My Quilt #218 ~ Northern Lights Christmas Quilt 2010

One more nickel quilt!  This pattern is Northern Lights, and the quilt measures 47 x 60 inches. 

I made this quilt from a stash of Christmas fabrics that I’ve had for a few years.  I cut up the fabrics into 5-inch squares, found a pattern that I liked, and put it all together into a baggie as a kit. Last year, I pulled out the kit and put the blocks together; but I wasn’t thrilled with the color combo … the background just didn’t seem right … and I put it aside to work on other projects.

Well, 2010 being the year to finish those UFOs, I tackled this project and finally finished it!  But, even when I completed the top, I still wasn’t thrilled with it … it just didn’t sing to me.  I struggled with the borders, and then finally decided, the heck with it, I’ll just make it borderless. 

But now that it’s finished?  It sings loud and proud! I quilted it with an allover heart and loopy design (a nice change over meandering); and the backing is an angel fabric that my BFF found at a garage sale and gave to me for my kids’ quilts. 

I’m donating this quilt to Project Linus; and I think the angels are perfect … and so is this cute fabric with the puppy in a stocking.

---

Why so many nickel quilts?  A few years back, I decided I needed to tame my fabric stash and had this “brilliant” idea to make kits.  I went through my extensive stash and collection of quilting books and magazines, and started putting fabrics and patterns together.  I then placed these projects into baggies. 

During this time, I also cut up much of my yardage into smaller cuts.  If I had a yard, I cut it into a 1/2 yard and 2 FQs.  If I had 2 yards, I would keep one yard intact.  Sometimes I would cut a 1/2 yard into 5-inch squares, which means I ended up with tons of nickel squares.  And I’m still working my way through these kits!

July 2010

UPDATE:  Sold on eBay in 2011.