As a blogger, I frequently find myself giving holiday gifts either way in advance (Merry Christmas! I need to publish this, open it before you see it online!) or way late (Merry Christmas in January! I finally finished this after the holiday blog rush was over!). I completed this quilt right before the actual holiday last year, gifted it to my Mom, and then took it back and took some pictures before she could actually use it. As my fourth finished quilt, I felt a little confident when I started and was quickly taken down a peg once I realized the mistake I’d made.
Check out more inspiration here – 30+ modern Christmas quilt patterns!
Christmas jelly roll quilt
Fabric details before I get started sharing about where I went wrong! I started with an Evergreen by Moda jelly roll and the random bars that I added in are Cotton + Steel from the Tinsel line. Binding fabric was a subtle print from Joann.
I started out following the “Jelly Roll Jam” quilt pattern (free) from Fat Quarter Shop but here is the mistake.. I didn’t look at the finished size! Total rookie move. I merrily cut, sewed together, and then finally laid it all out… to realize it was definitely not big enough to snuggle under.
I laid it out. I ignored it for a while. I stepped over that quilt, on my cold basement sewing dungeon floor, for weeks! I didn’t want to buy more fabric, I didn’t want to give up, so I just let it sit there.
Normally I’d ask my mom for advice, but since it was for her, that seemed unwise! I turned to Facebook and asked in a quilting group for ideas. There were lots of great tips, but one sparked an a-ha! moment for me. Why not go asymmetrical?
Here is a full length photo of the quilt – experienced quilters avert your eyes! Precision is not my strong suit (or my goal, to be fair).
I circled all the spots where I had to get creative. First, I used up the remaining jelly roll pieces in improv piecing, found in the top and bottom left. Then, I started fitting in long bars of the C+S print! No tutorial, no rhyme or reason, just laying it out, toggling squares so everything looked right, stepping back, evaluating, adjusting, etc.
I decided to proceed with the style and do a pieced backing fabric as well, tucking in the remainder of the tree print.
I actually tried to hand quilt this in the beginning, but quickly realized that it didn’t look right with the prints, so I went back to my comfort zone with (not-that) straight line quilting. My mom is a perfectionist, but hopefully that only applies to things she makes herself, because nothing I make is particularly straight or precise when it comes to quilts! But, I think they are well made in a structural sense, and certainly will keep a person warm.
It’s easy to see the crooked stitching, or puckered corners, but I also see the obvious: it was sewn with love, and the subtle: it represents a sewing growth moment for me! I’m proud that I made it work, didn’t rush into a solution, and hope that next time I’ll remember to check the finished size of a tutorial/pattern before I get started.
How would you have fixed this problem? Check out the Christmas quilt that I sewed last year for my Mother-in-law here!
Pin this Christmas jelly roll quilt for later with this photo or link:
Glenda says
Thanks for the tips tricks and honesty
Love your emails
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
You’re so kind Glenda, glad to hear it!
Leslie Schmidt says
I think you hit upon a terrific solution, Stephanie. I probably would have had a good cry and then just put sashing between the blocks. It wouldn’t have had the character or panache that yours has. And that Christmas tree fabric is fabulous.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you so much Leslie!
Gayle says
love it bet your Mum is happy with it also.
Im with you, do the best you can with what you have. After all the idea is to give a gift to someone you care about in this case.
I love your emails and learn something each time.
Happy days to you and yours
Gayle Z
Australis
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you so much Gayle!!
Abigail V says
No Mother ever critized her daughters heart given gift. I know she already adores it because you put your love
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
I certainly hope so, thanks for the kind words Abigail!
Jeramy L says
“Precision is not my strong suit (or my goal, to be fair).” ❤ this! I have referred to myself as the Larry The Cable Guy of quilting because my goal is “git’er done”. My quilts are all gifts that are prayed over and made with love so I want to get them into the hands of their new owners. While neither my mom or dad quilt both of my grandmothers did. My paternal grandmother made beautiful precise quilts
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Haha I like that analogy!! My Mom & Grandma are/very precise, too. Glad you’re on team not-perfect with me 🙂
Michelle Mackay says
Thank you! I am also a quilter that is less interested in professional/precision stitching! My quilts wouldn’t win any awards unless they are judged on love and creativity. I think the way you resolved your issue in ingenious. Great job!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you for the kind words Michelle!! Wonky quilts are just as warm, right 🙂
Molly Hottinger says
I haven’t tried sewing in years but I enjoy seeing all of my sister’s quilts. This is really cute and even more special because it is for your Mom and it has a Christmas theme, so every special memory will cling to its coziness year after year. Congrats!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you for reading and leaving such a sweet comment Molly!