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Monday, September 4, 2017

Christmas Caroling - RAL - Ornaments Song

Welcome to our Christmas Caroling Row-a-long!

As we kick it off this year, I have to confess it seems a little bit early to be doing anything related to Christmas, but I've also been participating in a "We Wish You A Merry ...Quilt-a-long" so we're all in the spirit I guess!

The idea was to select a christmas carol and be inspired by it. My row came together conceptually in a very different way. Ultimately it didn't end up anything like I had in mind, but it is a fun one regardless. I originally had a concept that was all pieced, curves and everything!

Northcott was so kind to provide fabrics, so that altered my design direction as well. We were given the opportunity to chose from these fabrics:



ColorWorks Premium Solid 9000Colorworks Premium --I used this one for Ornament tops (and hanging thread?)
Fat Quarter of  #9000-550 

http://bit.ly/nc-colorworks









Toscana
http://bit.ly/nc-toscana  --P.S. I have this entire line in my shop so if you want to order by the number, I can ship to you! Mention that you saw it here and I'll ship for free (minimum order 4 yards total) through the RAL ...until October 6, 2017. Yardage is $8.50/yd but I also have a Toscana Club program to collect the entire 135 colors--just ask me about it!







AND all of these new Christmas themed fabrics shipping now to various quilt shops, so be on the look out:
Fat Quarter of 21740M-12, 21740M-24 --a 5" square would do for each ornament.
http://bit.ly/nc-tisseason

Up On a Rooftop
http://bit.ly/nc-uprooftop

So, perhaps you've never heard this christmas carol before, but here it is. The Ornaments Song. Enjoy listening to it while reviewing how my row goes together.





Ultimately I ended up with a very simple applique design. I'm not an 'applique' designer, generally, so this was outside my normal box. But earlier this year I worked on a project where I did trapunto with a paper pieced heart shape and then appliqued it onto a background. I loved how it turned out so I continued to use this type of idea with this design.

My original concept was to have two different radii curves that make the ornament shape--pieced! But these were going to be so small I just didn't think it was practical. So, I made it an applique shape and was able to get the background as a single piece for the entire row. I couldn't decide whether or not to put fabric for the hanging 'thread' or just stitch it, so I'll leave that idea with you to decide for yourself. Here is the concept with fabric and all pieced.



or you could go vertical with a larger ornament or several vertical columns with ornaments at various heights and sizes.

I decided NOT to do the hanger with fabric and to just applique the ornaments and their toppers. The 'hanger' can be stitched in during the quilting. Using the fabric, at least at this stage of the design, they seemed to look more like hanging light fixtures.

First I laid out the ornaments in a pleasing to me pattern, not just straight across, but sort of up and down from each other, but centered 6" apart, and centered 3" from the finished outside edge on each end. I left some room on each end so that with the shrinkage that occurs when doing the applique and in the quilting process, I could ultimately trim it to exactly 12 1/2" x 30 1/2" so the binding could take up the extra 1/4" all the way around on the piece.




The zig zag stitch on my brother was set to probably about this. I happened to take this photo during a recent applique project and this is about what I like and so is what I dial it to whenever I want to do a loose zig zag.

I didn't even stabilize these pieces with fusible. I just put one pin into the middle area and then stitched around it. Then added the 'topper' and stitched around it.


Used Aurifil 2318 - 40 wt for the applique and the 'string' during quilting.



Next I added some 1" poly behind the ornaments and basted around them from the front, tight against the edge of the ornament. I did this on my domestic machine. Then trimmed away the batting outside of the ornament from the back side.

Next, I found a fun fabric in my stash for the backing that just seemed to be waiting there for this project.














Loaded it onto my long-arm, added a piece of warm & white batting that I had big enough around in my stash to work for this and then decided on a thread color. Here you can see I used my Aurifil thread chart to find what might work best and fortunately had this 50 wt spool of 4644. I decided that a bit darker was best for this project.


After getting the piece stabilized, I first stitched the 'hanging thread' in the same color /thread used to do the applique and stitched tightly around the ornaments and between the 'topper' and the ornament itself. By lining up my needle where I wanted it to hit on the ornament topper, setting my channel lock, I then started at the top of the piece and could stitch down to the ornament and it would intersect exactly at the right spot.

