(this is for my friend at the foreman four. i promised her i'd post a tutorial on this last year, and it totally slipped my mind.)
we had to toss out our beloved christmas tree skirt early this fall. i had made it for our first christmas as a married couple. it was actually not a tree skirt when i made it--it was a table cloth for a round table--one side was pretty christmas fabric, with angels and whatnot, the other side i stencilled gold stars so we could use it for new year's dinner. it ended up being a tree skirt because that table moved outside when we bought this house.
anyhoodle, the tree skirt/tablecloth was damaged beyond repair by a beloved cat who recently went to heaven :( so i made a new one but i didn't want to invest too much time or energy because that would defeat my whole christmas craft revolt thing.
so i used stuff i found at the local dollar tree store. i love that place. that's what i think it should be called, "the dollar tree i love that place".
this project is all straight line sewing! no special skills needed. this would be a perfectly wonderful first project for a beginning seamstress--looks great, easy to make, readily available materials at a low low price.
you'll need four table runners--if you get them at a place like the dollar tree i love that place, they'll only cost $1.00 each. if the table runners you find don't have a pointy end, you can easily make a point without losing any of the length. just follow the instructions in my post about the apron cheat, the part where i talk about finishing the ends of the apron strings
cut each table runner in half crosswise, then stitch them together on the long sides, from the angled end toward the cut edge--that way you can be sure the pointy parts are even. since i chose two different colors i alternated panels but you could use all one color if you prefer. IMPORTANT: don't sew together the first and last panels--you need to leave an opening so you can get the skirt around the tree trunk. (click to see enlargement).
after the panels are sewn together, zig-zag or serge the cut edge, then fold and stitch a 1" casing--you don't have be too particular about this, it isn't going to show because it will be under the tree branches. in fact, on mine i couldn't decide whether to use red or white thread, so i chose green. :)
i trimmed my tree skirt with extra wide rick-rack from my stash. i love that stuff. that's what i think it should be called, "rick-rack i love that stuff".
when it is all done, thread a piece of ribbon thru the casing and tie the skirt around the base of the tree.
ta-da! i think over the next couple of years i might add some appliques or embroidery. that is, if the cats don't tear up this tree skirt too. i guess if they do i can always just make another one. this one took less than an hour to make.
*if you like inexpensive craft ideas, visit dollar store crafts. just going by what i see on this site, you could conceivably make something every day of the year and never set foot in a craft store.
*i just launched another blog and i'd love to get some visitors! it's called romesticity, and it's all about the things i do to make my home nicer, more efficient, and all-around happier. when you have a moment, please drop by and leave a comment. thank you!
