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Marci Girl Designs

Advent Calender Quilt

5/13/2011

49 Comments

 
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Christmas in May?  Well, a Christmas quilt anyway!  Oh that rhymes, cool.  Anyways.....I started this quilt back in September 2010. It was the first "real" quilt that I have done in years, and once I saw the pattern I knew that it would be perfect for my son to learn to count down to Christmas, at least give him an idea of how many days are left!

This project took way longer than I originally expected, since I planned to use it Christmas 2010.  Sewing on all those numbers took quite some time (more than I thought it would.)  I used a blanket machine stitch to sew them on, I pieced it, and had it finished around November.  I started quilting (like a tiny bit,) and then it sat there, and sat there and stared at me until I had the idea, send it off to be quilted!  Woo-hoo, best decision EVER (too bad I figured this out after Christmas!)  So In March 2011, I packaged it up and shipped it off to be machine quilted.  A little over a month later, it was back in my hot hands and ready for binding, which I did basically the next day!  I love it and yet I hate it.  I love the fabric, quilt, backing and the quilting.  Why do I hate it?  I'm sick of looking at it, and honestly so ready to pick it up until Christmas, which is exactly what I will do!  Do you ever have projects like that?  The ones you work on for so long, that by the time you are finished you are just sick to death of it.  Well this was that project.  But, I am happy to say that it is complete and ready to fill use this upcoming Christmas!

What did I learn from this project?  First time using Fusible Webbing, that stuff is cool and really easy to work with.  I also learned that sometimes you have to give up control and just let someone else quilt it, rather than have it sit there for months.  Giving up control is a hard one for me, but I am really glad that I trusted someone else to add their creative talents to it, otherwise it would still be unfinished.  Now, I get to fold it up and bring it out this Christmas for my son and family to enjoy, hopefully for years to come!
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Specifications of this Advent Calender Quilt:

Pattern Design - by Elizabeth at Oh, Fransson! for Sew, Mama, Sew!
You can find this free tutorial HERE, if you want to make one yourself.
Pattern Changes - I kept everything the same, except I pretty much doubled it in size, or maybe not double, but 1.5x, honestly I don't remember now, but it is a lot bigger, and bigger pockets (around 7" square) make it easier to stuff with goodies!  I used a blanket stitch around the numbers, which was also different from the pattern, the pattern called for either a zig-zag or a satin stitch.  I like the blanket stitch look!
Fabric: Michael Miller's Funky Christmas plus a few solids and prints from my stash.  The white sashing is a white on white leaf/holly like print from Hobby Lobby.
Batting:  High loft polyester.  It is super puffy and I love it!
Backing:  Same fabrics as the front, with several pieced sections.  I love my little row of Christmas trees, though my trunks got a little wonky in spots!
Quilting: Free motion quilting done with white thread by the super talented Natalia at Piece N Quilt.  She did a beautiful job with her long arm machine.
Binding: Michael Miller's Funky Christmas
Timeline: September 2010 - April 2011 (7 long months!)
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Amy's Creative Side | Bloggers' Quilt Festival
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49 Comments
Debbie link
5/13/2011 01:16:42 am

Marci, It looks great! What fun fabrics! Your family is really going to enjoy it come Christmas!

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Carla link
5/13/2011 03:01:59 am

Your calendar came out awesomely! I made one a couple of years back and my kids love it. It's lots of fun and you will use it throughout the years.

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Kristina link
5/13/2011 03:07:32 am

oh, it is a lovely quilt, and a funny story (okay, maybe not so funny for you :-) ) I love the backing too!!!

I made a calendar quilt for my little ones too, had similar difficulties to you, but finished it all by myself at the end. but only because there is no-one in Hungary to send quilts to be quilted to...

I still haven't posted anything, due to blogger not available since yesterday :-(, but hope to participate in the festival once blogger gets back.

Kristina

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Anne link
5/13/2011 03:21:54 am

The back is as wonderful as the front!

