Christmas Fabric Wreath Tutorial – Scrappy or Coordinating Fabrics

Christmas Fabric Wreath Tutorial

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Ready for a scrap project to use up your leftover Christmas fabrics that you can adore all season long?  Great, grab your pinking shears, a wire wreath and scraps to get started.  This is an easy project to work on while you watch TV or are stuck on a long car ride.  Join me for the Christmas Fabric Wreath Tutorial.  

Tip:  I have found the cheapest wire wreaths at a Dollar Tree.  JoAnn’s has them too, but now I’ve let my secret out.

For fabric you are going to need 50-60 5″ charms to cut.  If you are using scraps, they should be 5″ in length and the width doesn’t matter.  Also, you could add silver or gold ribbon as an accent.

I may have a charm pack problem.
I may have a charm pack problem.

Most wire wreaths are 12″ in diameter.  If you have less fabric, you can choose a smaller size to make it look fuller.  Plus, it will take less time.  The 12″ diameter wreath will take 5-6 hours to complete.
wire wreath and fabric scraps

Start with 5-10 charms and cut into varying widths.  Usually enough for 4-6 strips per charm.  I like having a number of strips at a time to work with.

cutting strips from charms

To tie the scraps, lay the wrong side of the fabric under the wire and tie a knot around the wire.  Pull the right sides of the fabric to the top and keep pulling until the knot is tight.

For a random look add strips in each section of the same fabric.  Vary which rung you put the fabric on in each section.

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Continue to go around the wreath adding in strips of the pre-cut scraps.  Adjust the fabrics so the ties are facing up.

filling in wreath
Keep filling in around the wreath.  As you get closer to the end, you want to work in each section to make sure it’s full enough.  To determine fullness, prop the wreath up on something and take a step back.  Can you see the wires between the fabrics?

Yes, continue to add more.

No, I would add a few more and be done.

The finished product may look like this.  A better picture is coming.  This was taken as we were at a dead stop on the interstate on our way to vacation.  I had finished the wreath during the drive.

fabric christmas wreath

Updated:  Much better picture taken at vacation destination.  Perfect for Christmas in July.

 

christmas fabric wreath tutorial

Visit everyone on the blog hop to get ready for your holiday project ideas.

July 14th:     Sharon Vrooman @ Vrooman’s Quilts
                    Carole Carter @ From My Caroline Home
 
July 15th:    Yanicka Hachez @ Finding Myself As An Artist
                   Chris Dodsley @ made by ChrissieD
 
July 16th:     Marsha Hodgkins @ Quilter in Motion
                    Leanne Parsons  @ Devoted Quilter
 
July 17th:     Tonia Conner @ All Thingz Sewn
                    Selina @ Selina Quilts
 
July 18th:     Lara Buccella @ Buzzin Bumble
                    Soma Acharya @ Whims and Fancies
 
July 19th:     Joanne Harris@ Quilts by Joanne
                    Suzy Webster @ Adventurous Applique and Quilting
 
July 20th:     Vicki in MN @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
                    Jennifer Fulton @ The Inquiring Quilter
 
July 21st:     Michele Kuhns @ Crayon Box Quilt Studio
                    Jan Ochterbeck @ The Colorful Fabriholic
 
July 22nd:     Alla Blanca @ Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes.
                     Zenia Rene @ A Quilted Passion
 
July 23rd:     Joanne Hubbard @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
                    Paige Alexander @ Quilted Blooms
 
July 24th:     Carolyn Jones @ …by CJ
                    Tisha Nagel @ Quilty Therapy
 
July 25th:     Susan Arnold @ Quilt Fabrication
                    Beth Sellers @ Cooking Up Quilts
 
                    Linda Pearl @ One Quilting Circle

Christmas In July Blog Hop

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What projects have you been working on for Christmas?  Haven’t thought that far ahead yet? Don’t forget Christmas fabric has hit the stores already to give you ample time to work on projects.

Grab some coffee and your Pinterest boards.  Over the next two weeks there will be many tutorials posted for a variety of ideas.  I hear some people may even post a recipe as well.  For my project go ahead and start saving up your favorite fabric scraps!

