Christmas Cottage Finishing

31 comments
I promised myself last year that I'd have my Christmas Cottage Quilts put together and at least one of them completed in time to enter into the local Alpine Days quilt show. Well. It is July and the quilt show is the first part of August. Will I make it?I got out all my cottages from where I had them stored. I counted and have at least enough for 3 quilts. One of the quilts I still plan on donating to local Festival of Trees charity event. Last year I missed the deadline. It is so hard to part with any of the sweet cottages though! I love them all and the dear girls they represent. I don't have a cottage from every participant but many of them.
I cut strips to sash each cottage and red bits to make stars in between the blocks. I was so incredibly inspired by Sarah's cottage quilt. You have to go look at Sarah's quilt on her blog Anyone can Quilt, especially if you have cottages you haven't sewn together yet. You'll be inspired, too. I had to really study Sarah's quilt to figure out how I wanted to apply a similar lay out and maybe use a different method. I really try not to copy cat but I fell in love with how she took all the different cottages and made them work into one cohesive quilt.
My gosh it was hard to get the stars and points to be semi-straight/perfect. I didn't take all the cottages and trim them first to the same size first. I forgot that step. And since they have all been made by different people it has been a bit of a challenge to sew them together with good lines. I've needed my little friend the seam ripper now and again.The cottages are coming along though and I've got rows 1-3 all completed. I am making 5 rows. I hope to get more done tonight. Once I started getting into the groove it became really fun.Flora gave me my border fabric last year. It is perfect. I loved how Flora bordered hers so much that she shared the fabric with me. So really I've had excellent help in getting at least one of my Christmas Cottage quilts put together. I can't wait to take this to the quilter. Hopefully I can get it quilted and bound in time for Alpine Days.

-nanette

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31 comments

Anonymous said...

V. here... The Christmas cottages are precious. The little red stars at the corners look perfect. I am so glad to see Christmas in the air. Love the winter border fabric. v

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

my goal was to get it done this summer, I have yet to touch it because I had no idea what I wanted to do!!I love Sarah's idea of adding the borders because no 1/4 inch seam is the same and she found a perfect way to make them all work.
I love your choice of fabric the red is just perfect! I need to get mine out and get going, I do not want it to be a UFO , thanks for the push, and I have all the faith in the world that you will get it done!! Love the border print too!!

Cornbread and Beans Quilting said...

Hi Nanette!
Your cottage quilt is looking fabulous! I am crossing my fingers for you that it gets done in time to share.
Would love to see it when you finish.
happy sewing, melissa

Abby and Stephanie said...

I LOVE Sarah's quilt. Fantastic. Love the setting and your border fabric is perfect!!! I sure hope to get mine done BEFORE this Christmas!

Candace said...

I couldn't believe it when I opened your post for today, Nanette! Just yesterday afternoon I had my cottages out on the worktable trying to decide on how to put them together! They are some of the few things I haven't packed and taken to the Squash House! You and Sarah have given me great inspiration! And I just adore your border fabric - how perfect is that!
Cheers!

Browndirtcottage said...

WOO-HOO....can't wait to see it finished...good luck in getting it finished for your deadline!! I know I have seen Sarah's before but I'm off to check it out again!

Jill said...

Love your houses!Do I see a cat in one window & a mouse in the other?!!! If I do,someone's very clever!!Love your border fabric, too & can't wait to see it done!!!

Karen said...

Hi N, I have my sashing all planned out (in my head) and hope to get it done and to the quilter by September. Love the stars, cute little added detail;)

Betsy said...

Nanette, it is going to look wonderful.

Unknown said...

Make sme want to go make some more cottages!!! I am sitting here impatiently waiting for the Fed Ex guy to get here with my Holly Jolly Snowmen fabric from Moda. I am getting all into the spirit!

Jan said...

Love, love, love those cottages; and your setting, along w/your border fabric is perfect, as is Sarah's :) Hurry up please cuz I'm anxious to see it all :)

Sherri said...

I loved Sarah's the moment I saw it...and I also love yours! I think I might have to do a similar setting! I'm planning on working on mine this fall so that it is ready for Christmas! I love your border fabric as well...thanks so much for all the quilting inspiration!

Nedra said...

That Flora really comes up with great borders, doesn't she? Are you sure you two aren't related?
The red stars really look perfect for that quilt too.

Messy Karen said...

your quilt is going to be just as gorgeous as Sarah's. and darn that August 1st. we all really need to start our xmas presents don't we!

pratima said...

I love the sashing fabric. So pretty and perfect and so is the border fabric :)
Sarah's quilt is awesome! The stars are making the quilt sparkle.

I'm hoping to finish it before this Christmas ;)

Anonymous said...

That border fabric reminds me of my favorite Christmas wrapping paper. Love those fussy-cut people in the windows!

em's scrapbag said...

I am so glad you showed this setting. I've been wondering how to set mine.

Momoo said...

Never heard of a seam ripper being called "little friend". I have very unfriendly feelings when I have to use the seam ripper. Beautiful quilt, hope you get it quilted in time.

jen duncan said...

OH I almost don't want to see it finished because I know I'll want to make one too!! :-)

Momoo said...

Never heard of a seam ripper being called "little friend". I have very unfriendly feelings when I have to use the seam ripper. Beautiful quilt, hope you get it quilted in time.

Carrie P. said...

I saw Sarah's quilt and I really like her idea. I was thinking about setting my blocks like you are doing but haven't got around to it yet. So I will be able to see yours and see if that is the way I want to do it. I already bought the fabric to do it.

Cheryl said...

Nanette, I just love the cottages with the stars in the sashing! I just might have to borrow your idea. Great border fabric.

Cheryl said...

Nanette, I just love the cottages with the stars in the sashing! I just might have to borrow your idea. Great border fabric.

Julie said...

So very cute!! Where is the quilt show? I just might have to go. Julie

Little Lady Patchwork said...

I can't wait to see how your cottage "village" quilt turns out! That border fabric is going to be really cute on the quilt.

Good luck getting it done!

dotti white said...

That is just so sweet with the red stars done in the sashing. They set off the cottages so sweetly! Beautiful!

Lily Boot said...

You've no idea how relieved I am that you didn't your christmas cottages made up - I didn't either! And I've felt so neglectful! I love that border fabric - I have some of it too - I've used it for the centre panel of a Christmas quilt I started last year but didn't finish :-0 And the stars are great - I used that setting for a quilt for my nephew a few years ago - with a pretty baby fabric instead of a cottage - it is such a lovely setting. It will be beautiful Nanette and I'm sending you good finishing wishes!

Dresden Quilter said...

You have inspired me to one day try a house. I love the border fabric.

Dawn said...

Your little village is coming together nicely!!

julieQ said...

Your quilt is just so cute!! Love how you put the blocksk together.

Eileen said...

I still have to put mine together. So I am really looking forward to see how yours turns out. :-) Maybe you already showed it.. I am weeks behind!