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Sarah @ FairyFace Designs link
5/13/2011 03:27:13 am

I love it! Really great job, you will get so much use from this. I love your trees on the back!

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Kristie at OCD link
5/13/2011 04:33:10 am

I love the colors...makes me want to start on my Christmas list :-)

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Lindsay link
5/13/2011 04:55:07 am

Love, love, love this idea! Look at you, all ready for the holidays!

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Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy link
5/13/2011 05:30:26 am

Marci, this is so super fun! It's just adorable, especially the piecing you did on the back :)

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Katie B link
5/13/2011 05:57:56 am

This is fantastic! Your family will treasure this for many years. You're very smart to make it a bit larger. The original pattern has pretty small pockets, and that really limits the gifts you can get!

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Angela Flicker link
5/13/2011 06:48:50 am

What a fun quilt! I also love the adorable job you did on the back!! Great job!

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Lotti link
5/13/2011 07:21:38 am

So lovely, I really like that you used pink in it as well as traditional red and green, it makes it really different. The back is gorgeous too

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Sara
5/13/2011 07:33:00 am

The advent calender is very pretty and these are so great to make--glad you did one!! Thanks for sharing!

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Janet link
5/13/2011 07:36:05 am

What a fabulous idea for an advent quilt. I love how it looks and I'm pretty sure you will too when you pull it out again in November. The backing is super cute too.

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Frauke link
5/13/2011 08:31:41 am

Wonderful - what a great advent quilt! How cool to fill those pockets with goodies ...

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Fabgrandma link
5/13/2011 08:41:23 am

Very cute, and useful too! I have never made a Christmas quilt, but this looks like a good one to start with.

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eileen link
5/13/2011 08:47:33 am

darling!! the back is cute too. wonderful fabrics and fun story. thanks for sharing and have a great day

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Penny G
5/13/2011 09:07:28 am

Cute - it will be a hit next Christmas season.

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Rachaeldaisy link
5/13/2011 10:46:26 am

So fun and festive!! I've been wanting to make an advent calendar so this is great inspiration. I love the back too!!

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Allie link
5/13/2011 12:02:02 pm

I love it! You did a fabulous job on it. You'll love it all the more when you pull it out next Christmas - all the good memories of making it will come back to you, and each Christmas you'll make new ones with it. I love the back too, those trees are too cute!

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Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts link
5/13/2011 12:11:31 pm

This is so cute. What a neat tradition. Love the blanket stitch too (wonder if my machine does that- hope so.) I really like the back. Great job!

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Kelli link
5/13/2011 01:48:29 pm

So bright and fun! Love it!

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Kelly link
5/13/2011 01:57:59 pm

This quilt is cool, I love advent calendars and what a fun way to do one. What do you put into the pockets for goodies?

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k
5/13/2011 05:09:40 pm

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Karen link
5/13/2011 05:11:36 pm

Your quilt looks great both front and back. Put it away for Christmas and you will enjoy it with new eyes!

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Lynne link
5/13/2011 11:18:26 pm

I love it! I think I want one!

My first quilt (top finished, awaiting quilting) is the Modern Sampler Quilt from Oh! Fransson; I like her designs - simple and elegant.

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Dana link
5/13/2011 11:55:04 pm

Wow that is really lovely and ys I know exactly what you mean I felt that way with my cathedral window quilt at first, but if you put it awayuntil Christmas Im sure you will love it again! thanks for the lovely comment on my quilt, Im glad I found you im now a follower :-)

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Leanne link
5/14/2011 02:45:01 am

This is a wonderful quilt and you are going to have fun next Christmas with our kids, filling the pockets and then unpacking them all December!

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Rebekah Thompson link
5/14/2011 04:26:04 am

That is such a wonderful, creative way to use a quilt. I love it! It's beautiful as well.

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Teresa link
5/14/2011 04:34:50 am

VERY CUTE!!

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quiltbenaco
5/14/2011 07:26:18 am

E' Fantastico!

