2022 AQS Christmas Countdown with Janome

We're getting ready for the 2022 AQS Christmas Countdown and this year we have a special surprise! The talented designers at Janome have stitched up an amazing quilt for us to make this December!

AQS Christmas Countdown with Janome

The countdown begins December 1st and continues through December 25th with a block a day.

About the Designers

The incredibly talented team at Janome worked hard to make this year's quilt extra special!

A Huge Thank You to the Janome team!

About the Quilt

The quilt sample is made from the Noel fabric line by Clare Therese Gray for Windham Fabrics.

It features a sweet and sprightly holiday assortment. Visions of Christmas morning with hand-painted ornaments, stuffed stockings, beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree and boughs of holly dance through this collection. Available in a palette of winter white, pine green, Christmas red, sweet mint and pretty pink.

The Janome team used about 1 yard of each of the fabrics from the collection to create the blocks.

For the accents in the blocks, white sashing, and binding, they used approximately 1 1/2 yards each of solid red, white, green, pink, and pale teal fabric.

For framing and sashing, they used 3/4 yard each of the tiny gingham in pine and red. They also used extra for the blocks, so 1 yard total is enough for both.

For the backing, they used 4 yards of the white Noel Sweet Ornaments print so they could match the designs.

Make It Your Way

Of course, you're welcome to use whatever fabric you prefer. This quilt is a great candidate for a scrappy approach. You could use a neutral solid to sash between the blocks to bring it all together.

Block One kicks off December 1st! 

Join the Fun

Be sure to quilt along with us at the AQS Christmas Countdown Facebook Group! Share your progress, ask questions, and make new friends.

Blocks will be posted each morning by 8 am CST.

Quilt Assembly Instructions

Download the following instructions here.

This quilt is laid out in a square with five blocks in each of the five rows. Each block is framed in either red or green gingham, with a narrow sashing in pure solid white to let each block stand alone.

When sewing the skinny white sashing strips, use a gentle touch being careful not to pull the strip and use minimal pinning to avoid overly distorting the fabric.

Fabric Requirements

Tiny Gingham in Pine - ½ yard (will be some extra)

Tiny Gingham in Red -  ½ yard (will be some extra)

White Solid – ½ yard (will have to piece some strips)

Cutting Instructions

Tiny Gingham in Pine fabric (13 blocks with green frame)

(Note: If you prefer, you can cut these framing strips a bit wider (1 1/2") so you can use them to size the blocks. If you decide to do this, wait to cut the framing strips until you've measured your completed blocks. This will let you adjust the length of the framing strips as well.)

                (26) 1¼” x 9” strips

                (26) 1¼” x 10½” strips

Tiny Gingham in Red fabric (12 blocks with red sashing)

(Note: If you prefer, you can cut these framing strips a bit wider (1 1/2") so you can use them to size the blocks. If you decide to do this, wait to cut the framing strips until you've measured your completed blocks. This will let you adjust the length of the framing strips as well.)

                (24) 1¼” x 9” strips

                (24) 1¼” x 10½” strips

White Solid fabric:

                (20) 1" x 10½" strips

                (8) 1” x 54”  strips (may have to piece these to get the length)

Block Frames

Sort the completed blocks by gingham frame colors – 13 blocks will have a green gingham border and 12 blocks will have a red gingham border.

Sew a 9” gingham strip on the top and bottom of each block, press to the outside. After pressing, sew the two longer 10½” strips to the left and right sides. Press to the outside. (Note: At this time, if you've allowed a little extra in the frame, you can evenly trim the blocks to 10 1/2" square.)

Sashing

Lay out the blocks into rows of five blocks each, alternating the red and green framed blocks. Sew a white 10 1/2” strip to the top of each block in the second through fifth horizontal rows, skipping the top row. You may want to press to the gingham fabric to avoid anything showing through the white.

Sew the blocks into columns, so that the first block in each row is sewn into the first column, the second blocks in each row are sewn into the second column, and so forth.

Sew a 54" white strip on the right side of the first through fourth columns. Press and trim.

Use the remaining white strips to border the top and bottom of the quilt top, and then the left and right sides exactly like you framed the blocks.

Your quilt top is finished! Back and quilt as desired.

Binding

The Janome team made a fun candy-striped bias binding using alternating white and coordinating color solids. You can also use any fabric that works with your quilt. 

For binding strips, cut 2½" strips. 

To make a straight grain binding, you will need ½ yard of fabric.