There’s something about Christmas that feels like stepping into a storybook - the glow of lights, the return of familiar traditions, and the quiet magic that fills the house. It’s a season wrapped in warmth and the little moments that become the stories we tell for years.
The Inspiration Behind Christmas in the North
Christmas in the North was first designed for “Juniper” by Kate & Birdie in 2019. Kate & Birdie is a Canadian fabric designer from Manitoba who designs fabric for Moda and Moda’s Canadian distributor, Trend-tex Fabrics.
I thought about what Christmas in Canada means to me and what motifs would be common across Canada. My first thought was snow. I don’t think there is any place in Canada that does not get snow at least some time during the winter season. Second is sitting by the fire to warm up after a day outside as depicted by the cottages with chimneys surrounded by snow. Third, the ornaments and the trees to represent the Christmas season. And finally, the deer to represent the Cervidae family of animals which roam across the country and includes white-tailed deer, red deer, mule deer, elk, caribou and moose.
Christmas in the North was recoloured three years later with Joyful Winter by Lexi Grenzer for Clothworks, which is based in Seattle. It was renamed Christmas in the North 2.0 because the fabric ratios were different from the original pattern.
Christmas in the North Is More Than a Quilt Pattern
It captures the feeling of giving.
This quilt symbolizes winter life and the history of Canada when relying on your community sometimes meant the difference between life and death. With modern conveniences, relying on community now more often means whether you are going to get your car dug out after the snowplow has been down the street.
It celebrates the heart of the holidays.
The pattern feels festive without being limited to Christmas. As long as the snow is falling it feels right whether the snow is blanketing your community or you are enjoying time skiing up in the mountains.
It’s perfect for memory-making.
Whether you sew it for a cabin or your own home or give it away to friends or family, it becomes part of the stories that unfold around it.
When you choose Christmas in the North, you are not just picking a pattern - you are becoming part of a winter snowbound quilting story. Our designs celebrate life’s meaningful moments, helping quilters turn fabric into memories that last long after the season fades.
If you’re ready to stitch something joyful, heartfelt, and full of Christmas spirit, you can find the pattern here: