Wouldn’t it be great to have a Christmas quilt this season? There are any number of quilt designs that would only need the right colors to be holiday inspired. An easy Christmas Trip Around the World done in red, green and gold becomes a holiday treasure. This one is all holiday prints too. This is really such a fast and simple quilt, I made it in just 10 days from start to finish last Christmas, but luckily you have more time that that. The key is to start soon, so it is ready to enjoy ahead of time.
I started with 3-1/2-inch wide strips of my 8 chosen fabrics.
I cut all the strips, then made notes as to the order of the prints (numbering them one to eight) so I could sit and sew strips chain style.
I pressed toward the even numbered strips. This will make nesting seams easier.
Then complete the tubes by sewing the long ends together.
They won’t all be the same length, but that will not matter.
Now, take a deep breath, and cross cut the tubes into 3-1/2-inch wide square-strip sets.
Then, I started taking out seam lines between specific squares to start the pattern. First was to separate #1 from #8.
Then separate #1 from #2 – they are turned upside down here.
Sew those together.
Unpick the next one one square over so you have the squares running in diagonal lines.
Continuing on, constructing the upper left area first with 10 rows of squares.
I discovered a time saver, leave the pins in after you sew the row, and just move them up to the next row. Saves time taking them out, putting them back in the pincushion and then picking them up again.
On the lower half, the squares go the other direction, just flip the strip set. Just unpick one row at a time to be sure it is correct. Do nine rows, so the last row of this section is the transition with one red square in the center. Here is the quilt top down to row 10.
Left side done!
The right side of the pattern used only seven of the eight squares, and the strips are flipped around to create the diagonal lines running in the opposite direction. Note that the upper left and bottom right go the same way, while the upper right and bottom left go the opposite way. Here’s most of the right side done. Still only a few rows to go! You can see a little star post-it note on the top I used to keep me reminded of which end was the top. There’s one on the other side too.
I pressed the left side seams between the rows towards the top. The right side seams were pressed toward the bottom, so they would nest with the other side. Piecing done on the squares portion. Now for some borders.
The first border is the red print. Measured as per the standard way, and applied. See my Quilt Borders Tutorial to learn the proper way to add borders, and why doing it the right way matters.
Sometimes I use the longarm rail to do the measuring and pinning. Two more borders in cream and deep green.
I like this quilt more and more every time I add the next element. In total there are 15 squares side to side, and 19 top to bottom.
Then, loaded onto the frame for quilting, I worked on quilting a little each day. That is Warm and Natural batting, the brand I use most often as they are a local employer.
I used a pantograph with hearts in red King Tut thread.
I like how the darker thread fades into the fabric on the dark green, and shows nicely in the lighter patches and borders.
Add binding in red, then whip the binding to the back.
Then, some handwork while watching football on a Sunday.
All done, ready to greet holiday guests with the Christmas toile pillows. The final quilt measures about 60 x 70, large enough for an oversize lap quilt, or will cover the top of my queen size guest bed.
Of course, any pattern can be a holiday quilt, just choose the right colors. This one I made several years ago, and it graced our bed two years ago. Last year I kept it out on the sofa in the den during the holidays.
DH thought I had lost my mind when I pulled out the Christmas quilts and a few accessories for the table for a photo shoot. It was a rainy day, so the pictures are not as pretty as I would like. But, the thought of curling up on a rainy winter day with a good book and fire in the fireplace is so appealing. We’ll talk about the little stuffed tree on the table later in the year.
Thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop for a giveaway today!
This giveaway will help you make a holiday quilt in time for this year! Thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop for this great prize of a full bundle gorgeous Midnight Clear fabrics from the Fat Quarter shop. Perfect for that Christmas quilt and will arrive in plenty of time for you to make one for this season. Fat Quarter Shop will ship internationally so anyone can win!
