Why Quilters Celebrate Christmas in July (and Why You’ll Love It Too!)
If you’ve been quilting for more than five minutes, you’ll probably have noticed that the sewing channels and the quilt shops seem to go a little bit Christmassy… right in the middle of summer.
What on earth is all that about?
When I first started quilting, I was baffled too – but once you know the reasons, it all makes perfect sense.
Let me share them with you (and reason number four is a total game-changer!).
1. Christmas Fabrics Arrive in Summer
Fabric manufacturers release their Christmas collections in June and July – so that’s when shops like ours are bursting with festive panels, kits, and gorgeous prints. In fact, as a retailer, I have to choose and order my Christmas fabrics about 14 months in advance of actual Christmas! If I leave my fabric ordering until the summer to get it in in time for Christmas, it’s actually too late.
The most popular fabrics – especially advent calendar panels and Christmas quilt kits* – tend to sell out well before December. So July is the perfect time to grab what you need while it’s still in stock.
💡 Tip: If you spot a fabric you love, grab it early – Christmas collection prints do NOT get restocked. It’s very rare that you’ll be able to get more once a collection has gone, although you may be able to find some in another retailer.
💡 Tip #2: There are plenty of basics and blenders that are Christmassy. For instance Moda Bella Solids in Christmas Red, Moda Grunge Rocacco and Christmas Green or how about this Moda Grunge Christmas Green with gold Metallic dots? So there will always be some ‘standard’ Christmas fabric about: if in doubt, ask your retailer whether it’s a stock item or a collection. That said, if I don’t order my Christmas colours in early summer, then they go out of stock at the wholesalers for a LONG time. Fabric is shipped in from South Korea, so it takes a while for new stock to arrive. (You’ll be pleased to know that – at the time of writing this in July 2025 – I have plenty in stock!).
2. Time to Plan (and Dream!)
Once you’ve got your festive fabrics, you can take your time planning. Table runners, tree skirts, gift bags, quilts… when you start in July, you can sketch out your ideas, make sure you have the fabrics you want, and enjoy the process without any last-minute stress (and we can all do without last minute stress!).
3. Practice Those Techniques
Here’s a little confession: a few years ago, I decided to make a hat for Nige… with just three days to go before Christmas (I know, right...#shouldknowbetter)
Picture me sewing madly late on Christmas Eve, door shut, AFTER we got back from the carol service. Never again!
Starting in July gives you a cushion of time to try out new techniques or projects at your own pace – without the “Christmas Eve panic sew.”
4. Get Ahead on Handmade Gifts
One of my favourite Christmas-in-July projects? Reusable fabric gift bags.
They’re eco-friendly, they look amazing, and people absolutely love them. You can make a batch now – even using non-Christmassy scraps from your stash – and when December rolls around, you’ll be waaaay ahead of the game.
And of course, bigger projects like quilts or table sets are so much more enjoyable when you can work on them slowly, rather than under a deadline.
(And you get to go to the Carol Service safe in the knowledge that you can head to the TV when you get home, rather than back to panic sewing).
So… Why Do We Do It?
Simply put: Christmas in July is about enjoying the process, planning ahead, getting Christmas fabric whilst it is available, and making space to enjoy your hobby.
It IS supposed to be relaxing and good for our mental health after all (although sometimes I do wonder 😂)
When the busy holiday season arrives, you can sit back with a mince pie, admire your handmade makes, and feel proud (or smug; you choose) of how prepared you are.
Ready to Get Started?
If this has inspired you, now is the perfect time to explore my Christmas fabric and thread collection – full of festive colours to spark your next project.
👉 Shop the Christmas Collection here
(Go on… future-you will thank you!)
🎄 Merry Christmas (in July!) and happy stitching!
Kim x
*Christmas quilt kits I hear you ask? Watch this space!! 👀