I considered a wood grain style of quilting, but I don't often just do straight line and this one seemed to be the right project to do that. So, without using my channel lock, I organically stitched about 1/4" vertical lines on the whole project.

Using the fabrics from my ornaments, I made a faux piping binding to finish it off.

I had only stitched a SINGLE thread for the 'hanger' and ultimately thought it wasn't sufficient, so put it back on (after the binding was there, I know!!! crazy!) and added 4 more vertical threads on each ornament for a total of 5 vertical stitchings right next to each other. Now I think it definitely tells your brain something is there, but doesn't take over the design. Do you agree? Perhaps a 1/4" strip of fabric (or less) would have worked too.

Different light gives different effects of the color of the fabric. It is more teal than it is blue.






Do you want to make this?

DOWNLOAD --> The pattern is free through September 11, 2017. Now available for a small payment on Craftsy (also has purchasable downloads from past RALs).

The pattern also has other design suggestions. I think it would go nicely with several other rows that will be featured during this Row-a-long. Enjoy getting in the spirit of Christmas --something worth while all year long.

But wait, there is more---giveaways!  Please register with Rafflecopter for these specific giveaways.

#1 - Inspired LED - 2 Sewing Machine Light Kits
Shipping Is Anywhere / Shipping Cost must be paid by winner.
Value $30.00 each Total $60.00



a Rafflecopter giveaway


And TWO more! 
Shared Giveaways For September 05, 2017

Northcott 1 FQ Bundles 2yds total
Shipping Is Everywhere
Value $20.00
Full Description
Available September 5 ends on 11th
Assortments Form Random Collections:
ColorWorks Premium Solid 9000
Toscana - 9020 - All
Best Tree on the Lot - Single Colorway
Hurry Up Santa
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Silent Night
The Magic of Christmas
Tis the Season
Up On a Rooftop



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway Is: Calibre Art 24x36
http://amzn.to/2vPfuLe
Value $99.99
Shipping Via Amazon
Full Description
Available September 5 ends on the 6th






a Rafflecopter giveaway


#aurifil #northcott #christmascarolingral #ornaments

Other Rows offered today:

Quilting Affection
Any Pattern
Just Let Me Quilt
Quilt In Piece
KISSed Quilts --you're here!

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99 comments:

  1. I hadn't realized you did this with a trapunto technique and yet it looks so wonderful with the puffy ornament style. It's simple and stunning Marlene.

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  2. Simple, but very classy! Great tutorial too.

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  3. That row is so pretty, and the song is really sweet. I hadn't heard that one before. Thanks!

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  4. The quilting really took your pattern to the next level of amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  5. I love the ornaments. It's so cute. What a great addition to holiday decoration. Joanrob8@aol.com

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  6. I would make this. Thanks! I love Christmas and decorating with quilts. Great Times blog hopping.

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  7. Another beautiful row. We are having such a great start to this year's row along.

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  8. I love your row. Cutie idea for ornaments. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Great looking row! Thanks for the pattern.

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  10. Simple and beautiful! Thanks for the pattern.

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  11. I wasn't sure about the song, but after listening to it, I have heard it!

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  12. I loved the song - I had never heard it before! Your row is lovely!!!

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  13. Very pretty. I really like how the extra batting behind each ornament makes it stand out. Thank you so much for the pattern.

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  14. Very nice row! Christmas is getting close!

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  15. very pretty and simple. I love it

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  16. what a cute row and lovely quilting

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  17. Simple row. Just the thing for Christmas when I'm making things at the last minute.

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  18. I love putting the ornaments on the tree each year - so many memories with each one

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  19. Love the way you padded the ornaments, thanks so much for the pattern!

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  20. Simple and very pretty! I can see lots of possibilities with your great ornaments. (sharonthemagnficient@yahoo.com)

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  21. Amazing how real the ornaments look with the quilting. Trapunto effect.

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  22. Your row is pretty and I like the extra stitching for the hangars, too. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  23. That is beautiful. I love the matchstick quilting on it.

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  24. Thank you for the beautiful pattern!

