December Gifts and Finishes

One of the greatest gifts
That life can give to anyone
Is the very special love that families share...
As years go by,
It's good to know that there will always be
Certain people in our lives who care.
For there are countless things
That only families have in common
And memories that no one else can make...
And these precious ties that bind a family together
Are bonds that time and distance cannot break.
How fortunate we are
When we have relatives to love us,
It makes the world a happy place to be...
Few gifts in life
Will last as long
Or touch the heart as deeply
As the very special gift
Of family. 

Craig S. Tunks

It's been a busy month and I didn't have a lot of time for blogging about all that I was getting done.  I was able to finish up a few gifts in time for giving them.  There were still more things that I had hoped to get done but that's OK.  I will be working on them later.

First to get started was several pillows (cushions for my UK friends).  As I was reorganizing my studio I came across some fake fur that I've had for a few years.  I've never sewn on fake fur so it was a new experience for me.  The pillow turned out great.  I made 2 - 20 inch ones and one 16 inch one.  Here is a picture of 2 of them.  You can tell by how they are being held that they were a hit.

Fur pillows

I also found a garden seed tapestry panel and piece of cotton with a seed theme print.  The two were just made to go together.  I added a little denim to border the tapestry and a zipper to the back.  A nice fat piping finished the edges and I had a nice 20 inch pillow all made from the stash.

  

Garden Seeds Pillow Front

Pillow Back

One funny thing about giving away four pillows that I had made as gifts was that one of the first gifts I opened was four pillows for my living room from my son and DIL.  They were purchased but they match my decor perfectly.  I'm sure I will remember this Christmas as the year of the pillows. LOL

I also put the finishing touches to the binding and ties on the Hexagonal Tree Skirt I made back in July.  I finished up that one on Christmas Day, nothing like waiting till the last minute but it was done in time for gifting.  I bet some of you were doing the same thing too.

Finished Tree Skirt

I am always amazed at how much the finished binding adds to a project.  I was really pleased with how the points at the corners turned out nice and sharp too.

See the Bow Closure?

Tie at the center

Machine Stitched Binding

I also finished up a tapestry piece for myself.  This was the easiest project of the year.  All I had to do was trim and stitch the ends into nice points.

Tapestry Table Runner

A nice point

I had one other finish this month but no picture.  I did the binding and hanging sleeve on the landscape log cabin quilt that I quilted earlier this Fall.  You can see the quilting on the back of it HERE.

One last thing to share.  Back before Thanksgiving I picked up this potted poinsettia plant arrangement at the grocery store.  It was a little expensive but I loved the peach color.  I thought it may have been dyed and I'm pretty sure now that it was since the new leaves are white.  When I first brought it home it only hung over the edges of the bucket it is in a little like the back side does now in the picture above. Look at it now!  I've really enjoyed it.  I'm trying to keep it alive, it takes a lot of water.  I'll probably separate the different plants and repot it in the spring.  It has a peace lily and a schefflera in it too.

It is so pretty!

I love the mini schefflera! 

Well, that the finishes for the month.  It was a good ending for the year.  I hope your year finished off nicely too!

Linking with:  Freemotion by the River and Fresh Sewing Day and Crazy Mom Quilts
                 and Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Richard and Tanya Quilt

Is Your Tree Up?

Your friendship is a glowing ember
Through the year; and each December
From its warm and living spark
We kindle flame against the dark
And with its shining radiance light
Our tree of faith on Christmas night. 

Thelma J. Lund

Are you ready for Christmas yet? Is your Tree up? Are the Presents bought and wrapped? Is your Christmas Tree Skirt around the Tree?  If it is grab your camera and share a picture of your on special handmade Christmas Tree Skirt with the blogging world.  You can also share it from Flicker or another photo site.  I just want to see more of you join the Party!!!

The ones that have joined in so far are just great!  They range from Fancy to Plain amd Modern to Traditional.

One point that was made, that I had not thought about before, is that for an artificial tree you can just put a hole in the middle and you don't have to have a slit in the side up to it. This would save on the binding and finishing time for sure.  It can also be used as a table topper that way, just place a decorative plant or bowl in the middle to hide the hole.

I wanted to share MY CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT.  I know I showed how to make a Hexagonal Christmas Tree Skirt back in July but I haven't shared the one that I have been using for the last 15 or so years.  I made it using the 9 degree circle wedge ruler by Marilyn Doheny.  I have made several variations and have a number of UFO Tree Skirts in my need to finish stacks.  This one is still my favorite.

9 degree Chevron Tree Skirt

 I still love all the fabrics and the colors. Hoffman did the great poinsettia print.

A closer look

Just quilted in the ditch

Backing carries on the Pink Poinsettia Theme

So join the Christmas Tree Skirt Round Up! The linky will be open until midnight Christmas Eve EST.  You might even WIN a few PRIZES!

I also want to say, in case you don't get to stop by again for a few days,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Tree Skirt Round Up

It's time for the Christmas Tree Skirt Party!

I hope you are ready to share your favorite Christmas Tree Skirts!  I plan on sharing mine!  You will notice that the Christmas Tree above has no skirt because it is looking for a really beautiful one to wear. (That's the best I can come up with to explain why after many attempts I couldn't get one drawn to look the way I wanted it to. LOL)  If you are new to my blog let me say WELCOME!  I hope you will take a look around and get to know me a little better.  You may want to check out the Christmas Stocking Hang Out that I had last December.  There are a number of post following that one on Christmas Stockings.  This year the focus has been on Christmas Tree Skirts.  If you need one for this year you may be a little late getting started but you could check out my directions for making a Hexagonal Christmas Tree Skirt HERE.  I also share My Favorite Tree Skirt here.

