Boehnke
Fabric: Vincent Van Gogh collection by the Van Gogh Museum for Robert Kaufman Fabrics
For her version of The Perfect Setting, quilt tester Laura Boehnke "painted" a masterpiece using fabrics inspired by famous Vincent Van Gogh paintings. Swirls, textures, and scenes from Van Gogh paintings enliven the jewel-tone prints, helping to create a wall hanging that can enjoyed up close and from afar. Laura framed her work of art with two borders.
14 of 26
15 of 26
Prairie at Heart
Designer: Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts
Quiltmaker: Debbie McClarence
Fabrics: Antique Cotton collection by Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics
Scrappy triangle-squares sparkle on an indigo-blue print background. Use precut 10" squares for almost no fabric waste.
15 of 26
16 of 26
Prairie at Heart Color Option
Fresh Start Table Runner
Bring a fresh look to your table with a quilt made from cool blue, green, and gray prints. Fun stripes for borders add movement to the table runner.
16 of 26
17 of 26
Snowman Quartet
Designer: Gail Pan of Gail Pan Designs
No matter where you sit in relation to this table topper, a happy snowman will be smiling at you.
17 of 26
18 of 26
Snowman Quartet Color Option
Floral Fancy
Sew a bright and whimsical table topper using an assortment of floral prints and bright borders. A carefully arranged pink zigzag print highlights the Nine-Patch blocks.
18 of 26
19 of 26
Winding Trails
Designer: Avis Shirer of Joined at the Hip
When it's cold outside, stay inside and sew a throw made of Snail's Trail blocks, which bring to mind swirling snow.
19 of 26
20 of 26
Winding Trails Color Option
Flower Swirls
Choose florals in green, blue, and pink for a color palette reminiscent of an English garden. Get a scrappy look by limiting your color palette yet using a variety of prints.
20 of 26
21 of 26
Piece & Play
Designer: Jean Wells
Fabrics: Kona Cotton Solids collection from Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Designer Jean Wells wraps up a year-long exploration of color and improvisational piecing with Early Spring, a one-of-a-kind wall hanging.
21 of 26
22 of 26
Star Bright
Designer: Mary McGuire
Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke
Fabrics: The Sultan's Garden collection by Mary McGuire for RJR Fabrics
Combine bold florals and rich solids in Sawtooth Star blocks to stitch a happy quilt.
22 of 26
23 of 26
Star Bright Color Option
Sunrise Stars
Pair gray, an updated neutral, with sweet pastels in a star-studded wall hanging. Use solids and near solids to balance some of the exuberant prints.
23 of 26
24 of 26
Bird's-Eye View
Designer: Jackie Robinson of Animas Quilts
Fabrics: Chickadees & Berries collection by Jackie Robinson for Benartex
Framelike strips and a background of checkerboard units make a wintry panel print pop.
24 of 26
25 of 26
Bird's-Eye View Color Option
Underwater Adventure
Ocean-theme prints paired with beachy blues and sandy tans are perfect for a kid's quilt. A stripe border print ties all the colors together for a playful finish.
25 of 26
26 of 26
Make It Mini
Quiltmakers: Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co. and Cheryl Hadley
Fabrics: Farmhouse collection by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda Fabrics
Winding Trails goes from winter to spring in Joanna Figueroa's downsize version. Joanna oriented all the 4-1⁄4"-square blocks in the same direction instead of rotating every other one as in the original quilt.