You can follow along on social media with these hashtags:  #12daysofchristmasinjuly #twelvedaysofchristmasinjuly

July 14th:     Sharon Vrooman @ Vrooman’s Quilts
                    Carole Carter @ From My Caroline Home
July 15th:    Yanicka Hachez @ Finding Myself As An Artist
                   Chris Dodsley @ made by ChrissieD
July 16th:     Marsha Hodgkins @ Quilter in Motion
                    Leanne Parsons  @ Devoted Quilter
July 17th:     Tonia Conner @ All Thingz Sewn
                    Selina @ Selina Quilts
July 18th:     Lara Buccella @ Buzzin Bumble
                    Soma Acharya @ Whims and Fancies
July 19th:     Joanne Harris@ Quilts by Joanne
                    Suzy Webster @ Adventurous Applique and Quilting
July 20th:     Vicki in MN @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
                    Jennifer Fulton @ The Inquiring Quilter
July 21st:     Michele Kuhns @ Crayon Box Quilt Studio
                    Jan Ochterbeck @ The Colorful Fabriholic
July 22nd:     Alla Blanca @ Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes.
                     Zenia Rene @ A Quilted Passion
July 23rd:     Joanne Hubbard @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
                    Paige Alexander @ Quilted Blooms
July 24th:     Carolyn Jones @ …by CJ
                    Tisha Nagel @ Quilty Therapy
July 25th:     Susan Arnold @ Quilt Fabrication
                    Beth Sellers @ Cooking Up Quilts

                    Linda Pearl @ One Quilting Circle

 

This cutie is over here on pins and needles waiting for the posts to go live.

Baby Porter
Baby Porter

Scented Eye Pillow – Guest Post

Hi, my name is Amanda from CottonBlossomThreads and I’m going to teach you how to make a scented eye pillow that you can heat up in the microwave.

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Flaxseeds hold heat better than rice and they don’t go rancid as easily.  These are great for headaches or any type of tension in your neck.  I fill mine with a mix of flaxseeds and lavender oil, but you could also use lavender buds if you have those.  Lavender is great for relaxing muscles and helps with stress, as well.  Perfect gift for anyone.

First, gather your materials.  You will need:

  • Flaxseed
  • Lavender essential oil
  • Two pieces of fabric measuring 9”x 5”
  • Bowl, spoon and funnel

amanda tut 1

 

Add a few drops of oil to your flaxseed and stir it around. It will smell wonderful.  Set that aside for now.  Cut out your fabric pieces (9”x 5”) and place right sides together.  You are going to sew all the way around the fabric with a ½ inch seam and leave a small opening on the side for turning.

amanda tut 2

You also could make your eye pillow larger or smaller depending on your preference.  You will need more flaxseed to fill the pillow if you choose to make it larger.

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Start sewing and backstitch to reinforce the stitching on one side of the pillow.  When you come to the end, leave an opening, about several inches long.  Clip your corners with sharp scissors, being careful to not cut into the seam allowance.  Clipping the corners will help them be more pointed and cut down on the bulk, as well.  After clipping, turn your pillow right side out using a chopstick or your fingers.

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Once your pillow is right side out, corners pushed out as well, then fill with flaxseeds.  I typically fill my pillows a little over halfway full when I’m holding it upright.  That gives me a good amount of seeds that will lay comfortably over my eyes or forehead.

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Now that your pillow is full of lavender scented flaxseeds, carefully take the pillow back to the sewing machine and pin the opening closed making sure the raw edges are folded inside the pillow.  Another good reason not to overfill the pillow is so that the seeds do not spill out when sewing it closed.

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Sew the opening shut with a ¼ inch seam allowance, including a label if you have one.  Your pillow is done!

Add a gift tag telling the recipient to microwave for 30 seconds and watch their tension melt away!

 

No Peeking Christmas Gift Bags – Guest Post

Raylee of Sunflower Stitcheries kicks off the Christmas In July tutorials for 2105.  In December you met Raylee here on the blog.

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She has created a PDF tutorial of reusable gift bags for Christmas.  These bags are based off some her mum made her boys years ago, that she still uses.  I think these would be wonderful to have under the Christmas tree.  Maybe these bags will hold gifts from “Santa” this year.

You can order the free PDF here.

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Christmas in July 2015

July, I was not ready for you.  Guess it’s good I’m working on Christmas already.  This year we will have 3-4 new tutorials from guest bloggers that I will post on Mondays.

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What are you currently working on for the Holiday season?

Here are the tutorials from last year if you need a boost of creativity over the weekend.

Christmas in July 2014 Tutorials 

 

Christmas in July Bloggers

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My favorite blogging series of year is coming up…Christmas in July.  I’m looking for contributors for this series.  Do you have a tutorial in mind that would make a great gift, home decor, anything winter/Christmas related?  Join me and the other bloggers I have lined up as we share inspiration in July.

I would need your completed tutorial by July 1st so I can complete the schedule for the month of posts.  I ask that you cross promote on your blog and social media.

If you’re interested email me at quiltytherapy @ gmail dot com.