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Free quilt pattern: Christmas is coming
Download “Christmas is coming” pattern
APQS Dealer Betty Reid’s close family ties served as the inspiration for her “Christmas is Coming” quilt pattern. Seeing presents under the tree with your name on the tag elevates the anticipation until the magical day when you can rip through the paper to see what’s inside! Who can resist the sparkling eyes of children as visions of sugar plums dance in their heads (or in this day and age, visions of new headphones or iPads?) 🙂
And with her grandchildren Amelia, Nicholas, and Zoe Grace giving her big, toothy grins, how could a grandma not make them something special for Christmas?
Betty wanted to create something for them that was just happy and fun—and “Christmas is Coming” was born!
She used a curvy log cabin block because it works up super-fast, and doesn’t require price pre-cutting. Instead, you trim the block as you put it together. Therefore, it’s perfect for leftover fabric strips, scraps, or even Honey Buns™or Jelly Rolls™.
With the clever Creative Grids® Curvy Log Cabin Block Tool, building the blocks is easy. Four blocks are joined to create the rounded ornament shape. Then the blocks are surrounded by background fabrics to make them float on the quilt. You can use real grosgrain ribbon to create the hangers on the quilt, or you can choose a coordinating fabric and piece in the ornament hanger. Betty includes instructions for both methods.
Betty chose to quilt her quilt using a pantograph pattern called “Jessie’s Swirls” on her APQS Quilt Path since it was whimsical and fun, and fit the carefree theme of the quilt. She chose Quilter’s Dream Cotton batting for a soft, cuddly quilt. To make it extra special, Betty embroidered her three grandchildren’s names on to “tags” and added them to the finished quilt.
Betty’s love of quilting was handed down from her mom, who taught her to hand quilt, and both of her grandmothers. She’s already busy getting her children and grandchildren interested in the art. At age 50, She chose to leave her “real-life adult job” and began her own business. The Quilted Petal, located in her home studio in Petal, MS specialized in T-shirt and memory quilts. She opened a FB business page, posted a couple of pics and never looked back!
What was meant to be a part time side hustle became a full time dream job of a lifetime. Said Betty, “God has provided beyond my wildest expectations!” She quilted on a domestic machine for about a year before investing in an APQS Freddie longarm machine, “one of the best business moves I’ve made to date!” She loved the product so much that she became an APQS rep. After another year, she added Quilt Path.
“My favorite quilts to make are ones with meaning. Quilts bring comfort on so many levels. I make many memory quilts from articles of clothing. I believe there is a special healing that takes place when a mom can wrap herself in her child’s clothes and feel as though she is holding them once again. I am so blessed to be able to hear about wonderful people and feel as if I have met the person through memories shared by their loved ones. Discarding loved ones’ clothing can be a difficult task, so, turning them into a keepsake is the perfect option.”
We love your caring spirit, Betty!
