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Bear Quilt

Tatty Teddy Christmas | Christmas Teddy Bear

When it comes to Christmas cross stitch kits, there are a lot of different options to choose from. Some Xstitch holiday patterns adhere to more traditional-looking themes, including images of simple rustic towns and old-world Santa Claus. Others can have a more modern feel to them, ranging from cartoonish versions of toys and teddy bears to snowmen, choo-choo trains, and other staples of Xmas.

No matter which cross stitch pattern or kit you choose, one thing to remember is to begin your project early. Crossstitching can take quite some time, especially if you're a beginner. When thinking about giving your completed cross stitch masterpiece as a gift, especially around the holidays, you need to start working weeks or sometimes months in advance. For this reason, know what you're getting into!

The following are all great ideas when it comes to choosing Christmas cross stitch kit themes and patterns:

Angels and Nativity Scenes

A very popular variety of the Christmas theme includes nativity-based artwork, and cross stitching is no exception. You can find all different types of Xstitch nativity patterns as well as those that include Christmas angels, Christian angel designs, and angelic heralds by fine artists like M.I. Hummel and others. Holy night nativity crosstitch designs are known for keeping in the true spirit of Christmas, and are well-liked for that reason alone, aside from being some very beautiful standalone needlepoint.

Cross Stitch Ornaments and Bows

Handmade Christmas ornaments are treasured keepsakes and often become family heirlooms, which is why cross stitch ornaments have become so popular. These kits are sold in multiple ornamental pieces, each one a creation unto itself that becomes ready to hang on the Christmas tree. From smaller single-serving pieces to larger, more intricate cross stitch Christmas ornament designs, you can choose from Santa, snowman, toy, teddy bear, or Xmas floral designs featuring candles, mistletoe, and holiday poinsettias.

Holiday Landscapes and Towns

Cross stitch landscapes have always been a favorite among anyone who does needlepoint or crewel, and nothing makes a more beautiful landscape than a Christmas themed town or village. Snow-covered landscapes, bridges, and ice-skating ponds make for wonderful, colorful treasures... as do entire holiday village scenes depicting horse-drawn carriages and wintery rooftops. The variety of holiday landscape cross stitch kits are pretty endless, so there's usually something for anyone.

Crosstitch Christmas Stockings

Another great gift comes in the form of a do-it-yourself Xstitch Christmas stocking! Given as gifts for grandchildren or even created for your own sons and daughters, you can embroider these stockings with any child's name or phrase in order to add that personalized touch. Creating your own masterpiece in the form of a cross stitch stocking becomes even more satisfying when it's used again and again, year after year, as a treasured family heirloom.

Embroidered Tree Skirts and Holiday Quilts

Every Christmas tree needs a tree skirt, but why should yours be store-bought? Christmas cross stitch kits also come in the form of custom skirts and holiday quilt patterns, and these are usually printed with the most beautiful and intricate of scenes. Parades, choo-choo trains, toys, and nativity scene tree skirt patterns are available, as well as holiday crossstitch landscapes, snowman skirts, and of course, Santa Claus himself! Once you've finished your tree skirt you'll have something to last a lifetime - something that your family will wake up to each Christmas morning and remember for the rest of their lives. These Xstitch kits are generally large and can take quite a long time though, so if you plan on having yours done before the holiday season be sure to start early!

The best needlepoint kits are the ones that are not only beautiful, but functional as well. This is why holiday cross stitch makes such a wonderful choice.

About the Author

http://christmasteddybear.blogspot.com/2010/10/tatty-teddy-christmas.html

Mega quilt blocks - one block the size of a lap quilt - instructions, Patterns?

I've seen a few of these lovely quilts that have huge quilt blocks that look like 50" square or larger - that's one quilt block. I like the look and would like to try my hand at them but I can't find instructions or patterns anywhere - except for the one mega log cabin I made:
www.flickr.com/photos/lindielee/5655724006/in/photostream

I'm afraid that if I try to enlarge a Bear Paw or Grandmas basket (for instance) that will come out all wonky and the prospect of doing the math is freaking me out - is there an easy way?

This is the size I'm looking for.

There's no reason an enlarged quilt block should come out wonky.

Just do it on graph paper starting with the approximate size you want for the whole big-block:
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+draft+quilt+blocks+graph+paper . Then use the measurements indicated on the graph paper to create your own pieces (using separate graph paper or not --and adding 1/4 seam allowances all around each piece only at that time).
Or you can use a smaller block pattern and substitute a larger size for each pattern piece by multiplying a handy number (for example, a 2" square for a small block would become a 20" square for a large block if multiplying by ten).

You'd just avoid adding any seam allowance numbers until you've already decided on the sizes of the pieces, to keep things simple.

You could also print individual pieces for a quilt block you find online, but increase the size to 500% or whatever would give you the size you needed before printing (many of the pieces would be the same--you wouldn't have to print out the whole thing...but you would be limited to 11 x 8.5" for each piece).

Let me see if I can find some already measured...you don't say if the block should be 50" or the block plus borders will be 50" though. And of course, the number of units in the block will probably need to be easily divided--e.g., 6 x 6 units for a Flower Basket, so a total of 48" to divide easily...or a 5 patch pattern for a total of 50 " with each piece 10"... or for a Bears Paw like your new link, that has a 7 x 7 grid so 49 would be a good "final size").

ADDED LATER:
Okay, here's one for a Bear Paw that's 35" (not big enough for you, but the search word I used was MEDALLION, added to the words Bear Paw block pattern, so you might want to do searches that include that word too):

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ig/Free-Quilt-Block-Patterns/Bear-s-Paw-Quilt-Block-Pattern.htm

And at one site they also call them "Big Quilt Blocks" so try that search term too:

http://www.google.com/search?q=quilt+big+block+patterns

http://quilting.about.com/lr/big_quilt_blocks/330348/2

...this one is 20" square, but you could multiply by 2 or 2.5:

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ss/summer_baskets.htm

http://www.google.com/images?q=quilt+big+block+patterns

2010 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.