Yesterday was Advent Sunday, which for me is the marker for the start of the Christmas season. This post is about things you can make as decorations for the festive period and things you can make to give as gifts to friends and family at this time other year.
Sadly, I was quite unwell yesterday, so had to miss the Advent service here in Ramsgate. I was disappointed, because three different congregations had joined together to celebrate. The church I go to (St George’s) is holding a Christmas Tree Festival (there is a long tradition of this, I understand) and I will be contributing a decorated tree. At the bottom, I will be placing one of my Christmas Tree Skirts.
If you want to make one yourself, you can do so with my pattern. You can find it here
If you want to buy a ready-made Christmas Tree Skirt, in modern colours of white, dark green, pale blue and silver, there is one (only one) in the Amanda Handmade Quilts shop here
Another festive make is a handmade Christmas stocking and once again I have a pattern available. Buy it here
How about something to dress your Christmas table? My ‘Presents’ pattern gives you all the information you need to make attractive place-mats, all featuring a wrapped gift. You can make an infinite number of variations of the basic pattern – or choose to make a set of matching place-mats. Find the pattern here
For a quick-make Christmas decoration, how about the ‘Holly Berry Christmas Wreath’. The pattern is here
There are also two do-it-yourself Christmas items available from my design studio on Spoonflower. Firstly, there is a drawstring bottle bag featuring a hand-painted candle design. Find it here
Secondly, there is a small Advent Calendar to make, with pockets just big enough for a sweet treat or tiny gift. Find it here
In both cases, you only need a fat quarter of fabric. The cyber weekend discount of 20% across the Spoonflower site ends today Monday 29th November 2021 at 11.59 Eastern Standard Time, so if you are quick you can catch it! The same is true of all the products in both Etsy shops.
You may of course have all the decorations you need, but like the idea of making homemade gifts so here are some suggestions.
The Lingerie Bag pattern is here
The ‘Pretty Pouches’ pattern is here
The Sunflower Pincushion is here
The Heart Brooch pattern is here
Amanda Jane Textiles offers unique fabrics for sale here, quilt patterns here, classes here and quilts for sale here