There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes Christmas-quilt-surprise finishing going on around here. Mostly I’m down to doing the binding – which is perfect for doing in front of chestnuts roasting on an open fire 😉 and watching a good Christmas movie, but it also means I can’t share those quilts just yet. So I thought I’d share some pictures of the Quilts of Christmas Past – quilts made over the past decade that continue to get lots of love and attention around here each Christmas.
One of my all-time favorite Christmas quilts is this retro-inspired isosceles triangle quilt.
I’d been collecting vintage-inspired prints for a few years and loved putting them to use in this quilt. I’d seen the triangle quilt idea with different shades of solid green in an Anthropologie catalog and loved the way it turned out. I think this quilt was made from all fabric on hand too, which is always a great feeling. 🙂
I still hang this quilt on my wall above my couch. Most of my Christmas accents are red and white, so I love the pop of green that this quilt gives. You can read more about the quilt here. And more about the star pillow here and the snowflake pillows in this post.
The original use for my collection of vintage-inspired fabrics was this Retro Christmas Quilt. I love the way the clean white makes the fabrics shine.
I also love these fun prints. (I bought them 8-9 years ago, so most of them are probably not available anymore, but there are always cute new retro-inspired Christmas fabrics every year.) I gave this quilt to my mother-in-law as many of the prints reminded her of her childhood.
I remade this same pattern the next year using an Ann Kelle collection from Robert Kaufman. Once again, love the cheerful, bright fabrics and it’s a fun pattern for showing off big prints.
More images and details on this quilt here.
Another favorite that still gets lots of snuggling is this Countdown to Christmas quilt. This quilt evolved out of trying to decide what to do with a fat quarter bundle. I wanted something that showed off the collection. This turned into a bit of an improv project until I liked the final look.
I love the addition of black in this collection and color scheme. Fun fact: this quilt inspired a pattern that is now found in Fabulously Fast Quilts. 🙂
This is one of first Christmas quilts I ever made right after I started working at a local quilt shop 12 years ago. (I can’t believe it’s been that long.) This may be the first ever quilt where I used an entire fabric collection too – and it was a big one, so it makes the quilt extra fun and scrappy. The collection was called Mistletoe Manor by Three Sisters for Moda fabrics. This pattern also became the inspiration for another quilt in Fabulously Fast Quilts – only I turned the blocks on point (Quick Puss-in-the-Corner).
I love that this quilt has just got softer and more snuggly over the years.
And now I guess my tree obsession count for my quilts of Christmas present and future. I’m looking forward to having them become soft and snuggly and used too.
Update: here’s the finished Holiday Patchwork Forest quilt!
Follow Amy Smart’s board Christmas Quilts on Pinterest.
I’ve been saving a bunch of favorite Christmas quilts on Pinterest if you’re looking for more inspiration for your own quilts of Christmas future.
Enjoy this last week of Christmas festivities and preparation! I *think* I’m almost ready here. A lot of running around on final errands before school got out Friday as well as Christmas sings and class parties. Hopefully this week is lots of wrapping up presents and loose ends (and quilt binding) and Christmas movies and enjoying family before it all goes too quickly. xo
Want some other Christmas quilt ideas? Check out some of my favorite Christmas quilt patterns and tutorials here.
Linda
I love your collection – the bright colors as well as the muted ones, and the memories they represent for you and your family. My favorite is actually the one you made while working at your quilt shop.
Do your bright colored fabrics ever bleed onto the white? I had an unfinished quilt stored (just folded) in my closet and pulled it out today to finish it and some of the bright colors faded onto the white. Ugh.
Melody A.
Such beautiful quilts that obviously add lots of cheer to your house !! and lovely work! as always. Merry Christmas!
MegaN
I really love your posts, they are always so interesting and inspiring. The Christmas quilts are amazing and I am hoping this year to half finish my first Christmas quilt ever (I figure half finishing is better than not starting) ? I may have to do a tree one next!
Karen
Amy, it must be such fun to take out all your Christmas quilts and remember when and where you made them. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. And Merry Christmas to you and your family 🙂
Donna
Love your collection and would love to make a version of the triangle quilt. Those vintage inspired fabrics are awesome!
terri henderson
wow, love them all and especially love the retro vibe from the one and the retro looking fabric
GeminiJen NZ
I love your collection of quilts – each with their special memories (as all quilts should). I have decided that (one day) when I build my dream house it is going to have to have lots of nooks and corners and walls for hanging quilts or displaying them on furniture – in the meantime, I will work on building up my own collection of Christmas quilts LOL! Have a very Merry Christmas!!
Sandra B
Thanks so much for sharing your Christmas quilts! They are awesome!!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!!
Dana
How/where do you store your Christmas quilts? I made a few this year and I’m not quite sure what to do with them until next year so that they don’t get ruined after being stored for a year. I’m not sure if I need to do something special with them or just fold them and put them in my linen closet?
Amy Smart
I’m afraid that’s all I’ve done. I do try and re-fold them differently each year though, just so the creases don’t get bad.
Sheila Eynaud
I loved the Christmas Tree triangle quilt hanging, where do you find the retro Christmas fabric?
Also is there a pattern for this quilt?
I loved your choices of fabric.
Amy Smart
I’m afraid I don’t have a pattern for the quilt – I just cut a lot of Isosceles triangles using an AccuQuilt die cut machine and sewed them together.
It’s hard to predict, but I’ve seen various retro-inspired Christmas prints released by different fabric companies each year. These ones just came from collecting them when I’d find them over the years at different shops or online. Keep your eyes peeled – you’ll start to see them in different places. If I see some online, I’ll post a link on this thread.
Hilary
So many beautiful Christmas quilts!