Tutorial: Easy Tree Skirt {by Beth of Plum and June}

We have quite a treat for you this Christmas Eve.  Yes it may be a bit late, but it's a keeper nonetheless.  Beth over at Plum and June, whipped up this simple tree skirt tutorial!  It's easy, modern and stylish in our Flight Paprika Canvas.  Maybe it's a bit too late for this year.  But make sure to book mark this tutorial and whip one up for next year!

With just one day until Christmas, are you looking for an idea to add something new to your holiday decor this year?  How about a new skirt for your Christmas tree?  Here is an idea for a relatively quick project using two of Birch Fabric's newest fabric collections. This tree skirt uses just 1 1/4 yards each of Flight Canvas in Paprika and Birch Organic Fleece Solid in Cream.  You'll also need about a 1/2 yard for the binding and ties - I used a cream quilting cotton.

Ironically, I think one of the most difficult parts of making this tree skirt is cutting a big circle. Begin by removing the selvedges and cutting a 42" square from the canvas (top fabric.)  Fold the fabric in half and then in half again.  Attach your preferred fabric marking tool to some string.  Hold the string at the edge of the corner of your fabric square where there are no cut ends (this would be the middle of the fabric if it wasn't folded), measure out 21" between the corner and where your marking tool meets the fabric,  and use your marking tool to draw a quarter circle.  Be sure to hold the the marking tool and the end of the string so that it is taut.  You can start by making a few dots on the fabric and then using the same string method to connect the dots.

Repeat this process to make the center circle by measuring 2 1/2" from the corner to your marking tool. Alternatively, you can use this method to make a quarter circle template out of paper and trace the shape onto your fabric.

Open your fabric and draw and cut a line from the center circle to the edge of the fabric.

Cut a 42" square from the fleece.  Place the canvas circle you just made on top of the fleece, wrong sides together.  Use the canvas circle as a template to cut a matching piece from the fleece.

Baste around the entire perimeter (including all raw edges) of the skirt about 1/8" from the edge.

Using your favorite method, make about 220" of 2 1/2" bias binding, set aside. If you want to use fabric ties for closing your skirt, cut 4 pieces of fabric 3" x 12".  For each piece, fold in 1/4" on one short edge.  Then fold the strip in half lengthwise and press.  Open and fold each edge in so that it meets the center crease.  Press and then fold the strip in half lengthwise again.  Topstitch  along the open edge to close it.  Optionally, you can add topstitching to the folded edge as well.

Starting on one of the straight edges, use a scant 1/4" seam to machine sew the binding to the front of tree skirt matching up the raw edges of the binding with the raw edge of the tree skirt.   Pin or baste the ties to the fleece side of the tree skirt - place the top ties about 3" from the center circle and the bottom ties about 4" from the outside circle.  Hand stitch the binding to the back of the tree skirt - securing the fabric ties where they are placed.

And now you have a new tree skirt just in time for the holiday!

Thank you Beth for this wonderful use of our Flight Canvas, and Organic Fleece!  We hope you enjoy this tutorial and most of all, we hope you all have a very Holly Jolly Christmas!