Christmas Nativity Scene
This past summer I was “yardsaling,” which is one of my favorite things to do. I happened to find this fabric set, all cut out, at a very reasonable price. Can you see how much it cost me?? Yes, it was only 50 cents. Fifty cents!! All of the pieces were there, even the directions. Someone had cut it out, and then never finished the project.
Before
Now I think I may have seen an old used version of this set before. The set was beyond saving, and so I had to pass it by. But this fabric was brand new! All I had to do was wash the fabric to freshen it up. Well, that and sew it all together and stuff it….
There was even a backdrop to complete the scene. I looked around online, and all I found was an uncut fabric panel of this same pattern, for $37. I estimate this panel to be around 30 years old. (Do any of my readers know?)
And so I began to work on this nativity scene. I laid out everything and read the directions several times. Everything had already been ironed and were as flat as could be. So much of the work had already been done for me! I sewed the fronts to the backs.
Each piece was clearly marked where to leave the seam opening, for stuffing and for turning the pieces right side out.
The backdrop has a back to it with “Away in a Manger” printed on it.
The only things not included (besides thread and stuffing) were the recommended flannel pieces to pad the backdrop. I used some flannel that I already had, and some batting. The only thing I needed to purchase was some iron on interfacing for the manger.
My Sewing Machine Cabinet
Here is my ancient sewing machine that someone gave me years ago. It was in a different cabinet then. I found this beautiful cabinet at an auction. No one else wanted it, so I got it for only….. $2! Can you believe it?! My husband was nice enough to adjust it a bit for me, so that my machine will fit and rotate down to close it all up.
Here is a close up of my Japanese made machine. A sewing machine repairman once told me that it was built like a tank! Most of it is made of metal. Only the buttons and dials are plastic.
My sewing machine cabinet doubles as an island in the kitchen when it is not in use. I have since moved it against the back wall, opposite the sink. So I guess now it is doubling as a buffet instead! I keep the recycle bin under it.
The Project
Enough about the machine– let’s get back to the project.
Here are the Three Kings front and back sewn together. I trimmed the circle for the bottom before sewing it on. The whole project was taking more time than I had thought it would. I had not counted on the third bottom piece– but that is what enables these pieces to stand up even though they are stuffed like a pillow.
So here at B4 and Afters I do strive to be complete in showing you how I did something, and that takes extra time. For example, I was going to show you this same shot of the shepherds, but guess what? Shepherds was spelled wrong on the bottom piece and I thought that would not be good, so I had to retake the picture using the kings instead.
Let me go ahead and mention here– do you have any idea how stopping to take pictures slows down a project?! Any time you see a step by step description like this let me assure you– the writer has taken great care to show you everything. I must take more than enough pictures to be sure that I have enough of each step– because if I do not– there is no going back to undo the project if I forgot something!
Here are the sheep sewn together.
I do most of my sewing without pinning things together, but pinning was a necessity in this case. I carefully pinned the bottom piece to the two top pieces, lining up the side seams and the places to be left open for turning and stuffing.
Here they are all sewn and ready to be stuffed!
Here is the back of the sheep:
The directions said to insert either cardboard or plastic canvas ovals in the bottoms of the people and animals. I decided to use plastic canvas in case they got wet accidentally, since cardboard could distort its shape.
I cut out these shapes, but because of the seam later had to trim them even smaller.
Here are the individual characters all sewn. But before stuffing them, I washed them and ironed them again. I wanted to sew them before I washed them, so that washing them would not damage the cut edges and make them fray too close to the seam. I was a little afraid to wash them, knowing the fabric was old. But they came out of the wash just fine, and did not fade or anything.
Here are the manger pieces on the interfacing. I washed these before ironing on the interfacing and sewing it all together.
- Ruffled Piano Bench Cover
- Removable Kitchen Chair Slipcovers
- Recliner Slipcovers
- Storage Chest Slipcover
I put the plastic canvas into the backdrop. This bottom seam would be hand sewn closed.
The last thing I had to do was stuff the main characters and hand sew all of their openings closed.
Here’s what I did step by step:
- sew fronts to backs
- sew bottom pieces to the matching top front/back
- sew the backdrop with padding together
- wash and iron everything
- insert the plastic canvas into all the pieces except the manger
- iron the interfacing onto the manger, sew, and assemble the manger
- hand sew the corners of the manger sides together
- stuff the people and animals
- hand sew all the openings closed
Finally it was alllll done! I LOVE IT! I didn’t think that I needed any more Christmas decorations. When I saw this set for 50 cents though, I just knew I could make room for it somewhere.
AFTER!!
I crocheted the red, gold, and white dresser scarf as a teenager, more than twenty years ago. Here are the backs of everybody:
I hope that you have enjoyed seeing how I made this stuffed Christmas Nativity Scene!
The Star of Christmas: Jesus!
