| Making your own Christmas Tree Skirt is simple, and | | | | fabric to be taut, and to not move as you draw your |
| can be done as a project for the whole family to | | | | circle. If you can talk some family members into holding |
| enjoy together. | | | | the fabric for you - so much the better! |
| Fabric | | | | Now place the pointy end of the knitting needle in the |
| Good fabrics to choose are plain cottons (red, green | | | | centre of the fabric, and extend your pencil to the end |
| or white), or you can buy special Christmas prints in a | | | | of the string. Now smoothly draw your circle on the |
| range of fabrics including cottons and plush velvets. | | | | fabric. Don't forget to turn the knitting needle as you |
| You can even choose contrasting colours for top and | | | | draw the circle, otherwise you will end up wrapping the |
| bottom. | | | | string around the needle and your circle won't be |
| Depending on the thickness of your fabric, you may | | | | perfect! |
| also need some heavy interfacing to sit between the | | | | When the circle is done, draw a straight line across the |
| two fabric layers. If using cotton for top and bottom | | | | very centre of your circle. Now we want to draw a 4" |
| layers, I would definitely recommend using some | | | | (10cm) circle in the very centre of our larger circle (for |
| interfacing between these. | | | | the Christmas tree trunk). Mark off on your straight |
| For a 6' tall tree, your skirt should be at least 44" round | | | | line 2" (5cm) each way from the centre, and using a |
| (or 112cm). You will need two circles of fabric, so you | | | | plate or bowl as a guide, draw your 4" (10cm) circle. |
| will need 2½ yards of fabric (assuming the bolt of | | | | Finally, we need to cut an opening in the skirt and cut |
| fabric is at least 44" wide) - or 1¼ yards of each if | | | | out the middle small circle. Cut along the straight line |
| using contrasting fabrics top and bottom. In metric you | | | | we drew earlier up to the inner circle, and then cut out |
| will need 2½ metres of fabric (assuming the bolt is at | | | | the inner circle. Do not cut the material in half, only cut |
| least 112cm wide) or 1¼ metres of each if using | | | | one side and the inner circle. Now cut away the |
| contrasting fabrics top and bottom. | | | | excess fabric from the large circle. |
| Don't worry about seam allowance, as we will be | | | | To Make |
| finishing all edges off with ribbon or bias tape (see | | | | Place your top fabric piece right side down on your |
| Notions section below). | | | | table. If you have interfacing, place this on top now. |
| Notions | | | | Now place your bottom fabric right side up on top of |
| We will need ribbon or bias binding tape to finish off all | | | | the other fabric pieces. Make sure all of the edges are |
| of our edges. The ribbon or tape needs to be a | | | | aligned. |
| minimum of 1" wide but can be up to 2" wide (minimum | | | | We are now going to pin on the ribbon or bias binding |
| 2½cm up to 5cm), and we will need 6 yards of | | | | tape. Start at one of your outer edges where we cut |
| ribbon or tape (or 5½ metres). | | | | the opening on the skirt. Fold the ribbon evenly over |
| For closures, I recommend using Velcro tape - ½ | | | | the edges of your fabrics and pin the ribbon or tape |
| yard will suffice (½ metre). | | | | so that the pin goes through the ribbon on both sides |
| If you have bought plain fabrics, you may also want to | | | | of the fabric. Continue this all around the outer edge of |
| consider buying some coloured felt, so that you can | | | | the skirt. When you reach the other outer end of the |
| cut out and sew on colourful Christmas shapes such | | | | skirt, snip the ribbon to fit. |
| as angels, Christmas trees, stars, snowmen, and, if you | | | | Stitch this section of ribbon or tape in place. |
| are particularly crafty, perhaps even Santa and some | | | | Now, using the same technique, pin the ribbon along the |
| reindeer. | | | | cut edges of the skirt, and around the inner circle, and |
| Drawing Your Pattern | | | | back down the other cut edge. You should be able to |
| The trickiest part of this is drawing out the circle. What | | | | do this in one piece. Snip the ribbon to fit. Before you |
| I have found works for me is to tie my tailors chalk | | | | sew on the ribbon, cut of two pieces on the Velcro |
| pencil to a knitting needle (use one of your children's | | | | fastener, about 2" (5cm) each. Pin this on the opposing |
| coloured pencils in a contrasting colour to your fabric if | | | | cut edges so that they will fasten neatly and keep the |
| you don't have tailors chalk). | | | | skirt closed when it on your tree. |
| Now the length of the string is important! That's what | | | | Stitch in place. If you have used a patterned fabric, |
| determines the size of your circle. The amount of | | | | your Christmas Tree Skirt is now complete! |
| string between your pencil and the knitting needle | | | | Decorating Your Christmas Tree Skirt |
| needs to be 22" (or 56cm) - or as near as you can | | | | If you have used plain fabrics, why not decorate it now |
| get. | | | | by cutting out and sewing on angels, stars, Christmas |
| If using one piece of fabric, fold in half with right sides | | | | trees, snowmen, Christmas parcels, holly, perhaps even |
| together, and, using your measuring tape, find the | | | | Santa Clause. You can use felt or coloured cotton |
| exact centre of the material. Mark the centre with an | | | | fabrics. |
| "X". If you are using two pieces, I recommend you do | | | | Or, if you are not that crafty, why not consider pinning |
| this separately for each piece of fabric. | | | | on some small plastic or wooden decorations! Or use |
| I also suggest you weight down the 4 corners of your | | | | some fabric paint and write your own Holiday |
| fabric with some heavy tins or books, as you want the | | | | Message. |