In my sewing room, this quilt always feels like a quiet countdown, the kind you can almost hear through the walls before the holidays arrive.
I made the Evergreen Chime Sampler for the moments when you want something formal and steady, but still warm enough to wrap around.
The photo memory is so clear that I can still see it draped over the lifted lid of my old pine blanket chest in that narrow upstairs hallway.
One corner always slips a little as I walk past, and the wool slippers at the bottom of the scene make me smile every time.
It’s a symmetrical sampler of wreaths and pieced bells, stitched together like a well-mannered celebration.
When the cream background settles it all down, the green sashing and red cornerstones feel like they’re keeping time.
I even remember the first time I pinned the crimson bows at the base of each wreath block, because that was the moment it truly became a chime.
SEE A NEW PATTERN HEREA formal sampler that still feels cozy
What I love most about this quilt is the balance, how every circular evergreen wreath seems to land back in its place.
Those wreaths—pine, holly, and fern prints in deep hunter and spruce greens—bring a gentle garden feeling even when the layout is strictly traditional.
Between them, the bell blocks add a bright, architectural rhythm with honey, brass, and butter-yellow cottons.
The small crimson bows at the base of each wreath give you that festive focal point without breaking the quilt’s orderly grid.
Color-play that rings like polished brass
I built the palette so the greens read rich and deep, then let the bell fabrics glow like warm metal in candlelight.
Using a slightly varied set of golden tones helps the bells look dimensional, even before any quilting lines add movement.
The narrow spruce-green sashing is the secret that keeps the whole quilt crisp, like clean musical staff lines under every note.
Materials for the Evergreen Chime Sampler
- Fabric for cream background: 4 yards (includes sashing foundation and general piecing)
- Spruce-green sashing and small accents: 1-1/2 yards
- Hunter-green prints for wreaths: 2 yards total (mix for pine, holly, and fern looks)
- Honey/brass/butter-yellow cottons for bells: 2 yards total (about 1/2 to 3/4 yard per main tone)
- Crimson fabric for wreath bows: 1/2 yard
- Red cornerstones: 1/3 yard
- Backing fabric: 5-1/2 yards
- Batting: 1 quilt-size package (queen or throw weight, depending on your pattern)
- Binding in cream: 1/2 yard (or enough for double-fold binding per the pattern)
I like choosing wreath greens with a mix of scale, because it makes the circles look fuller when they’re appliquéd onto the cream.
For the bells, I lean toward warm fabrics with clear contrast so the pieced shapes pop even after the meander quilting.
Prep your workspace before the first stitch
Before I cut anything, I lay the quilt layout pieces out in rows so the grid makes sense while I’m planning my shortcuts.
I press all yardage and then pre-sort my greens and golds into small piles, because it speeds up every appliqué and bell build.
For the wreath circles, I keep a smooth pressing surface nearby so the fabric lies flat as I position and fuse or baste.
And I clear extra space for pins, because traditional sampler quilts just feel better when everything has a home on the table.
The downloadable pattern is below the photo
Full instructions, including the block assembly order and appliqué steps, are below the photo in the link.
Tips for a cleaner, more polished finish
To keep the sampler looking truly formal, pin the sashing evenly and press after each row so the seams nest nicely.
When appliquéing the wreath circles, I use a steady approach: baste first, then trim any extra bulk so the edges sit smooth under the needle.
For the meander quilting, mark a light guide on the top and practice a few lines on a scrap before committing across the whole quilt.
On binding day, I like to take my time at the corners, because cream binding against spruce sashing makes them stand out beautifully.
Optional upgrade: add extra “chime” motion
If you want a slightly more advanced twist, consider adding a tiny secondary curve at the center of each bell block so the quilting echoes the bell silhouette.
You can also mix in a few extra-scale wreath-print bits for the pine, holly, and fern areas so the appliqué looks more layered and lush.
For border ideas, the pattern offers options, but I often love extending the rhythm with a subtle cream frame to keep that traditional look intact.
A finished sampler that feels like a holiday keepsake
When this quilt is done, the meander quilting and the tight grid make it feel both celebratory and composed, like a formal holiday greeting you can wrap yourself in.
Once you see the wreaths and bells aligned, it’s hard not to want another sampler block to chase the same cozy rhythm through your next project.
If you’re ready for your next adventure, come browse more Quilt Dreams patterns and keep the stitching going.
