jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

HOME Christmas Bunting

November 14, 2024 jennifer Christmas, Quilting and Sewing

My mini HOME Christmas blocks didn’t sit for long! I wanted to do something that would showcase them and especially those cute Christmas lights. Without further delay, let’s look at this cute HOME Christmas bunting, ready to hang for the holiday.

I used five of my six 4″ HOME quilt blocks to make this bunting, and I alternated the house colors.

It makes me smile, and also makes me excited for the holiday season.

Much like the cute little French knot Christmas lights along the rooflines, I also love another small detail. I used a light mint green for the double fold bias tape connecting the houses, and wanted a little something extra. So obviously I cheered a little inside when I found an itty bitty pink rick rack to include. I stitched it on top of the bias tape after the bunting was put together. Here’s a good closeup:

Want to make one? Let’s look at how I made mine.

First I cut backing pieces and batting pieces the same size as each block. These all measure 4.5″ square.

Place the pieces in this order: batting on the bottom, HOME block on top of it right side up, then backing on top right side down. Lay them all exactly on top of one another.

Starting at the top right corner, sew 1/4″ around the side, bottom, and then the left side of the stack. Leave the top open for turning right side out. I like to clip the two bottom corners. Be careful not to clip the seam!

Turn them right side out you’ll have these cute little blocks. They’re like little pockets. Arrange them in the order you like, and decide how close together you want them.

I decided to space mine 4″ apart. If I was making a second bunting, I would probably put them a little closer together. Slip the open top side of the block into the double fold bias tape, pin or clip them in place, and then stitch down the length of the bunting.

First I sewed the bias tape close to the edge to secure the blocks. Then I went back and topstitched the mini rick rack in place.

I didn’t sew the ends closed until after I added the rick rack. Then I tucked the raw ends inside and topstitched it closed.

And that’s it! My HOME Christmas bunting is complete!

I’m not done with my HOME block yet. I also made a stocking and an ornament. And I’m still dreaming of a Christmas quilt made of these darling little 4″ HOME blocks.

Mini HOME Christmas Blocks – with Christmas lights!

November 12, 2024 jennifer Christmas, Quilting and Sewing

After playing so much last month with my moody little HOME blocks (which became this and this), and then making my HOME beach hut pillow cover, I wanted to sew more blocks. I chose a Christmas theme, using the 4″ HOME quilt block size and alternating red and green colors. Now I’ve got a small collection of mini HOME Christmas blocks. And let me tell you, they are CUTE!

Happy sigh. Placed next to each other, I really like the secondary patterns in the corners. This would also be a fun theme to explore in a larger project.

Since these are Christmas houses, I thought they might like to have some little Christmas lights. Why not? The question was, white or colored, and how to do it. I decided to try colors, hoping to play up the candy shop color scheme in these blocks. First I selected six bright colors, and next I got out a ruler to measure the length of the roofline.

I decided that a 1/4″ spacing looked nice, and it allows me to rotate twice through all the colors with the first color on both edges and center top. I marked my lights with Sharpie, making tiny dots that aren’t difficult to cover with a French knot. Let the embroidery stitching begin!

And they are so much fun! I love these blocks with their little lights. Of course I had to keep going until all of them were fully decorated for the holiday.

Once I finished these mini HOME Christmas blocks, I looked at a 6″ Christmas themed block I’d sewn, and figured, why not? Using the same six colors, and the same 1/4″ spacing, I marked more lights and started adding French knots. Naturally we needed another line of them on the second roofline as well. I mean, who doesn’t love Christmas lights?

I’ve discovered my new favorite embellishment for these little blocks. Obviously I need to do something cute with them, like a bunting. I’m thinking more than one something cute, such as ornaments, or even a stocking. Stay tuned for more!

I’m headed back to my sewing machine. Have a great day!

-Jennifer

Collecting Leaves – more oak leaf applique

November 7, 2024 jennifer Quilting and Sewing

This morning on my way home from an appointment, the streets were covered in fallen leaves. Our weather change has been swift, so most of them were still a vivid green. We passed a trampoline covered in a thick blanket of dried leaves and joked about stopping to bounce them all off. I thought of a favorite quote by Albert Camus, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” This lovely art print captures that, I think. It’s a season that draws me outdoors much like spring, especially for collecting leaves. But this year, I’m collecting leaves made of fabric.

I now have a half dozen oak leaf applique blocks completed. When I first started my project, I assumed I would use all the pink, red, and orange fabrics on the honey yellow background. When I got started, however, I was drawn to a blue chambray background. I used the chambray recently on my Beach Hut pillow, and liked the contrast.

While I love the chambray, I don’t have much of it, so at first I started shopping online for more. I may regret it, but it didn’t feel right to buy fabric when I have plenty here at home. If I were on a walk through the forest, collecting leaves from the forest floor in various shapes, sizes, and colors, I would just rejoice in whatever I found. So, I decided to take that approach with my fabric. I’ll use what’s on hand. This led me to cut background blocks in another grayish blue and a dark gray. The gray reminds me of my Modern Maples quilt from many years ago.

Matching threads for applique reminded me of the multi-colored matchstick quilting on that quilt. It would be fun to do it again. For now, I have a LOT of applique to do. If I make a full quilt of these blocks, I only need at least…..90 more. Something tells me this won’t be a quick finish. No hand applique project is. I do love the organic feeling of all the hand stitched blocks. It will be worth it!

Time to cut and prep a few more!