Sunday 12 January 2014

A Christmas Tree Skirt

Tree skirt top

Each year I try to add something hand-made to our Christmas decorations. This year it was the tree skirt. I followed the directions for A Simple Old-Fashioned Christmas Tree Skirt which I found on the Moda Bake Shop website. The pattern really is very simple and is just a top with binding around the edge. I decided to back mine and quilt it before binding.

Tree Skirt back

The instructions fail to mention any indication of seam allowance. I assumed there was a 1/4 inch (6mm) seam allowance included. The pattern pieces are not accurate anyway, as there are pieces you have to chop off after each seam. I did something a bit different to the instructions, which was to use all one colour for one star piece and another colour for the other star piece. The original pattern used the same colour for both pieces on each block (does that make sense?)This meant the two greens alternated all around the skirt. If you decide to do the same, you need to realise that you can't just fold and cut, all pieces must be stacked with right sides all facing the same way and cut.

I prefer the way the original skirt was pieced, as it gives the star a three dimensional look, which I thought mine would get too, but instead mine has a bit of a pin-wheel-spinny look if you get what I mean. I think a chunkier star would have shown off the green fabrics a bit better too.

Tree Skirt - free motion detail

I quilted around each star point, just next to the ditch with some green Aurifil, using my walking foot and then switched over to my free-motion foot and used some red Gütermann sew-all, as that is what I had at the time. I chose to do a kind of feathery-paisley quilt pattern, which wasn't really a pattern, but sort of made-up as I went thing kind of (very loosely) inspired by the Craftsy Quilt Class I've been watching. I see that Angela Walters has a feathers class too, I might have to take a look at it.

I finished my Tree Skirt up with some picot-edge bias that I purchased from the Haby Goddess. I didn't quite have enough, so I finished up the straight edges with some left-over strips from the Walk in the Woods Jelly Roll from Amélie's quilt.

This wasn't the only Christmas item I made this year. I also made some Chubby birds and Gingerbread men decorations for teacher presents, but I was so busy that week that I never stopped to take photos before gifting them. You can see other gingerbread man decorations that I have made in Christmases past, but I haven't made any birdies and taken photos of them to show you.

Chubby Birds

Would you like to be able to make a Chubby Bird of your own? You can buy the pattern on Craftsy, here, (for really cheap) and get it instantly, but if you like, I have a spare copy of this pattern. Not a digital one, but an original greeting card sized pattern. I bought one, and I also have one that was given to me and I would like to give it to one of my readers. If you would like to be the lucky recipient of this Creative Card, tell me where you are from, how you found my blog and why I should give it to you. I will choose the best answer in a couple of weeks. I am happy to post it to anywhere in the world.

8 comments:

  1. I like it! I made one years ago and it's got thick chenille on the back and crap binding, think i'll try and make a new one this year.

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    1. Thanks Bec. If you're after a tip, that picot-edged bias made the binding REALLY easy. I don't think this will be my last tree skirt, either. I might design it myself next time.

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  2. I'm from Delta BC, I found your blog through the reddit sewing community! I have been sewing on and off for a few years now but I'm always making little projects to brighten other peoples day. I go to a festival called Shambhala and one of my favorite things to do there is randomly gift people I have never met before. I think this would be a perfect project to help break the ice between strangers. Besides who doesn't need a few of these adorable birds hanging around!

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    1. Hi Alisha, thanks for your comment. They are cute little birds, and I am sure would make a great ice-breaker. Thanks for popping over from Reddit to say hello, I hope I see you here again soon.

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  3. I like the skirt. It's on my to do list for a couple of years now. I thought about making it this year, but then I looked at my so very small tree and I decided to wait until next year. I too always add a little handmade thing (or two or more depending on mood) every X-mas.

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  4. (From Facebook) Melanie Dawson Lovely Carmel! I love your idea of making something each Christmas. I'd love a bird pattern to try, tried to write on your blog but my phone and I aren't seeing eye to eye so am writing it here! I'm from Point Cook, you told me about your blog and I think you should give it to me because I'm your cousin and deserve it lol ;P

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  5. Our tree is small too. It was a really cheap plastic one. I don't think it really matters, it was nice to finally have something under the tree so the presents weren't sitting on the bare floorboards. Whilst the kids are little, we are reluctant to even place gifts under there too long before Christmas, so the mat covers the base of the tree and helps stop it looking so bare under there.

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  6. Love the skirt Carmel. Must make a tree skirt this year... but the list of "to-do" seems endless (so pass on the pattern for me - although it does look good - someone with a shorter list deserves it more!)

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