Friday, December 7, 2012

Sew a tree skirt during naptime

Crazy Christmas brain had me wanting to sew a "real" tree skirt for our tree this week. For the past few years... 7 years... I have just tucked a random tablecloth or piece of fabric around the base of our wimpy little fake tree. This year, I wanted an actual skirt.

This is not the recommended way to make a tree skirt, but it was effective.

First, a tree skirt needs to be round (well most of the time). I took geometry. I do not remember much. When I want to draw a circle - I trace a water glass. I need a really big water glass - or in this case - the lid to our sandbox.

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012


Tree Skirt 2012

The girls were very happy to help.  Then they were too helpful and I shut them in their room together for a few minutes so the wouldn't tear up my tissue paper.


Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

This is were I stopped... and restarted during nap time. I used my tissue template to cut a circle out of 2 fabrics. I used upholstery weight fabrics.

Tree Skirt 2012

Match right sides together.

Tree Skirt 2012

Cut a line from edge to interior, and a small circle in the center for the stem of your tree.

Tree Skirt 2012

Pin at least the center. Yes! I used pins!!

Tree Skirt 2012

Carefully sew around all edges leaving a 4 to 6 inch hole for turning the skirt right side out.

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

Flip! And top-stitch around all edges.

Tree Skirt 2012

Pretty!

Tree Skirt 2012

I think top-stitching looks so nice!

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

And the finished product! I like the red side best right now, but hopefully we will someday get new carpeting, and then maybe I will use the green side.

Tree Skirt 2012

Have you ever decided you needed something and improvised to get it done in one day? Or one nap time?

4 comments:

  1. Using the sandbox lid is cheating. I had to use a pin, string and pencil. Talk about being innovative, ha! That was the old days. Though I do love the photos of the girls with the lid, ha!

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  2. Great post! Very innovative, and impressive! Of course, now I want some details and the back story, since I've encountered some technical problems when sewing large pieces (Have I shown you the full-size duvet cover I designed??). Did you purchase the fabric new or piece together scraps you already had? I can tell the plaid was not from one piece, but I can't tell with the green. Is the plaid just 4 large pieces?

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    Replies
    1. You are right! The plaid was actually fabric I had cut into large squares 4 years ago to make cloth napkins.... Obviously never happened! The green is fabric for another project (that also never happened) that I had never cut up. When I sew large objects I usually try to roll the edges. We will have to sew together sometime!

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  3. I think it turned out great! And the turtle shell was brilliant. For someone who doesn't like to sew you sure have more to show and tell than I do.

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