How to Make a Christmas Tree Skirt

Settling into the rhythm of this new home and new town has been a bit of an adjustment. It has been truly wonderful in many many ways, but establishing a regular crafting time is still not a reality. I'm getting better at it, and more hours are being logged in the new workroom. My need to create, the very urgent need to create has brought about a couple of projects with limited forethought, measuring, or planning. It has been simply gathering the supplies and going for it. But it is getting those studio muscles working, and my brain is beginning to fill up with plans and ideas for many more projects. But plans for new projects isn't what I'm excited to show you today...it's the tree skirt that is currently very happily finishing off our Christmas tree decor.

There is truly something magical about a Christmas tree. From the moment it entered our home it has had children playing beneath it. During the day it is a spot of beauty and stillness, and when it begins to get dark and the lights are turned on, it is a magical dreamland of brilliant lights and all sorts of sparkly goodness. Oh, yes...there is something magical about a Christmas tree and little children.

But even magically enchanting trees need skirts! The tree skirt that made it out of the studio is quite frankly the simplest thing in the world. Really. It started with a few yards of a magnificent vintage upholstery fabric that I picked up this summer knowing it would be destined for something wonderful. I thought the kidlings would like to decorate the skirt with stars and buttons, so we selected gold, red, and green wools for that...but ended up scrapping the idea for a simpler look. And in the end...it is simply a plan skirt with red wool binding. But that isn't the simplest part. It's construction could not have been simpler. Here's how it went!

How to Make a Tree Skirt

Materials:

60" inch wide fabric ... enough to make a full 60" square.

~1/2 yard fabric for binding.

A bit of ribbon.

Yup...that's it!

1. Lay out your fabric on a flat surface...like the floor!...and fold it in half, then in half again. cut off the corner into a rounded shape and open it up. You should have a circle. It might need some adjusting...mine did! If you have a giant hula-hoop that might help the process.

2. In the center of your circle trace a 8" - 10" circle and cut it out.

3. Determine what will be the front of your skirt edge of your skirt. On the back of the skirt cut a straight line from the middle circle to the outside edge.

4. Prepare your binding (which must be cut on the binding) and attach it to the outside edge of the skirt, to the inside circle, and to the straight edges.

5. Attach ribbons on the straight edges to tie the sides together when on the tree.

And now you're done!!!

See I told you this was the simplest thing ever. There are much more elegant ways to construct a tree skirt I am sure...but I just needed to create something...and simple and quick was what I needed!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend surrounding your own tree.