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    Home » Gift Ideas

    Handmade Christmas Quilt Along…

    Updated: May 29, 2014 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 20 Comments

    Quilt Along: Learn step by step how to make a quilt as a gift for your kids on polkadotchair.com

    Handmade Christmas Quilt AlongI’m going to be totally selfish today- I totally admit that I have an ulterior motive with the quilt along I’m going to talk about today. You can be selfish too and follow along…

    Two years ago for Christmas I decided my kids were getting to many toys that ended with an ii or started with an i… and that I needed to balance out all of the electronics with some soft home made things.

    tutorial for this quilt found here

    So I made each of them a lap quilt.   I did it kinda on a whim, and will admit to making all 3 in about a 48 hr period (crazy I know!)…

    Since then, they have drug those little quilts all over with them.  My son calls it his “special blanky” and insists on taking it everywhere with him.  I will admit I was a little surprised at how much they liked them!

    Since the quilts are all starting to show signs of wear, I decided that this year I am going to make them another quilt.  I’ve got 3 kids so thats 3 quilts before Christmas.  I’m bound and determined to start earlier this year.  What better way to get something done than to commit to blog about it?

    I’ve talked to a few friends who want to make similar quilts for their kids this year, and thought it might be fun to do a bit of a “Quilt Along”

    tutorial for quilt here

    Here’s how it will work:

    -I’ll share with you the stages of making one of these lap quilts (a little at a time before Christmas).. I’ll tell you when I’m buying fabric, when I’m designing the blocks, when I’m machine quilting it etc.

    -We are not all going to make the same design quilt. Instead I’ll share with you tips and inspiration for making a QUICKLY and EASILY pieced quilt top… you pick which method you like, stripes, blocks, rectangles etc… I know that one of my quilts will be a super simple design while another one may be a bit more intricate.

    -If enough people are following along, I’ll host a linky party a couple of times so you can all share your progress! (and have a little bit of accountability to get it done!)

    -I’ll explain each step in detail. If you’ve never quilted before you can do this.  Don’t stress… it’s just for fun.

    I’m very excited about this not just because it will help me get the quilts for my kids done, but also because I get to share my creative process with you!

    I get asked a lot where I get my ideas from.  I think that by letting you “follow along” while I make something it will give you a little peek into my process and how I get ideas and then the steps I take to bring them to reality.

    So do you want to follow along? Challenge yourself to a Handmade Christmas?

    It all starts Wednesday with Step ONE: Fabric Selection and Design ideas. Stay tuned.

     

    Here are the links to all the posts in this Quilt Along:

    Step One

    Step Two

    Start Cutting

    Cutting Part 2

    Start Sewing

    Backing and Batting

    Progress Report

    Machine Quilting

    Last Update

    Finished Quilts

    Finished Quilt

     

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen says

      September 19, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      Crazy! I had already planned to make 3 lap quilts this Christmas also. I would be thrilled to do a quilt along with you 🙂 ~ and the push to get them done early will be nice. Thank you.

      Reply
    2. elle says

      September 19, 2011 at 6:52 pm

      Love this! Maybe this is the push I need to get my son’s baby quilt done (He’s only 2 1/2!) and my baby girl’s started.

      Reply
    3. Kirsten N says

      September 19, 2011 at 7:23 pm

      I made one of these for my daughter – such a great quilt pattern!!

      Reply
    4. Shannon says

      September 19, 2011 at 7:25 pm

      I totally need the accountability because I am a beginner and I have no idea how to quilt the top (except stitch in the ditch)! Thank you for this quilt along, sounds fun!

      Reply
    5. Donna S. says

      September 19, 2011 at 8:34 pm

      Whoa. I am a beginner but have cut up my 2 1/2 yr old grandson’s receiving blankets & made a quilt top out of them. Then, I have the 3 grandkids 5 doors down. Do I dare? Can I really? I am a beginner. I may have to try this.

      Reply
    6. Candice says

      September 19, 2011 at 9:28 pm

      I’m doing the same thing 🙂 LOVE IT!! However, one of mine is a year quilt along so I will have to come up with something quicker for that one :)- it’s not over til next summer. And I am making 4- they are all in process, but time consuming! So excited to get ideas and follow along!! Yipee- great idea 🙂

      Reply
    7. pat/susie/resortmom says

      September 19, 2011 at 10:02 pm

      Beware…if you make them a new quilt…they will still LOVE the old one too!! Then you’ll have twice as many quilts traveling with them!! Very cute idea!

      Reply
    8. Bec Clarke says

      September 20, 2011 at 4:31 am

      Yes please, I am in. I am always looking for a good quick and easy way to whip up a quilt, my husband called me the “Queen of the last minute” the other day.

      Reply
    9. Sharon says

      September 20, 2011 at 6:51 am

      Sounds like fun!! I was just thinking yesterday about making my four kids quilts like you did for children for Christmas, how funny is it mow you are going to have a quilt along now. great minds think alike. 😉

      Reply
    10. Kimberly says

      September 20, 2011 at 1:48 pm

      Count me in!

      Reply
    11. Becky says

      September 20, 2011 at 4:07 pm

      You just inspired my 13-year-old daughters Christmas present. She has a quillow I made when she was three that is FALLING apart. She needs a new blanket! Yay!

      Reply
    12. HollowSquirrel says

      September 20, 2011 at 7:10 pm

      I wanted to make my parents lap quilts — do you have a size recommendation for adults? I’ve only made one quilt (a tshirt quilt), so I’m a newbie, too!

      Reply
    13. Kim says

      September 20, 2011 at 9:24 pm

      Awesome, so excited!

      Reply
    14. Tandy says

      September 21, 2011 at 2:52 pm

      The timing is perfect, I started piecing together quilts for my twins’ yesterday. This will be fun!

      Reply
    15. toots2u says

      September 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm

      making your snuggle blocks quilt has been on my to do list for awhile now. Your quilt along will be a great opportunity! i have 6 kids but i will be doing great to get 3 done before christmas then 3 after Christmas. Thanks!

      Reply
    16. Angela says

      September 21, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      I love the idea. I would like to make something from start to finish and this might give me a push in the right direction. I’m in.

      Reply
    17. Liz says

      September 22, 2011 at 4:52 pm

      I’m in! I’m making a quilt for my parents and boyfriend plus lots of other home/handmade Christmas gifts. Fun!

      Reply
    18. Powers Fam says

      October 16, 2011 at 3:04 pm

      I would love to do this. I have some fabric that has been sitting in my room for too long. Now do I make it, wrap it up, and stick it under the Christmas tree for myself or give it away? 😀

      Reply
    19. Ec4aR3ZvgoLB says

      October 10, 2012 at 3:55 am

      471476 936412Respect to website author , some good selective information . 444812

      Reply

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