Jolly Holiday ~ Free Patterns: Table Runner and Gift Bag

A little about me . . . . I am the owner of RGA Design and I am passionate about teaching.  Our business is all about helping others learn to machine quilt.  I designed the Patriot Dream fabric line for Henry Glass with machine quilters in mind.  My husband, Andy, has even learned to speak the quilting language. Our five children are grown, married to amazing people, and are parents to our wonderful grandchildren (13 with 4 more on the way). Read on for my thoughts on the holidays . . . .   

1. What is your favorite holiday food?

I love holiday treats and we always try to have a lovely Christmas dinner with all the trimmings using our nicest dishes and linens. Cranberry sauce (secret word) is a great way to add a Christmas color to our meal.  

2. Does your family have a favorite holiday tradition?

Our family loves to celebrate Christmas together. One of our traditions is to break family traditions. One year, we surprised our children on Christmas Eve by letting them open all their presents and instead of our usual Christmas Day celebrations, we went snow skiing. It has been a wonderful memory and something my children often talk about even years later.

3. Did you like or hate sitting on Santa's lap?

My oldest (and only) daughter did NOT like sitting on Santa's lap. Visiting Santa became low on the priority list for our family during December mostly because we do not live near one of the malls where Santa hangs out! 

4. Was there a gift that you really desperately wanted? Did you get it?

When I was 6 years old I had my heart set on a Saucy Walker Doll. The advertisements showed this almost life-size doll walking. To my great surprise I did get one for Christmas though I remember being sorely disappointed that she couldn't actually walk. I have been a little sceptical about advertisements since then!

5. What's your favorite holiday movie?

It's a Wonderful Life

6. Favorite holiday song?

I love all the carols and Handel's Messiah! They are the songs I hum all through the Christmas season. We got lucky this year and won the lottery for tickets for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert in Salt Lake City. What a treat that will be!

7. Do you make many holiday presents? 

I prefer giving homemade gifts but it isn't always practical with our large family.  Over the years my homemade gifts have ranged from Cabbage Patch dolls to blue jeans, but now they almost always have something to do with quilting.

8. Would you prefer a large fully decorated tree or one like Charlie Brown's tree?

Our family moved to Okinawa Japan right before Christmas one year and we did our best to piece together a holiday for our children. Since we were staying in temporary quarters, our military sponsor loaned us this silver tinsel tree which he had used in Viet Nam.   (Note: The TV is not part of our Christmas. We just moved it under the table to make room for our 'Charlie Brown' tree and few gifts.)

9. If you could go back in time, when would you say was your most favorite holiday memory?

When I was almost three years old I got chicken pox at Christmas time. My mother had just given birth to my younger sister so it was my grandfather who rocked me and held me most of that Christmas holiday. I am grateful for this special memory where I felt so loved and secure!

10. Do you like a big family gathering at the holidays or do you prefer a small dinner followed by hot chocolate by the fire?

I  love spending time with family during the holidays. However, since we have exponential growth and are scattered over several states, we are thankful for whatever time we get together. Two years ago we were able to have a family gathering during Christmastime where every family member was present . . . and we have the picture to prove it!

Now for our project and free pattern . . . .

Ten Minute Table Runner & Twelve Minute Gift Bag 

 Project PDF

Video Tutorial

When time is in short supply, this table runner or gift bag

makes a delightful fast and fun gift or decoration. 



This runner is made with 1/3 yard of a theme print and 2/3 yards of coordinating fabric. 
The red stripe is from my Patriot Dream line.

 

This runner is is 1/3 yard and 2/3 yards but it is longer. I used the  57" wide Patriot Dream fabric
for the theme fabric and cut the contrasting fabric 57" lengthwise.

 



Runner and Gift Bag - With a few folds, the runner becomes a gift bag.  It is the perfect size for a quilt book.
The focus theme fabric is 10" and the coordinating fabric is 18"

Tomorrow is the final day of our Blog Hop

Be sure to check out the blogs by  Linda Lum DeBono and  Chelsea Anderson to find the last secret words!