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Becky link
5/14/2011 10:44:53 am

So cute! Yes, I've had a quilt or two like that so I'm glad you were able to send it away and now have an enjoyable future with it. :)

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Shay @ Quilting in My Pyjamas link
5/15/2011 12:35:09 am

Good Golly..I love that advent calendar of yours . It's gorgeous. And the back is just luscious too!

I have projects all the time that I cant stand the sight of during and after construction. Put it away and you'll love it again come Christmas time. Thanks for showing us ...I think you've inspired me!

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manda link
5/15/2011 06:16:32 am

So fun and festive! Great backing too!

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Sara link
5/15/2011 04:37:18 pm

So wonderful! I love the idea of an advent calendar quilt, and the backing is really a jaw-dropper!

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Eileen link
5/15/2011 07:12:42 pm

It's wonderful, Marci! :) and I love that blanket stitch!! Your son must be so excited! It's a new family tradition!

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cynthi21@hotmail.com link
5/16/2011 03:02:32 am

Looks like a fun quilt! Very nicely pieced too! You will love it again when you pull it out at Christmas this year!

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siobhan link
5/16/2011 05:16:06 am

I love it. Its beautiful :)

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Hollie link
5/16/2011 11:03:44 am

Such a happy, joyous quilt! So cheery!

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Sandra link
5/16/2011 11:20:19 pm

very cheery, love the Christmas pink. Both sides are perfect. Kudos
Come see my entries #211, repro cheddar orange stars and #215 antique 1850 applique flower garden

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Colleen link
5/17/2011 06:54:06 am

What a fun advent quilt! Great job.

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dawn link
5/18/2011 08:57:47 am

What a fun quilt! Put it away for now and you will be in love with it again at Christmas!

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Michelle (LemonadeGal) link
5/19/2011 02:23:42 am

Marci - what a fun way to use those christmas fabrids that I love, but don't know how to use. :) I hope you love it when November rolls back around. It is great!

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Rachel
5/19/2011 07:23:26 am

I have this apttern in my "to-do" list. I love the idea of making it bigger though!! Definitely fit better stuff in there that way. :) Thanks for sharing your great quilt.

Cheers!
Rachel
http://www.dewberrylane.com

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Natalia Bonner link
5/19/2011 12:29:27 pm

I love it! It turned out so super duper cute with the binding! :) Thanks again for letting me quilt it! :)

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Kate link
5/19/2011 03:41:33 pm

It looks great, I am sure you will enjoy it for many years to come! :)

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felicity link
5/19/2011 06:01:37 pm

Such a fun and cheerful quilt/advent calendar! I chuckled at your story - I definitely have projects I'm sick of looking at. Good for you for letting go and getting it quilted. Now put it away and enjoy it in December!

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Cheryl B. link
5/20/2011 03:25:44 am

Hi Marci :-)

I followed your link over from Amy's quilting link up party.

I'm glad your packing away your quilt till Dec.. Christmas comes way to early any more in the stores and all. ;-p

Seriously, I totally relate to getting to the end of a project and being tired of it. The thing is, I KNOW that come December, your going to be ever so happy with yourself for having actually completed the thing!

I am linking up the quilt I made for our grand daughter last spring. If your interested in seeing it, you can find it here --> http://thebzhousethatlovebuilt.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-thrifty-quilt.html.

I found it interesting that you didn't put your numbers on in numerical order.

There are so-o many cute Christmas patterns on material to choose from any more. Maybe you'll get inspired and decide to again tackle this here project and make some for even more children. ;-)

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alexis link
5/21/2011 01:26:44 am

this has been on my to-do list for the past two christmases! maybe this year i will actually get it done - i have all the fabric so i have no excuse!

great job it looks fab, and the countdown to christmas will be so much fun!

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Sew.What. link
5/21/2011 05:40:53 am

Wow this is just awesome. I have a young son and stash of Christmas fabric - I think I will give this a whirl. Thanks for sharing, and the link to the pattern!

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