Christmas For Two: Anytime, Anywhere.

The Chameleon’s got Christmas in the Bag!

It’s Christmas in July season, and that means it’s time to re-visit and perhaps even re-invent some Christmas-y projects either for fun or future expediency (or both). 😀 Christmas time is often so hectic, that it’s always nice to be able to pull gifts and decorations out of the cupboard with a relieved sigh of “And here’s one we prepared earlier!”.

Recently my friend Joy mentioned that she was collecting her Christmas in July thoughts. That was my prompt to remember that I still haven’t found time to try out the projects from the Sew Early 4 Christmas hop that Joy ran with Pam, Susan and myself last year. Yeah, a whole year ago! As you may remember, my response to that nudge was to promptly start Susan’s wreath pillow, which I will finish soon.

But, there’s no point in being creative if you can’t get distracted. So Susan’s wreath project got set aside to thread paint the Chameleon. And then I thought I would just quickly make up Pam’s gift bag and Joy’s Christmas crackers….

And the Chameleon and I got totally got carried away. *Surprise!*

We mused: if we add a couple of Christmas present-themed mug rugs (coasters) to the bag and crackers, it would make the collection into a cute, coordinated Christmas for Two gift set. So we made some. And then we worked up a quick tutorial for the coasters for you, so you can make your own Christmas for Two set too.

So this is Sew Early 4 Christmas, revisited and upsized. Happy Christmas in July!

Want to see what the Chameleon’s got in his Bag?

Silly question! Here’s what’s in that cute green bag covered in Christmas swans…..

There are two Christmas crackers (bonbons), two Christmas coasters (mug rugs), two chocolate biscuits (cookies), two tea bags and a small table decoration!

With all that, there was actually still room for a small biscuit plate, a spoon and two sugar sachets, if I’d wished. Not enough space for the cow and milk jug though, sadly.

When all is said and done, these are enough supplies (assuming you can grab two mugs, some hot water, and milk if you need it) for a lovely Christmas-themed morning tea. Or afternoon tea, for that matter. Care to join me? The imaginary Chameleon has imagined himself an entire Christmas buffet and turned his nose up at my awesome tea party. I think someone is struggling with his return to obscurity after last week. 😀

The perfect gift to share a little Christmas

While I was putting this kit together I was struck by how portable this little Christmas party really is. It would be great for long-term travellers, tucked away into a little corner of a camper or van until the season was right. The fabric items fold away together to just this:

It would also make a sweet Christmas picnic set. Or a lovely gift to share some time with someone in supported care. Just replenish the consumables and use it over and over.

You could also send it in the post to a loved one….. the bag, bonbon covers and coasters together weigh about 50g (less than 2oz). There is plenty of scope for these, a greeting card and a note about how to reconstruct the bonbons to all fit in a large letter.

But enough of the hard sell. How to make your own? Follow me around the internet to collect all the free information you will need.

First, the Drawstring Bag

I made the bag using the tutorial written for Sew Early 4 Christmas by Pam of Threading My Way. I also used the helpful hints provided by Susan of Super Mom, No Cape when she made her own version last year.

There is a optional divider in this bag pattern. As a novice bag-sewist I probably should have opted to make my first bag without the divider, or at least not stiffen it. The rest of the bag was very easy to sew. But I can never seem to resist the most challenging option on these things, for better or for worse. Anyone else guilty?

Then the Christmas Crackers

To make the Christmas bonbons, I used Joy’s tutorial written for Sew Early 4 Christmas at Days Filled with Joy. These were really fast to make.

I did make one bonbon boo-boo though. I measured my cardboard rolls to make sure I was making my covers the right size, but then I must have used too large a seam allowance. Truth be, I have been accused of that before. Anyway, the rolls almost, very nearly, but didn’t, fit inside the covers.

Not to worry! I just slit the rolls from end to end and overlapped the cut sides. Then I easily slid a roll into its cover and then when I let go, it sprang back tight against the fabric. Actually, I think I will do it this way all the time, because it means no coaxing of rolls into tight sleeves, and no worrying about getting the right size rolls again in future years! Yay!

