Make the holiday special this year. Create your own Christmas decorations. These can be used year after year. Reviews of several holiday craft pattern and books follow.
Penguins on Parade
This delightful holiday quilt pattern by designer Susan Marsh was published by Whistlepig Creek Productions. The appliquéd wall hanging measures 39 by 32 inches. Simple and easy to make, it is suitable for beginners.
It offers a refreshing motif for the holidays. This depicts three appealing penguins in full winter garb. Assuming you don’t choose Christmas-themed fabrics, this penguin quilt could be displayed throughout the winter months.
For her quilt, the designer chose a gorgeous periwinkle background with purple prints and solids for the borders.
This pattern features full size appliqué templates, a list of supplies and fabrics, and easy to follow, step by step, illustrated directions. This also covers all of the basic quilting techniques.
There’s No Business Like Snow Business
Whistlepig has also released this book of winter craft patterns. It was written and illustrated by Susan Marsh. This color guide has 20 fun-filled craft projects. They depict charming snowmen in all sorts of guises. These cover a variety of craft techniques from sewing and quilting to decorative painting. Wool felt is used for many of the projects.
Some of the snowmen are clearly intended for Christmas. Among these items are tree skirts, an Advent calendar, and Christmas stockings.
Other projects can bring cheer for the entire winter season. These include all sorts of sewing projects, appliqué and patchwork quilts, wall hangings, banners, placemats, and sweat shirts. This also has numerous painted projects ranging from flower pots and metal buckets to wooden items and storage boxes.
A pull-out sheet contains all the pattern pieces. For each project, the book has complete, step by step, illustrated instructions, and a list of supplies. There are also details on the embroidery stitches with a chart of suggested yarn colors.
Christmas All Through the House
By Gooseberry Patch, this book was released by Oxmoor House. This collection is encyclopedic in scope. From cover to cover, it is brimming with ideas. This sturdy, spiral bound book will withstand years of use. Along with 400 scrumptious recipes and home made goodies for gifts, this has over 200 easy craft projects.
There is something here to suit every situation. The decorating themes range from a homespun country look to the more whimsical and elegant. All of this is done in Gooseberry’s signature style. The book is illustrated with lush color photos as well as line art for which Gooseberry Patch is so well known.
For all of these Gooseberry Christmas craft projects, there are simple and easy, step by step, illustrated instructions, a list of supplies, and pattern templates. This covers a wide range of craft techniques from quick and easy quilting and sewing projects to wool appliqué, stitchery, paper crafts, latchhook, and decorative painting.
2008 Christmas with Southern Living
This title from Oxmoor House makes holiday decorating so easy. It offers so many styles from which you can choose. Just choose a theme and follow the hundreds of stunning examples to achieve a coordinated look throughout a room or area.
There are holiday craft projects for every part of the house from doors and mantles to entryways. This has wonderful centerpieces and table decorations so you can entertain in style. It presents examples for dining tables and sideboards.
There are color illustrated instructions for each of the decorating projects. These include a living wreath, a ribbon wreath, and a magnolia leaf swag.
Entire chapters are devoted to holiday wreaths and garlands. For a rustic look, this has exquisite holiday displays using moss, wood, twig balls, and twiggy birdhouses.
There are color illustrated instructions for each of the decorating projects. These include a living wreath, a ribbon wreath, and a magnolia leaf swag.