I did manage to create my own little button to share, finally.  (I won't tell you how many hours that feat took. I did have some readers that offered to help me but it was something that I really needed to learn to do for myself.)  Please grab it for you blog or share it on your favorite social media site so we can have more people come to the party!

There will be some PRIZES given to some of those who enter.  I'll let random.org pick the WINNERS on December 26.  What will the prizes be?  I'll put up pictures in another post  (Click here to see them) so this one won't be too long. Those who add LINKS to their Tree Skirts will be in one drawing for prizes and those who leave COMMENTS will be in another drawing.  

Please link up below and share with all your fellow quilters and sewing enthusiasts what you have made to Deck the Halls under your Christmas Tree!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

1- Leave a comment about the Christmas Tree Skirt Round Up here to be in drawings for the Goodies.  

2- Extra chances go to my Followers, new or old, leave another comment if you are one.

3- Linky Participants get their own drawing. 

4+ - Those who spread the word about the Hang Out on their blog, Facebook, Google +  or Twitter etc. can leave a comment on what they did.

Make sure you leave your email contact if you are a no reply blogger.

Linking with: Freemotion by the River

My Christmas in July

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

Edna Ferber

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

Simple Patchwork Border

Anyone who works on a quilt, who devotes her time, energy, creativity, and passion to that art, learns to value the work of her hands.  And as any quilter will tell you, a quilter's quilting friends are some of the dearest, most generous, and most supportive people she knows.  

Jennifer Chiaverini

Adding a pieced border to any quilting project always sets it off and shows that you put more effort and thought into your project.  This is a simple but stunning way to make a pieced border.  There are a number of ways to create one like this. You can make them with quarter square triangles on the outer edges so that they will be on grain, but for this project I just went with simple strip construction.  The only down side to doing it this way is that you end up with bias along the edge of the border but I will give a few hints on how to deal with that.  

Note:  These instructions were written for the Hexagonal Tree Skirt in my Christmas in July Post.  This border could be added to any quilt project but you probably would be working with 4 sides not 6 so adjust the number of strips accordingly.

I decided that I wanted the squares on point and that I didn't want them to touch the edges of the strips or wedges.  That way the squares would not be chopped up when the wedges were joined together and the squares would be floating on the background in each section.

Here is what I used for the pieced border unit:

2 - 2 1/2" strips of green

2 - 2 1/2" strips of red

4 - 3 1/2" strips of white

6 - 8 1/2" squares cut diagonally for 12 half square triangles

12 - 2 1/2" strips of green for the edges of the pieced border unit

You can change any of these measurements just keep the background strips 1" larger if you want the squares to float.  If you want the points of the squares to touch the edging strips the background strip only has to be 1/2" larger than the strip for the center squares.

The size of the squares for the half square triangle is determined by the width of the strip set when it is sewn together.  2" + 3 1/4" + 3 1/4" = 8 1/2"  This makes the triangles over-sized for the ends which is what you want to be able to cut the angle of the wedge easily.

Construction is easy.

Tip:  It's a good idea to spray starch these sets while pressing them.  

This will help keep the bias from stretching.

Time Saving Tip:  Layer the units and cut all four at once.  This is a big time saver and works great!  Just lay the strip sets down along one of the horizontal lines on the cutting mat.  Each one is layered a little lower than the one under it so the seams don't overlap.

You don't have to alternate two colors like I did.  You can use more colors or all one color.  Sew units together off-setting the center squares.

How many to sew together?  Depends on how you want it to look.  You can lay it out below the center wedge as you sew it and see if it is as big as you need.  You can do the math.  Multiply the finished size of the square by 1.41.  Mine were 2" finished so 2 x 1.41 = 2.82

Now add the large triangles to each end of the unit.  Attach them with the bias edge of the triangle being the one sewn on.  Since they are slightly over sized sew them on so that you are getting the maximum width possible if you will be cutting an angle like I did for this project. 

To stabilize the bias edge you will have decide where you want to trim the edge.  I left an inch of background on each side.  Using a marking pencil draw a faint line where you will be cutting.

Tip:  I measured from the tip of the squares.  You could also measure from the center line of the squares where they touch tips.  That way you could cut the width of the border unit to be an even 1/4" or 1/2" measurement.  Mine turned out about 4 5/8".  In this project it didn't matter but on a quilt border the math for additional borders would be easier without figuring in 1/8" inches.  ;-)

Tip:  When marking lines for reference in piecing or quilting only make the marks as dark as you need to see them.  The lighter they are the easier they are to get rid of.  In this case they are in the seam allowance and should not be a problem.

Stitch about 1/16" or 1/8" inside this line with a long stitch (4.0) or 6 stitches per inch.  Use a walking foot if your machine wants to gather up the fabric while doing this.  The fabric should remain flat or easily press flat after stitching.

Note:  If you want to add this in the middle of a quilt border and need longer ends just cut a background strip the same width as the pieced unit.  Trim the pieced section as shown below first.  Cut a 45 degree angle at the end of the background strip where you will join it making sure it points in the right direction and attach.  Measure the total length needed for your project and trim ends to size.

Press unit flat and trim to size along the line drawn previously.  Attach the plain strips to each side of the pieced unit before adding it to your project.  Match the centers and pin in place.  Sew with the bias edge of the pieced unit down against the feed dogs.  Do not trim until after it is attached to the wedge, then trim at the 60 degree angle as shown in the previous post.

That's all you need to do for the pieced border.  Do you think you will add one to something you will make?  I'd love to see it if you do.

Linking with: Freemotion by the River and Sew Many Ways