Now that I have all 12 blocks pieced, the next step in the Vintage Christmas Quilt Along is to complete the hand embroidered details on several blocks. The skate needs its bow, the train and house need the smoke trails, the ornament needs a hanger, and two other blocks need some outlining.
While I was at Beginnings Quilt Shop recently, I found this great Christmas print on sale. I bought the rest of the bolt, almost six yards. I plan to use it for the side bars, backing and binding for all the blocks to be made into placemats. The green isn’t the same as the green in my blocks, it has a bit more yellow in it, but I think it will do fine anyway.
But, handwork first. I got out my boxes of DMC floss (See FQS’s great collections!) and pulled some colors. Dark red and brown worked best.
I used the silver water erasable marker by Quilter’s Choice. These work really well and come in both silver for light fabrics and white for dark fabrics. Lay the block over the template in the book and trace the design. I started with the smoke from the house chimney.
Here is the smoke on the train block.
Working on these on a couple of weekends, I did the embroidery while watching TV. I miss Sunday sports so much that I’ve been watching classic football games on youtube, LOL!! But I have found a few series on Netflix worth watching. These dramas are well written and worth the time – Sweet Magnolias, Heartland, and Virgin River.
Doing the hanger, you don’t have to go all the way to the edge, as 1/4 inch will be in the seam allowance.
The bow on the skate was stitched with a backstitch in dark red with six strands.
All done with this block.
Using two strands, I outlined the candy canes as the white was so close in value to the background.
The house smoke trail was stitched in brown with six strands.
When all the embroidery was done, I added 3-1/2-inch wide side bars to each block. The print is directional, so I had to pay attention to that.
This brings the size up to 12×18 finished, a nice placemat size. Next, quilting and then finishing.
If you’d like to make your own Vintage Christmas set of placemats or a quilt, click on Lori Holt’s Vintage Christmas Book, available at Fat Quarter Shop. Don’t forget to see what is on today’s Flash Sale while you are there! The book is also available on Amazon – Vintage Christmas Book at Amazon. Only a few days left for the Featured Products on Sale 25% off through July 31 at Impression Obsession.
Congratulations to Jayne P who won a Scrap Dance pattern on our Christmas in July Pattern Parade blog hop!! All those links and patterns are still available, if you are in the mood to sew for Christmas.
How is your Vintage Christmas project coming along?
Sharing at Slow Sunday Stitching.
From My Carolina Home 
How very festive!!
Lovely blocks and sweet embroidering. The backing fabric is a beauty.
The embroidery makes all the difference and is a delightful detail to the blocks. I’m currently stalled on block construction—don’t know what I’m waiting for—It’s just so hot here. The Christmas print is really cute with the character of the blocks and I can’t wait to see your tablescape with these placemats!
I love those placemats! The fabric you bought is perfect. How wonderful that you got it on sale.
They look great! The embroidery is lovely. We just enjoyed My Spy – an amazon original movie – very cute. Another hot hot day here…looking forward to cooler temps this week! Stay cool & safe!
Wow the embroidery really makes these blocks sing. Great job and happy stitching. Thanks for the series info. My daughter has watched heartland but I’ll check out the other 2.
Those blocks look so cute. The detail really finishes them off nicely.
love the placemats!
I am in the middle of Absentia on Amazon…riveting but very dark….and I was in the middle of Rogue Trip (Bob Woodward and his son…explorer trips) but my Disney + expired. I am thinking of re-upping it as Nat Geo has FANTASTIC documentaries…..
this is going to be a very sweet quilt when finished
Your Christmas quilt is one of my favorites!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!The details of the embroidery just add to it’s wonderfulness!
The embroidery adds so much to your fun Christmas blocks! I like that print you found to go along with them, too. Looks like an enjoyable project to work on, Carole!
Great Christmas quilt, and perfect fabric for backing. Have fun with your embroidery!
I miss Sunday sports too and it is great to do projects with sports in the background. Lovely work on this piece so far and looking at Christmas themed projects make me smile in the middle of the July heat 🙂
Hello Carole, Each one of your blocks turned out fabulous! It surprised me when you stated that you were going to make the blocks into placemats. Yet, that is actually a marvelous idea. Along with adding the lovely hand embroidered details will make each placemat so special, no one will want to put their plate down on them. LOL. I am so glad that you shared this wonderful project with us and look forward to someday making my own blocks. Thank you for sharing and have a splendid day!
these blocks are very cute.
Lovely festive placemats. Perhaps we will see them used in a future table setting?
Absolutely LOVE the green fabric you found on sale! You know how much I love anything green. LOL but it is the perfect Christmas print to go with your quilt, which is also beautiful. I’m sort of stuck in place when it comes to Christmas sewing right now. I am finishing a “sheltering at home” wall hanging, but ready to get onto something else that’s fun. Thinking, thinking…… LOL
Carole-the embroidery really brings the blocks to life! Making placemats from the blocks is a great idea and I love the green Christmas print you used for the side bars. Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to see the full tablescape!😀
These will be so festive during December, Carole, and I do love your background fabric!