To enter, visit the Fat Quarter Shop’s holiday site the Christmas Cloth Store, and view the new arrivals, enjoy one of their tutorials or visit the Jolly Jabber blog. Following Jolly Jabber will get you first notice great deals on items in the store every month, plus fun quilt alongs. Then come back to leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing from your visit. If you follow my blog, leave a second comment on how you follow for a second entry. Entries close on July 24th at noon, winners will be notified by email, and announced on the blog July 25th. Winner has been drawn.
Do you have a Christmas Quilt?
From My Carolina Home 
Good morning to you Carole. Its 3:30 in the morning here in Oregon and I am wide awake with insomnia so I was happy to hear the ding on my cell phone saying I had a new email and honestly was hoping it was from you and sure enough it was.
I am handsewing binding on a quilt for Project Linus. Its gray and a greenish gray or at least thats the color I see.
I visited the Fat Quarters Shop and I like their Cold Spell by Laundry Baskets for Moda Fabrics. I am always amazed at the creativity people have in designing fabrics or patterns.
Hope you have a wonderful day Carole.
I forgot to comment on this post. I love your Trip around the world quilt. I love that you did it in Christmas fabric. I have only made one trip around the world but did not like it. I really think it was the colors that I used. A real pale shade of green, off white and almost a sea foam green plus the blocks were 5 inch and that alone could have been the main reason I didnt like it because the blocks were too big. I just may make one with Christmas fabric and smaller blocks. Yours are just beautiful.
I follow you by email.
I like the video tutorials at fat quarter shop, so many clever and easy projects.
I follow you on email
I always enjoy looking at Christmas fabrics. Enjoying the colors and the memories they bring. My favorite line is snowmen gatherings 2. I loved the first line and now the second is even cuter. Those tiny prints are so cute.
I follow you through email.
Winter Winter’s Grandeur-so pretty-from the unusual color varuations to the metallics. Just beautiful! Great guveaway-thank you Sysan
I really like the Snowman Gatherings II by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win!
I follow you on bloglovin.
I really like the Snowman Gatherings II by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow on Bloglovin’
Hard to be thinking about Christmas, but I loved Kim Diehl’s winter blessings – such classic Christmas colors!
I follow you by email.
I follow you via bloglovin.
I love the Fat Quarter Shop and visit it daily. I like the Cold Spell line of fabric.
I follow you on wordpress.
Love your trip around the world. I haven’t made that pattern yet….it is “on the list” but so many other things distract me (like mystery quilts!). I enjoy the Fat Quarter Shop and their tutorials. Today I had fun looking at the Christmas fabrics and really like the Christmas Morning Holiday Flourish 9 Fat Quarter Bundle by Peggy Toole for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. My “future” Christmas project is a table runner and matching placemats for my daughter. I scooped up some more of the fabric I used last fall for her Christmas Pillow slip covers.
I follow you by email!
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Thank you for sharing your tutorial. I have this quilt pattern on my bucket list. I really like Kim Diehl’s Winter Blessing line of fabric. Thank you for the generous giveaway.
Good Morning Carole! Your Christmas quilts are gorgeous and truly inspiring! I realized that I do not have a Christmas quilt for my home, plus I know that a couple other people on my Christmas list do not have one either so after seeing yours and looking around Fat Quarters Shop at all of the Christmas fabrics I will be making at least one.
I do follow Fat Quarter Shop by email and looking around their site, my favorite item are the video tutorials. Thank you for your great tutorial and for the give away! Have a fantastic creative day!
I love the Christmas in the Village pattern. I am so into scrappy and believe that would be a wonderful Christmas quilt made with Christmas fabric scraps.
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i really liked winter blessings and Cold spell.
i follow by email.
I follow you on email
I love anything Christmas – The Fat Corner Shop. especially the Moda Fat Quarters
I follow on Bloglovin.
I LOVE the Cold Spell line that FQS is selling…those icy blues made me “brrrrrrrr” just by looking at them. I follow them via email and really like their videos.
