GO! Christmas Advent Calendar Quilt and Free Pattern!!!

 I am so thrilled to be sharing a new finish today!!!  And it's all about Christmas in July, my favorite!!!   I was so excited when my good friends at AccuQuilt asked if I wanted to make a project using all of the Holiday Inspired dies, and you know I can't pass up Christmas quilts!!!   But I added a fun twist to this quilt by adding applique pockets so it makes a Christmas Advent Calendar :)   How cute is that!!!   And super fun, there is a free PDF Christmas Advent Calendar that you can download right here :) 

Each day of December, leading up to the 25th has an adorable pocket with Christmas applique.  I had so much fun mixing and matching dies to customize each pocket.  I even added a "holly berry" on the end of the reindeer's nose to make Rudolph.   So cute ;)     The pockets can be used to store a treat, list a family fun activity, have a Christmas service idea, or anything your family loves to do leading up to Christmas!!    Just fill your Christmas Advent Calendar pockets before December 1st and then enjoy family fun all through the month.    

I used Blizzard Fabrics by Sweetwater for Moda to make my Advent Calendar.  One Layer Cake is enough to do all of the applique, and then you just need a background yardage, 2 sashing yardages, and a binding.   And secure stitching all of the applique in black really makes each design just pop!!   I am just so happy with how this came together in all it's Christmas in July goodness!!

I know I have said it before, but I just love my AccuQuilt for cutting applique!!   Can you imagine having to trace and then cut out all this applique by hand.   Not the way I want to tackle this project  ;)  The great thing is, there are so many Christmas GO! Dies to choose from to make your Christmas Advent Calendar so cute.  Below is a list of the dies I used, see which ones you already have in your die library and maybe add a few more ;)   The Christmas Advent Calendar finishes at 42" x 42" so it is a great wall hanging size, and the pockets are large enough to fit a treat.  

Dies used to create this pattern: 

GO! Mitten (55564)                               GO! Mini Stocking (55218)               GO! Gingerbread Cookie (55862)

GO! Holiday Medley (55043)               GO! Holiday Accessories (55321)      GO! Ornaments Medley (55248)

GO! Sleigh & Snowflakes (55322)       GO! Circle-2”, 3”,5” (55012)             GO! Square-3-1/2” (3” Finished) (55006)

         GO! Classic 2” Numbers & Symbols (55219)             GO! Strip Cutter-1-1/2” (1” Finished) (55024)

        GO! Strip Cutter-6-1/2” (6” Finished) (55086)             GO! Strip Cutter-2-1/2” (2” Finished) (55017)

You actually do all of the quilting before you add the pockets ;)   I quilted an all over swirl that gives it a fun snow flurries feel, matching the sashing fabric.   Once it is all quilted and bound, then you can add all of the pockets to finish your project ;) 

And that is my Christmas Advent Calendar.   I hope you love it as much as I do ;)   You can download the free pattern here, and if you make your own, I would love to see it.  You can share a picture on social media with #happyquiltingwithmc and tag me at @happyquiltingmc or you can always email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  I can't wait to see your Christmas Advent Calendar's!!! 

Oh, and fun little side note . . . if you want to see this shared on YouTube, you can visit the Christmas in July video.  It is shared towards the end of the show at 44 minutes in :)  It is just so fun to see your projects loved so much, just makes me smile.   

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!