Tuesday, July 16, 2013

My Christmas in July

Christmas isn't a season.  It's a feeling.  
Edna Ferber



Christmas in July Blog Hop @ The Crafty Quilter


Ah, at last it's my turn to share.  Thanks to Julie at The Crafty Quilter for putting this great hop together.  I knew what I wanted to make just as soon as heard about it.  My idea was to make a Christmas Tree Skirt.  As it turned out this could be a Christmas Tablecloth if you don't need a Tree Skirt.  I had a hard time deciding which way to go with it so there may be another one created soon.

If you haven't been to my blog before WELCOME!!!  I hope you will take a few minutes to explore it.  You can get to know a little more about me by checking out some of the links in my sidebar.

Now, everyone so far in this hop has made a small project.  This could be a small Tree Skirt if that's what you need.  You can adjust the measurements to make it any size you want.  I seldom do really small quilts and this one got really big.  There is a reason however.  My son complained that the 54" Tree Skirt I gave him a few years ago wasn't big enough.  He always gets a live tree and his tree stand holds several gallons of water and is huge.  By the time a tree skirt covers the bulk of it there is very little left to reach the floor.  I think this one will do the trick!

Hexies are all the rage in the Quilting World these days.  When I was deciding what shape to use it was a simple choice.

First Make a Pattern:

I used freezer paper for this which is 18" wide.  If you have some wider paper, wrapping paper for example, use it.  You also need a 24" ruler that has 60 degree markings on it.






This makes a pattern that is 21" from top to bottom.  If your fabric is not that wide from the top of the selvage to the fold make adjustments in where the line is drawn.  For example: for a 20" width the line would be drawn 2" away from the edge of the freezer paper.




Pin your pattern to the fabric with the small edge at the fold.  Place ruler along the drawn line and cut along the angled edges.   




Remove pattern and for the second cut place it on the fabric with the long straight edge along the fold this time and the angle lining up with the previous cut.  Pin in place and cut 2 more wedges.  Repeat with the pattern in the original position and cut again so you have a total of SIX WEDGES.

If you want a plain tree skirt that measure about 44" across you just need to sew these wedges together.  

Want it a little bigger?  Let's see what borders will do.



To keep this post from being so long the tutorial for the pieced border is in the next post.  You Can See It HERE.



After the pieced border unit is made attach it to the wedge matching centers.  Place the 60 degree line along one of the straight seams and trim the angle through the borders.



You could stop and finish it at this point if you like the size.  I added one more 4 1/2" border of the center fabric.  Then all that was left was to sew the wedges together matching seams at the borders.  Leave one side open for a Tree Skirt or stitch them all shut for a tablecloth. 

Tip:  You may find quilting easier if you stitch all the wedges together, quilt it then split one seam open.  It is easier to baste and handle that way.

Quilt as desired and bind.  Make ties or use Velcro squares for closures along the open edge.




Simple stippling around the squares make them pop.  I did a larger meandering on the center print since it was so busy nothing fancier would show up anyway. 

Final size is about 70" across and 80" point to point.  I know that sounds huge but I have seen many live and artificial trees that it would barely be showing out from under the branches.  A tall tree stand takes a lot of it up vertically.



To use this as a Tablecloth seam up the last two wedges and applique a circle or hexagon in the center.  




Fabric Yardage

Main Print:  2 yards for the Center and 1 yard for the Outer Border
Green Print:  1 1/4 yards for Accent Borders and Pieced Border
Red Print:  1 yard for Pieced Border and Binding
White Print:  1 1/2 yards for Pieced Border Background  

Let me know if you think a large Tree Skirt like this would work for anyone you know.  I'm planning a Christmas Linky Party in December featuring Tree Skirts.  I'd love to have you link up then.  You have a few months to get one made if you haven't made one before.  This really was a fast piecing project.  I hope you will try it!

