My Christmas Bear

Isn't he adorable? I found this pattern in Quiltmaker Nov/Dec '12. It's actually called "You Got Cookies?". I just couldn't resist. I had to make him. It uses paper piecing which I love since it's so accurate. I printed the pattern on regular multipurpose paper used in printers. I find there's so much recycled content that it's easy to rip off your fabric as long as your stitch is shortened. There were 5 sections that made up the actual bear's face.

You can see the 5 sections in this picture. I find every time I paper piece I have to think about what I'm doing. It's sort of backwards since the lines you sew on are on the back of the actual piecing. Once I get that orientation in my head, I'm good to go.

After the bear's head was done, I had to add the window panes and the rest of the background. These two pieces were quite easy since most pieces were large.

Here's the finished piece without borders or the bear's pompom! The finished wall  hanging should measure 15" by 18".

I used mostly fabrics I had in my stash. However, I did buy the gray solid fabric for the windowsill as well as the light fabric for his hat. His hat fabric is white with gold glitter. I bought both of these fabrics on the mystery ride. The pattern called for flannel but I thought the gold would add more of a holiday look.

I'm going to layer it and pin the layers together today. There is even suggested machine quilting as part of the pattern instruction. One of the suggestions is to make swirls in the blue sky. I'm working on swirls as part of the Free Motion Quilting Challenge so I'll get to actually use what I'm practicing this month! I'll post his picture when he's all done! I have so much machine quilting to do! I'll get there eventually!!