Christmas Tree Wall Hanging & Banded Kitchen Towels

Since starting my blog earlier this month, the first advice I received was to join link parties to become involved in the online community.  Last week, for the first time, I joined several link parties featuring completed projects including Sarah's "Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?" Friday" over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict which in turn started a chain reaction.

The 2nd link on Whoop Whoop Friday was a beautiful plus quilt by Linda at A Maiden Hair Fern. She also included a giveaway in her post for 2 Mistletoe Lane mini charm packs by Moda for which I entered a comment to win (more about this on Sunday).

I scrolled down a couple of posts to find an adorable Christmas tree wall hanging made from the Trees pattern by Crazy Mom Quilts.  I had that pattern!  Remember when Amanda Jean celebrated her 250th quilt back in September and generously gave a free pattern to those commenting?  Trees was the pattern I chose.  I thought it would be great made from the Blueberry Park in Pickle I had recently received in a giveaway by Robert Kaufman and blogged about in Sunday Stash #1.

It rained most all day and was difficult to take photographs, but in downtown Easley I took a few under a very cloudy sky.


Christmas Tree on brick building downtown Easley, SC

Christmas Tree with fountain in the background

Christmas Tree on the door of the Clock Tower

Straight line quilting detail

Binding in proccss

Quilt Stats:

• Finished size:  13" x 20 1/2"
• Fabrics: Libs Stitches in Pickle from Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis, mfg. Robert Kaufman; Woodgrain in Bark from Aviary 2 by Joel Dewberry, mfg. Free Free Spirit; Kona Cotton in white for background; and Sasparilla Check in red from October Afternoon, mfg. Riley Blake for binding
• Backing: White on white small flower
• Batting: Warm & White
• Thread: Aurifil 2024 for piecing and quilting 
• Quilting: 1/2 " straight line quilting with walking foot 

Banded Kitchen Towels

Linda had also adorned some dish towels using Amanda Jeans's simple patchwork dish towel tutorial.  Wanting to make some with a Christmas theme for a couple of gifts, I looked through my stash, but did not have enough coordinating prints.  I settled on a single print of red with white snowflakes, the same I used for the backing of the The Greatest Gift.  I sewed a single band of fabric to the towels using my walking foot and it worked wonderfully.  The band was cut 3" wide and finished 2 1/2" when the raw edge was turned under 1/4" on each side.

Banded kitchen towels hanging on the oven door

I measured the width of the first towel and cut my band to fit allowing for turning under the edge.  I proceeded to cut bands for 3 more towels using the same measurement. Mistake!  The towels were not the same width.  I did prewash the towels, but they should have shrunk the same.  You can see below where the bands do not quite go to the edge, but I did not want to recut them.  I had to tell myself, "It's just a kitchen towel, it will be fine."  I normally purchase these all-purpose towels from Williams-Sonoma when I applique them for brides' gifts.  But I was not about to make a trip to the mall this close to Christmas, so I purchased these by Better Homes and Gardens from the closer big box store.

Uneven bands due to different towel widths 

Banded kitchen towels ready for wrapping

The towels have now been gifted to two friends and plans are underway for more!  Thank you Amanda Jean and Linda for the inspiration!

I am linking up to Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday, Link-A-Finish Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Finish It Up Friday and Show Off Saturday.