Your Trip Around the World is just lovely. I made a couple of wallhangings in years past from the pattern…QIAD I think. But I may have to dig out some red, greens and golds and give a bed quilt a try. I follow you via email and enjoy each post!
I checked out the tutorial ‘How to Sew a Quilt Sleeve! Featuring Sherri McConnell and Kimberly Jolly’.
I follow you on bloglovin and email
Thank you for the tutorial. I was wondering how much fabric I need of each of the 8 fabrics? Thanks, Teresa
I love the Metallic Black Holly Filigree .
I follow with rss feed on feedly
I follow mainly on email. I love the quilt in the tutorial.
The collection that appeals to me is the snowman gathering. Fun and cute.
Sugar Plum Fat Quarter Bundle McKenna Ryan for Robert Kaufman Fabrics is one of my favorites.
I follow you by email.
Following on Bloglovin’.
I follow you by email – Am enjoying Christmas in July!
I love FQS! I follow them on FB & their blog, but most often I just pop over to their web site. I could buy all their Christmas fabric! But I do like TOLE CHRISTMAS by Gina Martin.
I didn’t even realize there WAS a Christmas shop, so thanks for the link! I’m on my way back to look around some more – there’s lots to enjoy!
And I follow you on Feedly. Thanks!
‘Morning Carole!
Once again you’ve made my day! Of course you know I’m going to have to give this quilt a try. You make it look so easy with your step by step instructions:) And you’re absolutely right, this fabric would be perfect for this quilt, beautiful colors and design. I’ve been following you for quite some time now (we both know your recipes have been a big hit in my home!) and I so look forward to all your posts. I follow the FQS too, love the Snowman Gatherings II fabric! Between your posts and theirs you keep me busy! Thanks for yet another fun post! Have a wonderful week!! Cindy:)
Your trip around the world is so pretty!!! Love the variety of fabric! I follow you always (smiles) and keep ya right on the sidebar of my blog so not to miss a post.
Wow!! Thank for the chance to get a hop on Christmas with such a great give-away! I liked everything in the Snowman Gatherings II By Primitive Gatherings For Moda Fabrics…especially the BIG snowman kit!! Wouldn’t that be cute in my classroom during the winter!! 🙂
The Crimson and Holly coordinates with that fantastic stripe for a border! I think I’m ordering some as soon as I finish this comment.
I also follow your blog by e-mail notice.
Great looking quilt! I’ve made one Christmas quilt that was all applique and is the 12 days of Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway! I love the tutorials that the FQ Shop has for everyone to use.
I follow by email. =)
I love the blues, so Cold Spell by Laundry Basket Quilts (with snowmen appliques I think!) and the new Snowman Gatherings II from Moda has the greys and neutrals my son and future daughter in law are using, would be great for a runner for the table and a wall hanging (not sure about if there’s room for a tree! maybe a tabletop one….) Love the fat quarters too!
sharon in Colorado
I checked out the Christmas fabrics at FQS and I just love the JOL collection! The reindeer, the colors, everything!
I follow your blog on my blogger dashboard/GFC.
Love the Jingle collection by Kate Spain. So very holiday-ish!
I follow your blog via email. Thanks for the inspirations!
I love the cardinal reflecton flannel fat quarter bundle at The Christmas Shop.
I follow your blog by email.
Hi Carole! Your seams match up so perfectly on this pretty Christmas quilt! Great directions!
I did not even know that the Fat Quarter Shop had a special Christmas store, even though I follow The Jolly Jabber. You sure threw temptation in my path, LOL. I loved McKenna Ryan’s Sugar Plum Line… or maybe Kate Spain’s North Woods (I already have some of that line and could easily add more.)
I follow you with Bloglovin’ and am adding you to my “Blogs to Love” sidebar feature.
Thank you so much for sharing the “Trip Around the World” tutorial. Can’t wait to try it!
Beautiful quilt! I need to get into the spirit early and get some holiday projects at least started here! One of my favorite fabrics from FQS is: Blue Barn Prints Cream Snow Night Yardage…the color is perfect for my home décor.
