a Pretty Patchwork tree skirt!

Happy Crafterday! I spent a few hours today finishing up my new Christmas tree skirt. It came out just exactly as I had hoped, so I'm on a patchwork high at the moment!!! Here are some details in case you'd like to make your own (and a new link to the pattern at the end!).

First, fabrics. The best part. I chose all my fabrics from stash in a Denyse Schmidt-inspired, faux scrappy color scheme, cutting a couple 2.5" strips from each. Using large batting bases, I quilted-as-you-go diagonal stripes on a 45 degree angle and then cut them into wedges.

For the backing I pieced together two large scraps of Ikea home decor fabric. After pinning the quilted top to the huge, square backing, I cut out the backing shape to match the skirt top. Then, I quilted in the ditch of each patchwork wedge to attach the skirt top to my backing.

With all three layers now securely attached, I cut edges flush, rounding out any slightly cornered spots where wedge-edges meet. Since I'm working with curved edges, I needed a bias cut binding. You'll want three packages (9 yards) of store bought double fold binding to finish the edges. Oh, and Clover wonder clips are soooo handy here. I only have these because I've received two packs as gifts. I prefer pins for regular quilt binding, but for ready-made/already-folded binding, these clips are more effective and so much easier to use. You don't need enough clips to hold binding around a whole skirt all at once. Just use what you have, sew the binding down and then clip another long section. Repeat!

A few fabric ties made out of binding bits and attached with the binding finish her off. Nothing fancy here. This part is always hidden behind the tree anyways.

Hip, hip, hoorah! After a false start choosing fabrics, I am so glad I did some Pinterest research, got inspired and tried again. This balance of colorful/saturated with large helpings of low volume really hits the spot. I want to kiss it! Smooch.

Or at least figure out something fun to make with my leftover bits and pieces - - -