Did you change your decor this weekend? I did some decorating, a bit of cleaning, and got rolling on some sewing for the holidays. I have this Christmas panel pretty much done as I’ve been working on it over the past month. I’ll break it into a couple of posts to show you what I did.
I began by cutting it up. I really don’t need a door panel, so it became a set of three table runners or wall hangings.
I auditioned fabrics to put with the truck panel first. This was the best red, and I love the adorable mitten print. The colors in it were a perfect match, bringing in some black to pick up the black check ribbon in the panel.
I trimmed the section to be square, then measured it.
I trimmed the three pieces to an even number plus a half inch, which will make the math for the borders easy.
So, I trimmed this one to 24-1/2 inches square which means I need twelve squares per side for the inner border. I only wanted to use these three prints, so I cut long strips at 2-1/2-inches wide, then sewed them together. Cross cutting at 2-1/2-inches gives me some sets of three to speed up the border piecing.
Because the total number wasn’t divisible by 3, the squares wouldn’t work out to alternate them all the way around the top. So, I put a fourth dark green print in the corners. Then I added a black background dotted print as an outer border. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that the border across the top was oriented differently until after I had finished it and was looking at these pictures. Ah well.
I had plenty of the cute mitten print to do the background on the topper.
Usually, I would pick one fabric, load all the toppers at once and quilt them together, but this time I didn’t have enough of any one print that would work for all three. Plus, I decided to quilt in different colors of thread, so did them one at a time.
This one was quilted with a sage green Glide thread on top, with Bottom Line in the bobbin. The pantograph is the only holiday one I have, called Deck the Halls by Urban Elementz. It has bells and holly, but I put in loops instead of the curlicues it has, just for ease of quilting. I don’t do that well with backtracking on pantographs.
Quilting went smoothly, and the thread color disappears nicely over the motifs.
It adds a bit of texture and pattern to the background white.
I bound it in the same mitten print and this will make it reversible too.
I put it on a table for now, with my little farm trucks. I need to add a sleeve and a dowel to be able to hang it.
Are you doing any holiday sewing this week?
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Sharing Favorite Finish.
From My Carolina Home 
A very clever use of fabric!
where did you get the adorable little trucks on your tree? I love trucks!
I love this topper. Great use for a panel. I have to get those panels sometimes because they are so pretty or cute, and then don’t know what to do with them.
Really cute panel print. They are always fun for something seasonal. The darker quilting looks good!
That is beautiful!
That is really, cute, Carole! I love the mitten print! I got my fall quilted items put away and a start on getting the Christmas things out. I like to take my time with Christmas decorating. I’ve been sewing tiny 3 inch green and red bowties for a mini quilt this week – it may take awhile to finish, but I’ll have fun along the way!
Oh ….The red truck is perfect for Mitford fans.
Such a cute idea, Carole! I love vintage trucks and this wall hanging/table topper is perfect!! I am making a vintage truck Christmas card on my embroidery machine today. I finished a barn yesterday and it turned out really cute. I need to find one of these panels I think! It would look great with the ceramic truck I made last year!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
You really dressed up that panel! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely adorable project … looks great on the table but will make a wonderful wall hanging too!
Great use of the panel, what a fun quilt!
Great job turning a panel into a wall hanging. Red trucks are very popular this time of year
Loved seeing how you analyzed and figured out nice fabrics to go with it. Very cute finish! Have you showed us your sleeve and dowel hanging method? I have been doing corner pieces and a dowel…works pretty good. Would like to see yours!
I love this!! I did quite a bit of hand quilting over the weekend, and deconstructed an old La-Z-Boy recliner so I wouldn’t have to take it to the dump. A good chunk of it went into the trash container this morning, and I think I’ll have the rest apart by next week. I salvaged some very nice bolts, and possibly some fire wood too. I scrubbed the kitchen and dining room floors this morning and need to start on the studio/living room so I can start decorating!
Oh, my! What great ideas you have!
Beautiful job! How different and unique a border can make on a panel. Yes, I’m doing some Christmas sewing and trying a few new patterns I’ve been saving for when I got time. I finally got time! LOL
What a lovely quilted item. I’ve been doing some panel designing and having fun with it. I like your layout.
Super cute Carole! I like it with the vintage trucks on it too. 🙂
One small Christmas lighted house turned into a massive village over 30 years. This year my Grandkids boys age 5 and 7 put it up – and added their collection of cars so every house has a car! And some construction trucks! They would love, love, love your truck panel! I know I do. And the mitten pattern is just perfect!
Thanks so much.
Wonderful use of a panel! Thanks for sharing how you made it I to something really special😊
The panel really IS cute. Andthe fabrics you chose are just perfect with it. As another reader said, I buy panels and then don’t know what to do with them. This is a good solution for a spread out design. I have one for a door panel somewhere that I need to dig out. It would be cute on the door in our entry, since it is an odd space. Let me see if I can find it…..;)
Looks great. I always wonder how to use panels. Lovely to get your ideas on this.
That will make a lovely welcome wreath on your door.
Absolutely charming! Thank you for sharing the calculations for the border to fit so well!!!
Love your latest Christmas offering. Love the fabrics and especially the center panel with the red truck. I have been a fan of little red trucks for years. I have three in my collection. ( Although, I can’t talk hubby into buying me an actual, road- worthy addition to the group.) Can you tell me where it was purchased? Also I loved your choice for the quilting.
Very pretty.
Such a cute little quilt! I love the truck and I love how you framed it. It also looks great with your trucks.