Christmas Tree-Skirts are a great project for us machine embroiderers.
The large embroidery fields around the edge of the skirt give you a lot
of room to decorate and plenty of possibilities. The finished size of the
tree-skirt is about 44" in diameter.
The designs used are 12
Days of Christmas Applique Set. |
Click to enlarge
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For the project you will need:
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1 yard of light-colored cotton fabric (we used Osnaburg);
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12 pieces of differently patterned red and green fabrics, about 10" x 13"
each piece;
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scraps of cotton fabric for the applique;
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2 packs of green wide single fold bias tape (6 feet)
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a large piece of paper not less than 13 1/2 x 22 1/2" for the template,
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quilter's ruler 7" x 24",
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a pencil,
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a roller cutter and/or scissors.
You will also need fabric for the backing and batting. |
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Cutting
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| First make the template. On a piece of paper draw a rectangle measuring
13 1/2" x 22 1/2".
On one of the shorter sides of the rectangle, measure 6 1/8" from the
corner to the center and place a mark. Measure 1 1/4" from the first
mark and place another mark.
Take the ruler and connect the first mark with the left corner of the
opposite side. Connect the second mark with the right corner of the opposite
side.
Cut out the paper template. |
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| Now measure 12 1/2" from the narrow end of the template along one of
the sides and and place a mark. Repeat for the other side and place a mark.
Use a ruler to connect both marks and cut along this line.
You'll have 2 templates for the central, colored, part of the skirt
and for the outer, light, part of the skirt. Note: the template does not
include seam allowance! |
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| Using the template for the center of the skirt, cut out 6 red
and 6 green parts. Don't forget to add 1/4" on all sides for the seam allowance. |
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| Using the lower template, cut out 12 light parts. Don't forget to add
1/4" on all sides for the seam allowances. |
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Sewing:
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| Sew the central and outer parts together to get 12 sectors. |
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| Sew the 12 sectors together. Alternate green and red pieces. Do not
sew the final seam between the 1st and the 12th sectors: |
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Embroidery:
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| Make the embroidery of the 12 Days of Christmas Applique on each light
part of the sectors. You can use a light-weight cut-away stabilizer, or
polyester craft felt. We used the latter. After the embroidery is finished,
cut away the stabilizer. |
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Quilting:
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| Now place the backing on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with
batting. Spread your working piece over it.
Pin all three layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We quilted
along the lines of the embroidery and made stippling all over the background
fabric. |
| After the quilting is finished, press the piece with heavy steam and
trim all edges. Using roller cutter and the ruler, first trim the short
sides of each sector, then trim the long sides of the 1st and the 12th
sectors.
Using scissors, trim the inside circle to make it even.
Finish the raw edges with the bias binding. |
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Happy Stitching!
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Days of Christmas Applique Set
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