Nutcracker Suite | A free quilt pattern

Are you ready for the holidays? The turkey has been eaten, the shopping has happened, and everyone is looking towards the man in the big red suit. At least in my house we are! I’ve been feeling the holiday spirit even before Thanksgiving happened (shh, don’t tell anyone!)

Last year I bought a Christmas-themed fabric panel, intending to turn it into throw pillows for our living room. I took it out this year, and when looking at it, I realized that it would make a really fun quilt instead! I wrote the pattern out in a matter of hours, and the next day after work rushed to the fabric store for the necessary background fabric.

Is your Christmas to-do list already looking mighty long? Do you wish you had time to make a Christmas quilt but you’re not sure when you’ll be able to fit it in? Well, then, this is the pattern for you. I cut all my fabric AND pieced the whole top together in just about 5 hours. That’s right. 5 hours stands between you and a Christmas quilt top. Are you ready?

And it gets even better. I’ve chosen to make this pattern free (free!) as my early Christmas gift to all of you! You Can find the Nutcracker Suite Quilt pattern on Craftsy. UPDATE: This pattern is now available as a free download when you sign up for my newsletter!

The inspiration and basis for the Nutcracker Suite quilt came from the Alexander Henry Christmas Time Nutcracker Panel pictured below. I bought mine at my local Joann Fabrics store, but I’ve also seen it on fabric.com and on Etsy. (Also – I’m really hoping someone makes this quilt in the metallic silver colorway!)

Alexander Henry Christmas Time Nutcracker Panel

I can think of so many things you could use as a feature fabric if you didn’t want to buy the panel. Giant improve trees using Diary of a Quilter’s tutorial, or some foundation paper pieced scenes. You could use a different panel, or make sawtooth stars. The sky is the limit! I can’t wait to see what you make!

The best part about the Nutcracker Suite Quilt is that there is zero waste. The cut-offs from your flying geese are trimmed and used to frame the feature fabric. This cuts down on time and scraps! I love when things like this happen.

Want to make a Nutcracker Suite Quilt like mine? The fabrics I used in my quilt are:

  • Christmas Time Nutcracker Panel in Red by Alexander Henry Fabrics
  • XOXO in Picnic Metallic from the Basics Collection by Cotton + Steel
  • Braidy in Mango from Macramé Collection by Cotton + Steel
  • Cirrus Solids in Lava by Cloud 9 Fabrics
  • Kona Navy by Robert Kaufman Fabrics for the background

If you post your project on Instagram, tag me @patchworkandpoodles and use the hashtags #nutcrackersuitequilt and #patchworkandpoodles so I can see it too!

Have you signed up and downloaded the pattern yet?

Happy quilting!

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