Ready to have some fun? Today, I am hosting a blog hop for your enjoyment with a Christmas theme for our hot days of July. The Christmas In July Pattern Parade Blog Hop includes quilters from the US, Canada and Australia. We are a group of pattern designers that have not done an event together before, so you may find some new blogs to follow today. Each blog will offer you a free pattern for a Christmas project, or a project suitable for gift giving. The bloggers are all designers, so they’ll also have their patterns available for purchase. Some are doing giveaways, too! All the links are active today, and you can come back and hop to your heart’s content, either all today or over several days. You can come back later too, as all these links will stay up. The full list is at the bottom of this post.
For my free project, I am showing my Christmas Trip Around the World quilt. This is really such a fast and simple quilt, I made it in just 10 days from start to finish a few years ago, but luckily you have more time that that.
You will need 1/2 yard each of 8 different fabrics. Cut them into strips 3-1/2-inches wide by the width of the fabric. If you have a box of scraps, you’ll need 36 each of 8 different prints. Depending on which print is where, you’ll end up with a few squares left over with either method. I’ll show you the strip piecing method for really fast assembly. Complete instructions in the pdf download.
In a jiffy, you’ll have your top done.
Add borders to make the size you want. See my Quilt Borders Tutorial to learn the proper way to add borders, and why doing it the right way matters.
Quilt and bind as usual. The final quilt made with the instructions is 63 x 71, but you can vary this by the size strip or square you use. Download the free pdf pattern for your sewing room, just click on Christmas Trip Around the World
Of course, any pattern can be a holiday quilt, just choose the right colors. And this Trip Around the World can be made in any color combination or square size, perfect for a special gift this year. Wrap a loved one in a quilty hug. Want to see more of my free and quick projects for gifts? See my Christmas in July projects post. Other small projects for gift ideas can be found on Camera Case, Christmas Star Table Runner, Travel Pillow Case and Gift Ideas for Guys. You can see the blocks in the Vintage Christmas Quilt Along. Then, click on my Christmas Category for tablescapes, gift wraps, gifts from the kitchen and more. I have lots of inspiration and ideas!
You can see my Scrap Dance pattern series on My Patterns page, or on Etsy. Leave a comment on this post with the Scrap Dance pattern you like best, and be entered to win a free digital pdf pattern of your choice delivered via email. If you purchase a pattern this week, and your name is drawn, your purchase price for one pattern will be refunded as your prize. Winner will be drawn on Sunday. Congratulations to Jayne P who won the Scrap Dance pattern of her choice.
Now, without further ado, meet the talented pattern designers on our Christmas in July Pattern Parade Blog Hop! The bloggers are divided into three groups, based on the project they planned to show today. Have fun!!
Table Toppers, Home and Kitchen
Inquiring Quilter
Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Cooking Up Quilts
The Quilted Diary
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Morning Glory Designs
Scrapdash
Days Filled With Joy
Small Projects
Geeky Bobbin
Sunburnt Quilts
Tamarinis
Tuning My Heart Quilts
Prairie Sewn Studios
Puppy Girl Designs
Ladybug Buzz
Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
Traditional and Modern Quilt Patterns
Ms P Designs USA
Quilt 2 End ALZ
Patti’s Patchwork
Cotton Street Commons
Brown Bird Designs
From My Carolina Home
My blog is a variety of subjects, a lot of quilting and sewing, but also tablescapes, recipes, book reviews, hand stitching, stamping cards, crafting, gardening, travel and mountain living. If you are new to my blog, I hope you’ll stay a while and look around. Just click on the blog title to see the latest posts, or use the categories on the sidebar. I hope you enjoy my blog and invite you to follow me. To follow by email or blog reader, use the link buttons on the sidebar. Or leave a comment and check the little box below the form to follow by email. If you are viewing my blog on a smartphone, scroll down past the comments to see the options. If you are on a computer, the options are on the sidebar on the right.
Join my Friends of From My Carolina Home Facebook group, and share your Christmas in July creations! Share on Instagram with #CIJPP.
Are you enjoying the hop? Which Scrap Dance Pattern would you like to win?
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From My Carolina Home 
Your Scrap Dance Original is my favorite. Thank you for putting together such a fun hop!
What a fun hop this will be. Can’t wait to dive into everyone’s posts today. I need some inspiration for Christmas gift-giving! With all that is going on in the world, I believe homespun, homemade gifts is the way to go this year. Everyone needs a cuddle! My favorite pattern of yours, Carole, is the Scrap Dance Two Step! Thank you for the giveaway and for hosting this hop! It couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Blessings!
What a big job organizing all this…..will enjoy the Hop!
I’m enjoying all the Christmas in July posts. Thank you, Carole, for doing this!
Carole What a fun list of blogs to follow. I know how I will spend my morning with my coffee! I always enjoy seeing Trip Around the World Quilts and tell myself I am going to make one “someday”. Thanks for your clearly written directions. I love yours in Christmas colors.
How exciting to meet all the new bloggers and see such diversity in the patterns!! This will be a welcome morning treat with my cup of tea. I love your original red and white scrap dance. Thank you, Carole!
This will be a fun blog hop to visit, Carole! Thanks for setting it up. I really like your Christmas Trip Around the World quilt, too! It’s a tempting pattern to try.
