So you think you can stash?: Christmas prints

If you’ve got a fabric stash that keeps growing instead of shrinking, this series is for you! We’ll focus on one style of fabric in each “So You Think You Can Stash?” post, and offer ideas for how to cut it, sew it, and enjoy it.

Today’s stash subject: Christmas fabrics. From candy-cane and reindeer motifs that light up a child’s eyes to gorgeous holly-and-berry prints that sparkle with sophistication—to good ol’ St. Nick himself!—Christmas fabrics are what make sewing for the holidays so much fun.

Sometimes it’s hard to cut into those festive fabrics. But it doesn’t have to be hard—in fact, it can be joyfully easy. When you give the fabrics room to shine, you can choose patterns that are as effortless as Santa flying his sleigh through a snowy night sky.

In her book Sew Merry and Bright, designer Linda Lum DeBono shares happy designs especially for showcasing Christmas prints. Her design trick? Simple shapes. Take a look at her ideas below. Then use the holiday prints you have on hand to whip up new keepsakes for Christmas—for someone on your gift list or for yourself!

RECTANGLES. Sew one of these table runners or a set of place mats in an afternoon. Linda gives center stage to the prints—and they put on a great show! Plus, you can skip the batting and the quilting; simply topstitch around the edges.

Linda says, “Be aware of directional prints as you cut. Position a print so any words and images will be correctly oriented in your finished project.”

CHEVRONS. Linda uses strip-pieced triangles in “Be Merry,” left, and big half-square triangles in her “Noel” pillow, right. Easy triangle techniques will help you quickly create ribbons of Christmas color.

HEXAGONS. Relax with a little slow sewing as you display up to 22 prints in “Petrie’s Modern Polygon Hexagons Pillow” (all is revealed about the project title in the book). Choose a coordinating tone-on-tone fabric for the border to ground busy prints.

Feature your Christmas stash and other fabrics in more fun projects from Sew Merry and Bright:

Create whimsical stockings, a bird-themed advent calendar, and a star-studded tree skirt.

See more from

Sew Merry and Bright >

Print book: $24.99
eBook: $16.99

Already own the book? Write a review! Click on the “customer reviews” tab and share your thoughts.

Want more ideas for your Christmas fabrics? Browse these books:

What’s your favorite Christmas color palette: classic red and green, modern teal and pink, or a color combination of your own design? Tell us in the comments!

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