Christmas Is Coming...

By Sherri from Sew Betty and Dot

It's Christmas! (Well, it's Christmas in July, in any case--and for those who don't celebrate the holiday, there are patterns below that are great for any celebration).

Are you ready? Only five months to go! The Pattern Patter team has just celebrated Christmas in July with a big pattern blitz: tons of fun craft, doll, home dec, and Christmas patterns (as well as the usual fantastic selection of beautiful clothing patterns) were posted, just in time for some summer (or winter, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere) crafting. Why wait until November? Get started right now: set up your sewing machine right in front of the air conditioner (or heater), pour yourself some lemonade (or a cuppa), and off you go!


'Twas the night [or five months] before Christmas, and all through the house

Cross Stitch House Patterns: All Fairy Vintage

  Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Butterick 6383: Sew Betty and Dot

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

McCall's 3425: RosesPatternTreasury

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

McCall's 7384: HoneymoonBus

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds,

Simplicity 6702: PatternShop

While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap

Simplicity 1023: Historically Patterns

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. [Wrong sash, I know, but poetic license here!]

Vogue 7810: DejaVuPatterns

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

Patch Press 362B: FabPatterns 1015

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

N ow, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! [Work with me here...]
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

Authentic Patterns 309: OmasBricaBrac

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too

Simplicity 8378: MBChills

Butterick 4252: PeoplePackages

Simplicity 9018: Patterns from the Past

Teddy Bear Pattern Books: EmSewCrazy

Simplicity 4815: RomasMaison

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

McCall's 5651:

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

Vogue 7321: JFerrariDesigns

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

Sew and Stuff Wreath: Sew Betty and Dot

 He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

McCall's 7099: Selvedge Shop

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

There are loads more wonderful Christmas, doll, toy, and craft patterns (not to mention fabulous frocks for holiday soirees and outfits for the little ones to wear to see the Nutcracker) from Pattern Patter team members, so get cracking: you only have five months left!