I had so much fun imagining what I could fill these crackers with. Lollies or nuts of course. Or re-used trinkets. But also it would be easy to personalise them…. what about little sewing notions such as a seam ripper or measuring tape? I could always use another seam ripper. Or novelty erasers, magnets, small toys, or even a USB stick with the past year’s photos or a video on? Now, that’d be a lovely surprise.

Finally the Christmas Present Mug Rugs

That tutorial is available right here. I made my first coaster up as I went along and then I took photos while making the second. So I hope this tutorial makes sense! Let me know if more details are needed.

You will need:

• 4.5″ square piece of fabric for one side of the coaster
• two 3″ by 4.5″ rectangles of fabric for the reverse side of the coaster
• two pieces of ribbon, 10.5″ and 30″ long
• a scrap of batting larger than 4.5″ square
• sewing threads and pins

Step 1

Lay the 4.5″ fabric square right side up over the batting scrap.

Lay the 10.5″ ribbon horizontally over the fabric square, centering it between the top and bottom edges.

Fold the ribbon ends in so that they overlap in the centre, and the folds are close to the fabric edges. Pin in place as shown.

Step 2

Fold the 30″ ribbon in half and place vertically over the layout from Step 1, centering it left to right.

Make sure the ribbon fold is just beyond the bottom edge of the fabric square and the long tails are to the top. Pin at the base to secure.

Step 3

Fold the seam allowance of one long edge of one 3″ x 4.5″ fabric rectangle to the reverse side and iron.

Place the fabric print side down so that the folded edge aligns with the centre of the vertical ribbons.

Cut the excess fabric off the fabric rectangle so that the left edge of the top fabric aligns with the left edge of the original fabric square underneath. Pin through all layers at the bottom. Pin the fabrics and batting at the top, but take care not to pin through the ribbon tails with the top pin. Carefully also re-pin through all layers with the left hand pin.

Step 4

Move the vertical ribbon tails out of the way of the top seam allowance as shown.

Place the second 3″ x 4.5″ fabric rectangle flat over the top, print side down, aligned with the right edge of the 4.5″ fabric square underneath.

Carefully re-pin the top, right and bottom pins so that all layers are secured. Add more pins as required to hold all layers for sewing, ensuring that the ribbon tails remain free to move.

Step 5

Sew a 1/4″ seam around the fabric square without sewing over the long ribbon tails.

Step 6

Trim away the excess batting to the edges of the fabrics.

Turn your coaster over and also trim the batting from the corners as shown.

Step 7

Turn your coaster right sides out through the opening that now exists between the two 3″ x 4.5″ fabric pieces.

Push the corners out square with a blunt pointed tool, such as a pencil. It should look like this.

Step 8

Tuck the short ribbon from opposite the folded centre seam under the folded edge of the overlapped rectangles. Pin the other short ribbon aligned over the top as shown.

Step 9

Topstitch the folded edge down the entire height of the coaster through all layers. Stitch closely to the folded edge, making sure both short ribbon ends are secured. Trim off the excess from the topmost ribbon, cutting close to the stitching line.

Step 10

Wrap the topmost long ribbon tail over the coaster so that it covers the centre seam. Pin to secure.

Topstitch down, taking care that the horizontal ribbon on the underside is not displaced.

Step 11

Turn your project over. Wrap the remaining long ribbon tail to cover the stitching lines running down the centre of the coaster. Pin in place.

Topstitch around the inside of the perimeter of the mug rug to secure the final ribbon and all the layers.

Step 12

Tie a large bow at the top of your present-themed coaster. Put one or two twists into the remaining ribbon tails and tuck them under the horizontal ribbon on either side of your coaster. Trim the ribbon tails to your satisfaction.

And that’s it! Cute and easy.

You could also make these parcel-themed coasters from two 4.5″ fabric squares and a slightly altered sewing sequence, but I didn’t actually have any scraps left of the red Christmas fabric large enough to do that. If you prefer to do them that way, I will leave you to make the adjustments yourself.

If you make a Christmas for Two set, Joy, Pam, Susan and I would love to see it. Tag us on instagram: @cleverchameleon, @daysfilledwithjoy, @supermomnocape and @threadingmyway. Or send me an email.

Now speaking of parcels (and distractions)….. Look what just showed up! My second Island Batik Ambassador box for the year. Sorry, gotta go sneak a peek. Speak soon! xx 😀

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The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!

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