Guest Author - Cheryl Ellex

For those that observe Christmas holiday traditions and as the season of crisp December days once more come upon us – here’s hoping the beauty and enchantment of these times bring joy and peace for you and yours now and throughout the year.

The enduring, virtually unchanging customs of this most important of Christian holidays has in modern times greeted us with cheery, albeit commercial, symbols of red-striped candy canes, mistletoe and evergreen wreaths, gaily wrapped red and green packages, bright red and variegated poinsettias, smiling snowmen, jolly bearded Santas, and glittery decorated Christmas trees. Christmas traditions remain unaffected even by turbulent times and we seek to recreate the comfort they bring year after year.

To bring the glow of this merriest of times to that busiest of rooms - the kitchen, consider sewing a kitchen makeover with just a few yards of holiday printed fabric.

Choose a festive holiday theme for your kitchen makeover - snowflakes, Santa, snowmen, holly leaves, pinecones, winter birds, candy canes, poinsettias – then visit your local fabric store, or use one of the many online websites to purchase several yards of your holiday print fabric. Holiday themed fabric prints are often so charming; it is hard to choose a favorite!

Sew a window valance or swag to coordinate with placemats and a table runner, add simple to sew chair back and barstool covers and the kitchen is instantly festive and bright. Make a whimsical door draft stopper to keep out the chill of the winter winds. Sew a festive fabric bowl and fill with your choice of sprigs of silk-flower holly leaves and gathered pinecones or shiny ornaments for a charming table centerpiece. Small kitchen appliance covers that harmonize with oven mitts and hot pads add old-fashioned charm too.

McCall’s has a Free Project Christmas stocking to sew and embellish.

McCall’s Quilting has Christmas Trimmings Place Mats and Table Runner instructions from their A Year of Quilts - Spring 2003 Issue. Free holly leaf and star appliqué templates to use.

And also from McCall's Quilting - out of the December 2003 Issue, free instructions for a whimsical door draft stopper titled Chill Be Gone designed by Kelly Corbridge.

Simplicity has several home décor patterns showing tabletop and kitchen accessories that could all be made from festive holiday prints.

McCall’s has a fabric bowl available in pattern #4797.

Simplicity’s fabric bowl pattern is #4506 and can be found here.

Butterick has several home decorating patterns for table toppers, chair covers, and window treatments.

A few anonymous inspirations for sewers...
Hem your blessings with praise, lest they unravel.
Sewers are tied together with heartstrings.
Memories are stitched with love.

Warmest wishes for the holiday season...
Happy Sewing.

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