I follow From My Carolina Home on Bloglovin!
I like the Clubhouse quilt pattern by Sweetwater. I can see it as a simple quilt with Christmas prints.
I follow you by email.
I love the Silent Christmas Fat Quarter bundle, the colors are great, and I think it could be used year round.
I follow you with bloglovin’
I really like Spooky Delight Table Runner Pattern
Your Christmas quilts are gorgeous.
I follow you on email
I appreciate the Jolly Jabber blog posts. They have great tips and tutorials, a great resource.
I follow by email.
I followed you on Bloglovin..
I like the Cozy Christmas bundle by Riley Blake designs the most.. Love the colors n the patterns..
There are so many cute Christmas fabrics that I can’t really pick just one. Cozy Christmas and Christmas Gatherings are just two of my favorites. I am in love with the Holiday Wishes book that I just received from them and already have two quilts I need to make from patterns in it. I also love the Jolly Jabber and its Fresh Finds as well as it’s tutorials. Rina
I just recently discovered your blog and began following it the day I did. Can’t believe I missed it before. I follow via email.
My favorite collection is Flower Sugar Holiday! I love Trip Round the World Quilts- so fast and easy but timeless. Yours looks pretty in red and green.
I started following on Feedly.
I rarely comment on blogs. I am a newish quilter and only want to learn the techniques and what you see in the various fabric combinations. You are amazing in how you “see” the finished product in your head before cutting. I learn so much every time I visit your site. Thanks for sharing your insight, techniques and experience.
Favorite thing? As in just one?!? Lady, you’re crazy. LOL I couldn’t pick just one any more than I could pick a favorite of my children. 😉 I guess I’ll just narrow it down to Christmas themed. I’m loving the Juniper Berry, JOL, Midnight Clear, and Town Square the most. I think. LOL
And I follow you via email 🙂
Great Christmas quilt idea. I haven’t done one of those in a long time, that pattern, I mean. I learned it so many years ago, but it just fell out of my head. Thanks for the reminder and the refresh course in your tutorial. I do follow you by e-mail. I’m just slow commenting lately.
You are a real temptress! I didn’t know about that Christmas shop they have. Now the Snowman Gatherings II jelly roll on sale is hollering at me!
The garland collection would be my choice
I follow by email
Jingle by Kate Spain, great fabric
I love everything Christmas…so the Downtown Abby collection was fun. You have bee very busy putting together this Christmas in July for us. Love it!
Crystal in Cedar City
I follow by email…and it is my favorite email to receive.
Crystal in Cedar City
So many options at Fat Quarter. Winter Winter’s Grandeur caught my eye today as I think I need some more neutral fabric. Thanks for the chance.
I receive your updates via email – always fun to see! Thanks for chance and thanks for sharing.
I really like their latest art gallery video for the palisades quilt.
I love Cold Spell – reminds me of the blues of the snow in the shadows of the evergreen trees with the sun hidden by clouds. Makes me cold just thinking about it on this hot July day!! Love Jolly Jabber and the Fat Quarter Shop!!
I am a new follower of your blog via email!! I love reading the blogs of fellow longarm quilters!!
Ten days?? Really?? It is a lovely Christmas themed quilt. Looks great on the bed.
I follow by email.
HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON BLOG LOVIN’!
HI, love your project! Love “Midnight Clear” collection too>it is my favorite! Follow FQS via FB+gmail+Jolly Jabber! Thanks to You+FQS for a very nice giveaway!
Ten days, it´s awesome and love your fabric combo and quilting.The strings is 3-1/2-inchxWOF of yard or fat quarter?and how many of each eight fabrics.
This is a beautiful Christmas quilt and don´t have any.
I get Fat Quarter Shop newsletter and there are fabulous fabric line and they shipping is fast.One of my favorite is Cozy Christmas by Lori Holt.
I am pretty sure I used 3-4 strips WOF for each color. I didn’t write a pattern as I was following one out of a book, just changing the size from jelly roll strips.