I made one of these sets 30 some years ago. My youngest son at about 3years old picked up the infant threw a football pass with Him and shouted, “Baby Jesus, away!!!”. To this day we refer to the set as Baby Jesus away. Great grandkids now play with it.
What an interesting memory! Thank you for sharing!
My mother had this exact project! Bought it some 40 years ago. Lasted in our house until the Christmas our dog chewed it to bits! 🤣😂 My poor mother, she had been very happy with the time and energy she had put into it. And the rest of us loved it.
I need to update this post… I’ve obtained several panel sets and have them for sale now!
Good to hear of your memories!
I am sorely lacking in my mother’s skills with a sewing machine and with hand sewing and the like! I only came across this post looking for an example of this sort of thing to share. But it’s nice to know the pattern is still out there.
Do you still have some kits? How much?
Yes, Jenny- I do! $30 including shipping. You can pay here: https://pages.b4andafters.com/products/christmas-nativity-scene-fabric-panel and then email me your shipping address. Email it to b4andaftersblog at gmail dot com.
I’ll get it out asap.
Ah, sorry! I responded to an earlier post – just seeing that you already have some for sale.
No problem Donna! It’s great to know more are available!
can I buy this project for my grandson
I’m sorry Marilyn, It’s not for sale. I may be able to find the fabric though, if you’d like to sew your own!
I have one complete panel and 3 sets cut out, but not assembled. I inherited them as they are in my Mom’s sewing stash. I am just organizing my Mom’s stash to sell. My grown children all have completed sets for their children already so I would be happy to sell any/all of these 4 remaining sets.
Donna Boisen
I just got this panel from a local shop, that is carrying it. It seems confusing so I looked up keywords and found yours. Thank you for the visual, I will bookmark it and use it for reference if my brain goes on hold, lol. I have old cat prints I still need to do, but want to get the nativity made so my grandsons can play with it.
Really! I would love another one! Can you tell me the name if the shop Maybe I can order one. My dog chewed my wise men’s eyes….
The store is called Just Fabrics. I got mine in the westerly store and the other is in Cranston, RI. They do not have an online site but they do have a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/JustFabricsWesterly
You are correct on the age of your fabric nativity. I made one in the early 90’s & kept within reach for my toddlers. They could play & learn without worry that little hands would break. Thanks for the sweet memories.
I have this same set that I have had for years – started and not finished. I bought it for a dollar at Walmart one year after Christmas. One of these days I’ll get to it!
Oh Annette, if you decide you would rather pass it on…. I will pay you $1 plus shipping! My dog chewed up the wise men’s eyes last year…..
Awesome job! So beautiful ❤️, Ty for sharing👌.
I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing it!
I bought the same one already finished at a craft sale around 5 years before my eldest was born. She is 26 (and just got married) so your guess is good. The kids played so much with it and baby Jesus disappeared years ago. There is currently a baby moose finger puppet in the cradle. I’m going to paint, stuff and sew a new baby using your photos as a model.
Thanks!
Oh, that is wonderful to hear, Lynn! I would love to see a picture when you get it finished!
Hello Liberty
I’ll write to you from Portugal.
I know this Christmas Nativity Scene well, I sewed a dozen many years ago.
My sister had, in the late 1990s,
a fabric , embroidery and cross stitch shop. She imported these fabrics with DIY panels from England. I don’t remember the brand but they were beautiful, they had cats, Noah’s arks and others… panels
I loved finding old memories again when I saw your Christmas Nativity Scene.
Thank you!
Oh thank you so much for sharing that with me, Rita!! Wow! Maybe I should search online in England for more panels. I would love to make more things…. like these dolls I have from long ago! https://www.b4andafters.com/non-professional-valentine-living-room-tour/ I’m so glad you told me!
Hello again
Your doll is beautiful and looks like the same manufacturer to me.
I have some news for you.
I asked my sister and she actually imported the fabrics of England because she went to the UK’s trade show for the creative craft industry. NEC in Birmingham but the manufacturer was American. They had a distributor in UK. She doesn’t remember the manufacturer’s name.
I’m sorry I didn’t help you very much.
Best regards
Rita
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Happy Holiday!
This is gorgeous!! You can tell you really put a lot of work into this!
Thank you, Michelle!
Yes. It is about 30 years old. I bought this fabric and completed most of the pieces for my children, when they were small. They are now 33, 35, and 37. They were all home for Thanksgiving, when one of my daughter-in-laws saw the bag with the completed pieces, and asksed me if it was from a bag of her husband’s baby things, that I had offered to her. It was not, but I realized that she was interested in the set. Since I have more than one set of grandchildren at the house, and only one set, I didn’t think I should offer it, at that time . That is why I have been looking on line for other sets, or even, preferrably, the fabric. That is why I clicked on your link. I thought yours might be for sale. I would love for someone to reprint this fabric. I would make up several sets to give away. I bought it at Walmart back in the early 90s.
I have good news! I have found some panels of this exact fabric and would be willing to sell some of them to you.