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  25. Love your row! It is such a simple but effective design. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  26. Cannot wait to try the puffy ornaments! thanks for a great pattern and for all of the great fabric lines to look at!

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  27. Very nice! The quilting adds so much dimension.

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  28. Love the straight stitching on the background. It makes the quilt!

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  29. Your row looks great! I love how you quilted it!

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  30. I've never heard that song! Thanks for sharing. Your design looks like it has a smocked background. You have a vision for making things pop for sure!

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  31. I love the simplicity of your row! Can't wait to try it out!

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  32. You are my first stop! I really like your row, though I expect I would use a ribbon that I stitched down for the hanging. Thanks so much for a terrific start! dezertsuz at gmail

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  33. I love it! Especially that vertical panel.

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  34. OMG...that is just too cool. Love the quilting and the how the ornaments seem to jump off the piece! Great job!!!!

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  35. I've never heard of the song. Love the though!

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  36. I just recently took a stab at landscape quilting so I found this very informative! Especially love the use of zig zag stitches to add some depth, it really looks nice!

    Thunderfan@protonmail.com

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  37. Can't wait to sew this row. Thanks

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  38. Thank you so much for sharing this row. I love the colours and the way the ornaments are padded out. And thanks for the chance of a great giveaway

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  39. I think this row is so lovely! It really looks amazing with your quilting. Thanks for the pattern!

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  40. Great row and the added dimension makes it even better. Thank you.

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  41. Very nice row with your quilting!

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  42. Lovely row! Works perfect for your hanger with the angels!

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  43. Very elegant looking ornaments. Love the Trapunto. Thanks for the draw. raydeer@memlane.com

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  44. Your row is very appealing. Love the quilting you did!

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  45. Your row looks beautiful hanging. Thanks for sharing. I'm very excited about this Blog hop.

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  46. Well done and ty for the idea....happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  47. Nice row, like the dimensional look. Thank you!

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  48. Great row! Love your background quilting - it's a perfect fit for this piece.

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  49. Very cute. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

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  50. Cute row! Jadahlgr at Yahoo dot Com

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  51. I love the ornaments song. I have never heard it before.

    And your row fits it perfectly.

    Thanks for your generosity for the quilt row pattern

    And a special thanks to all the sponsors and they're generosity

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  52. Love the sentiment behind the song!

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  53. Never recall hearing that pretty carol before, nice and so is your row. Merry Christmas~

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  54. I love your row!! This is such a fun hop!

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  55. What I love about your row is the simplicity. Christmas should be simpler than it is with all of the commercialization. Just pretty ornaments and family love!

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  56. Simple but elegant. Very impressed with the stitching.

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  57. Thanks for the tutorial on making this cute wall hanging.
    Thanks,
    Peggy
    Peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

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  58. This is so exciting! Thank you for the pretty ornaments row.

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  59. Your row is so elegant. I love the color choices and the graceful lines of the ornaments.

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  60. Gorgeous Row - I love the ornaments, and the song!

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  61. It's a beautiful christmas ornaments project! I love your quilting idea :)
    Greetings from Poland
    Kamila

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  62. Thank you for a lovely project. I can see this being a very cute mantel hanging.

    Have a lovely day.

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  63. Beautiful ornaments. That quilting would take me a very long time--I'm really slow!

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  64. love inspired LED lights. Great company to work with too.

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  65. This is a great row for those of us in Florida. Thank you

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  66. I really like the idea of making a vertical row with your pattern, great idea!

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  67. Love the row and your display! Thanks for your time and great talents!

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  68. I absolutely love the simple gorgeous look of the ornaments row. For me it says so much. Nice, clean look.

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  69. I love your ornaments! Thanks for sharing!

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  70. I like how the five rows of gold stitching adds just enough to let you know they are hanging ornaments, it's beautiful!

    ~Brandy

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  71. The ornaments design is beautiful--also enjoyed the song!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  72. This will make a nice holiday pillow for the chair. Thanks for sharing

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  73. Love your row. And special thanks for the song. Very touched by it.

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  74. I absolutely love how you quilted this! Gorgeous !

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  75. I've just discovered this RAL. I look forward to discovering many new designers

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  76. Motivation to find that box of Christmas fabric!

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