whether I want to or not…
I’m not a big fan of moving between various projects,at most I’ll be working on three things at the same time. Usually I’m only working on one and make myself finish it before I start anything else. But occassonally I will get stuck on a project and just won’t want to finish it. While this tree skirt may look sweet and innocent
I assure you it’s evil! I first saw this when mamacjt posted it on flickr
Carol created the tree skirt and after so many people expressed interest in it she also created a pattern which can be purchased directly from her. Simply contact her through flickr at the link to her above.
I was really excited to make this tree skirt and readily shelled out almost $50 for 12 different fat quaters in shades of reds or greens. The pattern only calls for 1/8 yards but I don’t have a quilt shop that sells cuts that small. You could also use scraps to make a more interesting tree skirt but I didn’t have anything in my stash that would work.
Where the love affair ended was all the tiny strips. The pattern calls for strips 1 1/4 in or 1 1/2 in wide but piecing those thin strips to make a 7 inch thick rectangle is tedious. Eventually I just cut mine wider 1 1/2 in – 2 in wide. By the time I had pieced my red rectangles and my trees I was done! The skirt got set aside for a week or so before I gathered up the energy to start working on it again. After the pieced portions are done the top actually goes together pretty quickly. You sew white strips on the sides of the trees and then sew the tree to the red rectangle. There are only two pattern pieces- one is the tree and the second is the section. You lay the pattern piece for the section over your work and trim off the excess. Then you sew the trimmed sections together. Until this point the directions were concise but detailed and my only frustration was personal (I don’t like sewing thin strips together over and over and over again). But at this point I have a real problem with the pattern. Perhaps you will understand when I quote step 11 for you “Layer and quilt as desired.” If this was a square or a rectangle I wouldn’t be complaining but it’s not. And even patterns that use squares or rectangles will tell you how much fabric and what dimensions the backing should be. But this is worse because it’s a hexagaon with curved ends. What size backing should I use? What size batting? Should I cut it in a circle, if so how large? Should I cut it in a square, if so what size? I used a square for the record and it wasn’t brain surgery but this is a pattern and I personally believe a pattern should walk you through all the steps. I also have a problem with step 12 which tells you how much “BIAS” binding you need but not how to attach it. Again this isn’t a square or a rectangle, you have to bind curves with points, I’ve never done that before. Feeling really frustrated at this point I contacted Carol and asked for assistance. I didn’t specifically ask how to get the binding around the points where the curves meet, I figured when i asked how to bind it that she would understand what I needed. Her response was a reminder that I needed to use “BIAS” binding, to ease it around and go to a local shop if I needed more assistance. I was tired and frustrated at this point, really frustrated and I put this project on a high shelf out of sight for a day. Because honestly if I didn’t I think I would have thrown it away. I was that frustrated and really the only thing that stopped me wasn’t the time I had put in but the cost of the fabric itself. I’m not throwing out $50 plus dollars of fabric over a temper tantrum. But again I believe a pattern should equip me with the knowledge I need to complete a project from start to finish.
The next day I turned to my old standby- google. And for one of the very few times ever it failed me! The sum total of advice I could find on the various blogs and websites was “ease it around.” In desperation I bought (sight unseen) a book referenced in a blog post about binding curved edges. The tree skirt went back into the closet for three weeks until the book arrived and it too was pretty useless. The book was supposed to be about binding and borders but it was more of visual option book versus a practical how-to. At this point I just needed this tree skirt done and out of the way so I sat down to channel my inner Tim Gunn and “make it work.” The binding is not pretty but it is done so at least I can check it off the list.
When I started this project I was going to keep the tree skirt but about half way through I decided it would be a gift for someone else. Now that I’m done I’ve decided to give it to a good friend who’s taste is a bit more traditional than mine. Because time and frustrations aside after making this I realized it’s just not me but hey it sure looks cool. And she loves me enough not to look to closely 🙂
It is such a cute skirt, but I hear your frustration on the pattern! I have not tried this particular pattern, but there have been instances where I have read and re-read a pattern trying to figure out exactly how I was supposed to do something.
If it’s any consolation, it looks pretty good in the pictures! How did you end up getting the binding around the curves and points?
I think it looks great! I love the fabrics you used!
I admired this tree skirt when I saw it the first time… now I am glad I didn’t buy it. I wouldn’t know how to do that binding either… and no information on backing? that’s just crazy…
It is very nice though and I don’t see anything at all wrong with it..
It looks beautiful and I can see all the strips! I’m impressed. The binding looks good from here and no one gets down real close to the tree skirt. Well, except for the kids on Christmas morning but I’m sure they won’t be examining binding. Great job and your friend will be thrilled!
It looks wonderful and so sorry it was such a pain!
I’m so sorry you had trouble with the pattern. Sewing strips can be boring, I agree. What can I say? For some quilters this pattern is easy (I even had a novice tell me that it was her 2nd project and she had no problems), and for some, I suppose it will be difficult. I have only been quilting 2 years and I had no trouble with this……..but, I do know that a bias binding is needed for curves since I was a former garment sewer.
I think your skirt looks wonderful! I’m sorry that you couldn’t use the 1/8 yard requirements given because if you had bought them, you’d probably have enough left for a 2nd tree skirt and your cost would have been divided in two making it less of a financial cost. Also, if you check your pattern, it does give the measurement of 1 1/4 yards of fabric for the backing and 45 inch square for the batting so perhaps you didn’t understand. Again, I’m sorry! As far as the quilting, everyone has their own way of quilting projects, so I left that option open and that direction was suggested by various professionals. Just because I straight lined quilted mine, doesn’t mean it won’t look wonderful with stippling.
I bet if you put your tree skirt away for a few weeks, you realize what a wonderful job you really did and perhaps you might like it more. I sure hope so!!
Carol it really is a beautiful and unusual pattern and the extra fabric will certainly be put to use in other Christmas projects. I understand what you are saying about the backing and batting but I think it’s worth repeating in step 11 to reinforce it. Truly my only frustration was with the binding and after searching the internet and books I think it’s just one of those things that no one explains so while I wish there were some tips and maybe drawings in the pattern at least to show how to get the binding around the points where the curves meet (which is the most difficult part) it’s not like you didn’t include it but “everyone else” does…. I try to be honest about my frustrations with patterns but it’s just my opinion and my experience with my skill sets.
I think your tree skirt is beautiful and I love it!!! I am sorry that it gave you so much problem, but I am glad you got it completed and it is going to go to someone who will love it.
I think your tree skirt is stunning. I just finished one, but I wish I’d seen this one first. It really is lovely.
It turned out very nice. I know about head aches in quilting. I always get a headache when I have to pick out colors, fabrics, and then decide where to place the colors in the quilt.
I made a quilt with an irregular edge (all hexagons) I did not want to bind it the regular way. I looked through my quilting books and I found a good method:
making a facing, like you would when you sew a garment. Picture an armhole facing in a garment: I made a long strip of fabric to go around the edges. Right sides together, I sewed it on the edge of the quilt. I then turned the strip of fabric to the back and ironed it down. (Don’t forget to clip the curves and/or sharp angles before turning the facing to the back. I then slip stitched the facing to the back of the quilt. It turned out beautifully.
I don’t know exactly if this would work for your tree skirt, I would have to think about it for a while.
Fran