Advent Banners

Planning Stages

Last January, a long time, much loved member of our congregation passed away.  I officiated the funeral and was handsomely renumerated.  Her favourite time of year was Christmas, she always did it up BIG!  I told the family that I would like to do something in her memory.

So, here was my vision.  Our congregation has a quilting group that managed to pull me into their creative circle.  I approached them with the request that ten banners be quilted to decorate the worship space of the church.  They agreed and asked that I provide some sort of ‘pattern.’  It was my hope that everyone would use somewhere in the skyscape the same fabric, purchased by me, to give some continuity through all the banners and they were free to use other fabrics I had available or fabric from their own stashes.  The lightest colours fabric was to begin at the bottom of their banner and gradually get darker toward the top.  The stars were Friendship Stars and could be placed as suited them.  My hope was that the pattern was just a guide and that each quilter would use their own creativity and imagination.

Following is the progress on my own banners.

Top for the 48″ x 64″ banner intended for the left side of the sanctuary

Full view of banner in process of being quilted

Smaller 36″ x 48″ banner in process of being quilted

These larger quilts are 48″ by 64″.  They hang at the front of the sanctuary, and so are larger so they can be seen, since no one sits in the front pews…

The below eight quilts are 36″ by 48″.  Some of the ladies embroidered the words with machines using a free motion foot.  Others hand stitched the lines from favourite Advent and Christmas hymns.

Regrettably the lines do not show up well, but do encourage viewers to come take a closer look.