It’s a great hop, thanks for facilitating this one. Love your TATW, great pattern which reminds me I have on kitted in my sewing room to get to someday. Merry Christmas!
How fun that you organized this blog-hop. I love Christmas in Julyl!! Looking forward to visiting the other bloggers. AND, thank you for that quilt border tutorial. What a difference!! Take care!
Scrap Dance Original. I just reread your borders tutorial. I had read it one time before, but needed a refresher. Thanks for the tutorial, I will try to keep it in mind. I did have the same issue with one of my quilt tops when I had to actually pleat the border to get it to fit.
Wow! You have been busy! Thank you for all the inspiration and introduction to these designers. Most of them are new to me. Happy Christmas in July!
I love a good ‘trip around the world’! (and this is the safest way to have one right now 🙂 Thanks for creating a fun event . I’m enjoying the HOP!
Wow, I’m only familiar with one other blogger on the list. It’s going to take me some time to visit all of them.
The Trip around the World looks so awesome! ON my to do list for sure! Thank you for organizing this hop – I need to start thinking of the holidays! I love the Original Scrap Dance – I believe in red and white? I like the two step too!
I love the Scrap DAnce Tango! So much fun!
Such a fun hop! Well done. Your quilt is so festive and fun. My favorite was theScrap Dance Waltz. I loved the movement in it.
I love the scrap dance tango
I have made two quilts the bottom first on the left, and the last on the right.
They turned out so well. Your mystery quilt alongs have been so fun
What a great blog hop. I’ve already made the Scrap Dance Tango but would love the chance to with the Swing bag pattern
What a great idea for a Blog Hop, Carole! Thanks for organizing it.
Thank you very much for hosting!! Great job and I love your project.
Thanks again for putting on such a fun hop, Carole! It has been a pleasure. Love your scrappy patterns, but my favorite has to be Tango.
Thank you for the Trip Around the World pattern and the chance to win one of your great patterns. It was a tough choice, but I think my favourite is Quickstep because I am all about the options. 🙂 The Charleston Bag was a really close second.
And thank you for organizing such an amazing hop. The projects were all inspiring.
Wonderful hop! All designers did such a wonderful job of presenting ideas and I’ve a list started already. Thank you for coordinating this hop and thank you designers for participating and sharing. Tango is my choice.
The original is my fave. I love them all, but since I made the original as a gift for a dear friend in Missouri, it’s my favorite. I am thinking of Minuet perhaps as my next!
I like the original and the Waltz
Thank you Carole! You are amazing with all your posts and patterns. Hoping to get to the Asheville Arboretum this weekend. Thank you for lifting my spirits and helping us look forward to the Holidays! I haven’t yet made one of your mysteries, but Scrap Dance Tango looks like one I would love. Thanks for your encouragement!
Scrap Dance Quick Step is my favorite pattern!
Thank you so much for putting this blog hop together. I am not familiar with very many of the designers and am enjoying being introduced. I enjoy seeing the items/tutorials and patterns that each designer is showcasing on the blog hop. It is also fun to look around new-to-me blogs.
Christmas is such a fun time and I am getting some great ideas!
Thanks also for the “Trips” pattern and tutorial. That pattern is on my mind st do list and maybe this year will be the year!
Thanks again. I know organizing a blog hop like this must involve a lot of “behind the scenes” work!
My favorite is Scrap Dance Tango.
I’m finding a lot of wonderful patterns from all these bloggers. All of them so creative and generous. Thank you for organizing this blog hop.
Hi Carole. Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt. Great idea in Christmas fabrics. It has been fun looking at all the participants in the hop. Well done!!!
Thanks for the great ideas, hope to do some Christmas sewing!!
Scrap dance waltz is my favourite.
Thanks Carole this is fun! I finally got through the entire list for a quick once over and now to go back. Found so many new things, techniques, ideas. It’s a small world! No need to reply, I will keep digging into all the new patterns from new friends!
What a lovely hop, I usually join in for this one but somehow missed it. Great projects from everyone.
I love your scrappy Tango and the all red Waltz. I made a scrappy Waltz in fall colors and my son loves it. Thanks for all you share and inspire.
This is fun and I’m meeting new quilters too! Scrap Dance Tango is my very favorite.
Thinking of you….and smile as you continue to create JOY! Lots of new bloggers included here….that’s so awesome!!!
Scrap Dance Original is the one that makes my eyes move to enjoy all the pieces! Will start to explore the other blogs on the hop – great timing that it’s after taxes were turned in! Thanks for the chance!
Thank you for sharing! I’ve enjoyed seeing your Christmas quilts & projects. And thanks as well for organizing the pattern parade. Happy quilting!
Thank you for the tutorial and for hosting this pattern parade. My favorite is the Scrap Dance Minuet.
Your Christmas Trip Around The World quilt is really pretty! Thank you so much for hosting this hop that is full of inspiration and ideas.
Both of my grandma’s used to make this pattern, only theirs were always done scrappy because that’s what they had. How I wish I’d inherited one of them! All of my paternal grandma’s quilts were lost in a house fire so all I have are the memories from when I was a little girl. Thank you for the fun hop – it’s been great visiting with everyone. (Oh, and I really like that Charleston bag design!).
Great beginning to the hop!