Linking with:  Crazy Mom Quilts and My Quilt Infatuation and Richard and Tanya Quilts

28 comments:

  1. Oh my, what a gorgeous table topper / Christmas tree skirt. I've wanted to make a Christmas tree skirt for years and years. I have put up a Christmas tree once since 1998 when I got divorced for the first time. The year I had a tree since then one of my grandson's stepdad basically put it up and then the next August one of my friends came and helped me take it down. So, I decided I shouldn't have a tree. I have fibromyalgia and just don't have arm strength. Even piecing and quilting can be quite a challenge. Last year I did make a table runner with Christmas packages on it for my brother and SIL. Every other year our quilt guild has a quilt show and we have been asked to make table runners for a meet and greet with our keynote speaker. I've working on a smaller version of the table runner with baby fabrics for the packages. I thought it would be cute for a baby shower. I'd love to make the Christmas skirt for my brother and wife for Christmas this year. We've been asked to make small table runners and small quilts for the quilt show. I think this would have an adorable small table runner, too. With all the fogs I have, this math major might have to have my math major brother do the math for me to down size the border for a small quilt. I think the border is just too cute! Thanks for teaming up with Julie for a great Christmas in July. And I noticed there is another holiday hop later in the month. I've been so busy being grandma this summer that I haven't had time to do my crafty things. Again, thanks for a wonderful tutorial.

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  2. Great project Patricia. I love the pieced border

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  3. Oh I simply love this. For me it would be a wonderful Christmas table cloth and I have been looking for the perfect one and this just may be it.....thank you it is lovely.

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  4. This would be gorgeous onto my mother in law table.It`s simply beautiful and the border caught my eye.Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  5. Your Christmas tree skirt is wonderful.You have made a great tutorial. I have linked your post to the web site of the Swedish National Quilt Guild to share your post with our members and other Scandinavian visitors on our site.
    Thanks again for sharing

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  6. Great tutorial and a wonderful project. I have just the right person in mind for a table cloth. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  7. That pieced border is beautiful!! I think that this would make a fabulous table topper! A large tree skirt is always so pretty! I like to see it peek out from the edges of the presents!

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  8. Absolutely beautiful and a definite keeper! Thanks for sharing your instructions!

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  9. thank you, thank you thank you. I've wanted to make a tree skirt for years - we have a cathedral ceiling and a 10-11 foot tree each year. We need a large skirt and this one is beautiful.

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  10. Oh, this is a lovely tree skirt pattern! A quilty tree skirt is on my list to make for this Christmas. Thanks for the how-to's. As we always have a large fresh cut tree, I like a wide skirt to cover the large stand and spread out around it on the floor. Looking forward to the tree skirt linky party ... :) Pat

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  11. It's a beautiful tree skirt, Patricia! It's nice that you can adjust the size to fit your needs. I have one, but I'm always sad to see it get covered up with presents. Maybe this large one would solve the problem! Thank you for sharing your tutorial!
    Julie @ The Crafty Quilter

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  12. This is so pretty and clever Patricia! Really wonderful.

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  13. That's a beautiful tree skirt. The border is one of my most favorite of all. It's too large for my tree but I'd love to have a living room large enough to have a tree that this sized skirt would work under. I already have enough decorations to fill that size tree, that much I DO know. LOL

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  14. I love that piecing for the outside edge. I'll have to graduate to this level, freezer paper is a whole new term for me. Thanks for the tutorial, I'll have to save this one.

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  15. It's really pretty. Clever thing you are, working out that pattern all on your own.

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  16. This is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for showing how you made it!

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  17. Beautiful project Patricia! I have some patriotic snowman fabric I've been saving for something special & this is it!

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  18. This is so beautiful .Thank-you very much.

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  19. wow! what a beautiful tree skirt! I love Christmas fabric and projects so much. Your tutorial is very clear and easy to follow. I might have to give this one a try!

    Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  20. Hi Patricia.......first time to your site. Have found you through Crazy Mom Quilts finish up Friday. What a gorgeous Christmas Tree skirt! Thank you for sharing. Marie

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  21. The pieced border really makes this special. I don't have need for a tree skirt at this time, but would love to make it as a table topper.

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  22. Thank you so much for this tutorial, I love the tree skirt.

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  23. That is exactly what I have been looking for! Thanks for posting!!

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  24. I still use the tree skirt that my sweet mother-in-law made for our wedding rehearsal dinner. We will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on December 21st. Lots of happy memories attached to the skirt.

    Jeanne

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  25. Love this tree topper, thanks for the generous tute on it!!

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  26. I followed your tutorial and made this in December 2014. Used it even before quilting it. Wonderful directions! Hopefully, I'll get it quilted for Christmas 2015. Thanks for sharing.

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