Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Author interview | Ruth McHaney Danner

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Book Making A World of Difference Ruth DannerSewists who make quilts in service to others is the subject of Ruth McHaney Danner’s latest book, Making a World of Difference One Quilt At A Time. You may know her from her popular book, What I Learned from God While Quilting, which I read and enjoyed. Look at the photo cover, of a little one reaching for a quilt at the top of the stack. It drew me in like a warm fire on a cold day.

Let’s get some business done.

Disclaimer: Though I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, New Word Library, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Now, back to the good stuff. I want you to meet Ruth, and you can; just click on interview, A Talk with Ruth McHaney, by Monique Muhlenkamp. Afterwards, I think you’ll want to read her stories. I had no idea the scope of charities quilters engage in, and from all over the globe. Each chapter has a ‘Binding Stitch’ closure, giving contact information for relevant charities. In a world that is often bleak, her book is a beacon of good will and inspiration.

Stay tuned for a future post, where I will be giving away my review copy of this refreshing book to a lucky Craft Gossip reader. You can find Making a World of Difference One Quilt at a Time: Inspiring Stories about Quilters & How They Have Touched Lives here.

 

Comments

  1. I love quilting and am so excited that I have the opportunity to donate quilts too many good causes. Thanks for sharing this book, Scarlett. Definitely one I will add to my collection.

  3. My favorite thing to do is quilt, my next favorite is to read. What better thing to read about quilting. I donate to the Chapman House in Homestead, FL. They can use all sorts of things.

Have you read?

5 Christmas Ornament Quilt Patterns That Add Instant Holiday Charm

There are some Christmas quilt themes that feel timeless no matter how many holiday seasons roll by, and ornaments are right at the top of that list. They’re cheerful, colourful, easy to recognise, and wonderfully flexible. A quilted ornament can look sweet and traditional in red and green, elegant in metallics and winter whites, or surprisingly modern in brights, ginghams, and low-volume prints. That makes ornament quilt patterns one of the easiest ways to add a festive feel to your sewing without getting boxed into one very specific Christmas look.

What makes this theme especially useful is how many directions it can take. Some patterns turn ornaments into full quilt blocks for throws, pillows, and wall hangings. Others lean into small handmade decorations you can hang on the tree, tuck onto gift wrap, or sew as quick stash-busting projects in the middle of December when your to-do list is already looking a bit rude. So whether you want a full holiday quilt or just a handful of handmade extras, there’s plenty to work with here.

If you enjoy building out a whole holiday sewing theme, this category also pairs beautifully with your own Christmas content on CraftGossip, especially 25+ Christmas Holiday Quilt Block Patterns For Holiday Quilts, Little Quilted Star Ornament Tutorial, and 25 Free Scrap Fabric Christmas Ornament Patterns. They all sit naturally alongside an ornament-focused roundup like this.

Ornament Blocks – Christmas Adventure Quilt

These ornament blocks are such a fun option if you love the look of a themed Christmas quilt but still want something playful and easy to personalise. They’re especially good for showing off festive prints, fussy cuts, and little novelty fabrics that deserve more than hiding in a scrap bin. This kind of block would look lovely in a full quilt, but it would also work beautifully in pillows or a mini wall hanging.

Christmas Candy Ornaments Downloadable PDF Quilt Pattern

This pattern is a nice choice if you want smaller festive projects with a sweet, handmade feel. It includes several ornament-style designs, which makes it ideal for holiday décor, gift tags, or little stitched extras that can be finished fairly quickly. If you like projects that feel cute without being overly fussy, this one has a lot going for it.

Oh, Christmas Tree Downloadable PDF Quilt Pattern

This one is especially appealing if you enjoy making actual hanging ornaments rather than just ornament-themed quilt blocks. The pattern is designed around a set of four sweet Christmas ornaments, which makes it feel perfect for decorating a tree, putting together a handmade gift set, or creating keepsakes that can come out year after year. It’s festive in a very classic, comforting way.

Quilted Christmas Ornaments in 3 Sizes

This is a lovely option if you’re specifically in the mood to make actual fabric ornaments rather than quilt blocks. Multiple sizes make it easier to create a coordinated set, which is perfect for tree trimming, handmade gifts, or holiday market makes. This kind of pattern also tends to be very stash-friendly, which never hurts in December.

Quilted Christmas Ornament Pattern, 5 Patterns PDF

A multi-pattern set like this is ideal if you enjoy variety and don’t want every ornament on the tree looking exactly the same. It gives you more room to mix fabrics, colours, and embellishments while still keeping a cohesive handmade look. This would be especially appealing for quilters who love batch sewing in the lead-up to Christmas.

Christmas ornament quilt patterns are such an easy win because they work at almost every scale. You can make one statement block for a pillow, stitch a whole quilt full of baubles, or spend an afternoon making a handful of small hanging ornaments from scraps. They also give you endless freedom with fabric choice, which means you can make them traditional, sweet, elegant, rustic, or bright and modern depending on what you already have in your stash.

And really, that’s part of the magic of Christmas sewing. The best projects are the ones that feel festive the moment you look at them, but still leave enough room for your own fabrics and style to do the talking. Ornament patterns do that beautifully. They’re quick to recognise, easy to personalise, and cheerful enough to make even a slightly chaotic December sewing session feel worth it.