Patterns, patchworks and projects
Not every quilt is made to mark a wedding or birth, no. Many speak to the political and social realms of society. With “Threads of Resistance”, transform your feelings about U.S. current events into a traditional or art quilt. An exhibit to follow. Excited.
Click the link below to learn more.
Threads of Resistance – Call For Entries, by Artist Circle
{Image credit: Artist Circle}
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you realize how divisive this is? This is the very first line of the challenge, “The Artist Circle presents “Threads of Resistance,” a juried exhibition of work created to protest the Trump administration’s actions and policies.” What the heck? Are you trying to loose half your readers?
Hello Scarlett! This is a very interesting post and one I would never have known about on my own. I do not think it is something I will do, but I may know someone who just might. So thank you for including such a broad and interesting spectrum of posts on blogs to present for us! Have a great day!
Do you really think that people come to this site for political views?
Mercy…
Great idea. Artists can change the world.
Is Threads of Resistance only for opposition to the Trump administration? I voted republican for many reasons. Am I happy with what’s going on in our country? No. What I resist is how intolerant, unloving, and uncompassionate people are on both sides of this. For me, quilting is therapeutic and I think this is a great venue for expression of frustration given the current political climate. Is this call for entrants open to all of us, regardless of who we voted for or where we stand?
Thanks for your reply……
Good morning Lynn,
I visited the Threads of Resistance Facebook page this morning to see if I could get an answer for you. It is a protest against Trump policies, not against Trump voters. I agree with you that division on both sides is a problem that deserves attention from needle and thread.
Link to Threads of Resistance FB: https://www.facebook.com/threadsofresistance/
Of note is a comment from one of organizers on Feb 26 by Sue DiMeglio Russell Kaufman. She says
“i just really want to emphasize that every person/sewer should feel welcome to express a viewpoint. No one should marginalize themselves for any reason. Let the panel decide what best interprets their mission. Don’t let anything hold you back. I thank you.”
So, I say go for it Lynn. And I’d love to see your progress.
Warmly,
Scarlett Burroughs
Quilting Editor, Craft Gossip