Dear Reproduction Fabrics Friends,
It may be summer outside, but we're already dreaming of holiday stitching! If you've ever wished you had a little more time to create your Christmas projects before the busy season arrives, now is the perfect opportunity.
We are delighted to welcome The Nutcracker by Makower UK to the shop. This festive collection is filled with classic holiday charm, featuring toy soldiers, candy canes, ornaments, sugar plums, stars, holly, and all the magical details that make Christmas quilting so special.
One of the highlights of the collection is the Advent Calendar Project Panel. We have both the Green and Cream versions available, each featuring a beautifully illustrated Nutcracker centerpiece surrounded by numbered pockets for counting down the days until Christmas. The finished panel creates a treasured family heirloom and a delightful holiday tradition.
To make your project even easier, assembly instructions are available as a free download on our website.
In addition to the Advent panels, we have a wonderful selection of coordinating prints, including three striking Nutcracker fabrics available in cream, green, and red colorways. Whether you're making quilts, table runners, stockings, pillows, gift bags, or festive home décor, this collection offers plenty of inspiration.
The Story Behind the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker has become one of the most beloved symbols of Christmas, but its history stretches back centuries. Decorative nutcrackers originated in Germany, particularly in the Erzgebirge region, where craftsmen carved wooden figures resembling kings, soldiers, and noblemen. These figures were believed to represent strength and protection, standing guard over the home while cracking nuts with their strong jaws.
The tradition gained worldwide popularity after E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which later inspired Tchaikovsky's famous ballet in 1892. Today, Nutcrackers remain an enduring symbol of holiday magic, childhood wonder, and Christmas traditions passed from generation to generation.
With six months until Christmas, there's still plenty of time to create something special for your home or for gifts this holiday season. Consider it a little "Christmas in July" inspiration!
Festival of Quilts Preorders
While you're visiting the website, don't forget to explore our upcoming Festival of Quilts collections, all available now for preorder and expected to arrive in July.
Darling Buds of May features beautiful floral prints inspired by historic English textiles and includes yardage, bundles, widebacks, and quilt kits.
The Gooch Coverlet collection celebrates one of Britain's most remarkable historic coverlets, with reproductions inspired by the treasured family heirloom created by the Gooch sisters of Suffolk.
Le Petit Bonheur by Kim Hurley brings together antique textile inspiration, vintage florals, and charming European influences collected during years of antique hunting throughout Europe and the United States.
These collections will debut as part of the Festival of Quilts later this summer and have already generated tremendous excitement among reproduction fabric lovers.
We hope you'll stop by the shop online and start planning your holiday sewing while the temperatures are still warm. Before you know it, Christmas will be here!
Happy Stitching,
Margo Krager and the Reproduction Fabrics Team
Only a couple more weeks until we kick off our 6 month Civil War inspired Log Cabin block of the month program. Margo is working on her Civil War era textile history essays and we are starting to select the fabrics for the first shipment in July. There is still time to sign up to join us and create this iconic quilt.