I liked the Silent Christmas Ted Snowballs fabric. Love me some spots or dots!
I enjoy following by email.
I love all the FQ bundles!!!!
I follow you by e mail
Love the fat quarters bundles… such pretty fabric. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway.
My favourite item is the Juniper Berry fat quarter bundle. Maybe if I start my Christmas sewing soon, I might actually finish some for Christmas this year.
I enjoy the Holday Wishes posts. The sampler block quilt is on my to do list. Thanks for the give away.
Silent Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle is what I love in the shop!!
I follow your blog w/ bloglovn!
OK I really liked the downton abbey fabrics
I like the Holiday Wishes book and have signed up for the block of the month
I follow on pinterest
I am the Aurifill monthly club. Building a nice collection. I like their selections & their tutorials,
I follow you on email.
I like Snowman Gatherings II.
Like the Snowflakes Batiks.
Following with bloglovin.
What a nice tutorial. It is difficult to get in the holiday spirit in July but some of their holiday fabric lines were awfully tempting!
I really like Jingle by Kate Spain. Maybe you have motivated me to use up some of my Christmas fabric.
I follow on BL. I didn’t know W&N was local. I am near Charlotte.
I liked the John Deere fabric. My kids love everything John Deere and would love it if we lived on a farm.
Juniper berries has been my favorite for a long time.
Since I already have a lot of Christmas fabrics, my favorite “thing” from the Christmas page is Holiday Wishes by Sherri Falls of This & That Pattern Company. I would help me use what I have (although a little more Christmas fabric couldn’t be a bad thing!
I love your ‘Round the world’ quilt. By the time your Christmas in July posts are finished, my wish list of quilts I would like to make will be considerably longer.
I love the fabrics with just a bit of metallic in them, so pretty for Christmas projects!
I receive your newsletter. Beautiful quilts!
I visited the Christmas Cloth store and, of course, there are many that I like. For a more traditional quilt, I would pick Juniper Berry; however, I just love Sugar Plum! I will have to buy this now. Thank you! peterstankovich@comcast.net
I thought the Christmas Kitsch was such a very happy, nostalgic line. It made me smile. That was just one favorite I saw in the shop!
I follow you via email. When I don’t see an email…I check in via a bookmark in my browser.
I love Juniper Berry! 🙂
I follow on Bloglovin’
I have always wanted to make one of these quilts. Thank you for the excellent tutorial! I absolutely adore the Cold Spell fabric collection.
Thanks!
I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks!
Lovely round the world quilt. This is my first year starting Christmas early and thought it feels a little weird to be sewing for Christmas in July, you’re right that it will be great to have them when the winter sets in!
LOVE “Silent Christmas” Fat Quarter Bundle!!! would make Awesome Table Runner!! I follow FQS & their blog…and am a super Happy Customer there too! 🙂
Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way! 🙂
I also follow you thru Bloglovin & Email 🙂
I like the arctic antics flannel colección…nice and warm!
Eileen
Oh those snowflake batiks are so pretty!
Following you on bloglovin!
My favorite from The Christmas Cloth Store is the Let it Glow collection.
I follow you on Feedly.
I love the “cold spell” fabric line and I love your quilt!
I love the FQS’s Sew Sampler Boxes! Just love getting a surprise box in the mail each month and I am amazed at all the usecular fun stuff inside!!
I follow on email and bloglovin….off on vacation at the moment! But going to the Smokies on the way home! Wave if you see me!
Warm Wishes Metallic Silver on Fog Packed Poinsettias goes with the jelly roll I just bought! I follow Jolly Jabber by email.
OMG I love the Warm Wishes Metallic Gold on Black Poinsettias from Kaufman Fabrics. I love anything with pinecones and I see that the giveaway bundle has them right there on the top fabric!!! Thank you so much for this Christmas in July giveaway!!!
I follow you via email!! Love your ideas! My mind is spinning already.