Last year, I only threw some excess fabric I had around the base of my Christmas tree as a makeshift tree skirt, but this year, I wanted to be a little more deliberate. This tutorial will show you how to make a round tree skirt using curved triangular pieces.

My supply list is a little vague because measurements and fabric amounts will depend on the size you make. Once you make the paper template following my directions, you will be able to figure out how much material you’ll need.

Supplies

  • large scrap paper (newsprint will do)
  • a pen
  • a stick of some kind (could be a pen, a paintbrush, a skewer, etc)
  • string/thread
  • one package of bias tape
  • trim if desired
  • fabric in as many prints as you’d like (minimum 1 print; maximum 8 prints)
  • scissors and/or rotary cutter, ruler and mat
  • small bowl

Start by deciding how far you want the skirt to stick out from the base of the tree. You will need a big square piece of paper (I used an open furniture flyer) that is at least that wide and tall. If you don’t have one that large, tape some smaller sheets together.

  1. Cut a length of string that is the same length as the piece of paper when one end is tied to a stick and the other tied to a pencil.
  2. Hold the stick end at one of the corners. Holding the pen in the other hand straight up and down, draw a curved line by holding the string taut. You should end up with a fairly even curved line.
  3. Cut along the line with scissors. You should have one quarter of a full circle. Fold this piece in half, making sure the fold line travels from the point to the center of the curve. If it’s uneven, you can trim the curved edge so that both match.
  4. Cut along this folded line. Now you should have an eighth of a circle.
  5. Use this triangle as a template for each the eight slices of tree skirt. You can figure how much fabric you’ll need by looking at the paper template. Be sure you have enough for all 8 pieces before you begin cutting into your fabric. To figure out how much trim you’ll need, measure the curved edge and multiply the length by 8. Add a few inches to be sure you’ll have enough.Place the template on each of your fabrics and cut it out. Since I only had three coordinating fabric prints, I cut 4 out of Fabric A, 2 out of Fabric B, and 2 out of Fabric C. Your choice!  If the fabric’s print runs in one direction, be sure that you cut out the fabric so it lines up, even if it wastes a little fabric.

    I cut out two pieces at a time by folding the fabric in half. You can do this as long as your print doesn’t have a clear top and bottom (ie: no upside-down Santas!)
  6. Lay out your pieces on a flat surface to determine your fabric placement. (As you can see, I haven’t ironed it yet.)
  7. Take two pieces and line up the edges with the right sides together; sew. Be more concerned about the curved edges lining up because we will be cutting off the pointed edge anyway.

    Repeat, repeat, repeat, and don’t stop until all the pieces are joined. Don’t attach the two ends together. You should be left with something like this:
  8. Flip it over and place a small bowl or wide cup over the centre (a bowl that is about as wide as the top of your tree’s base). Trace it and cut it out. Your skirt should now look something like this:
  9. Sew bias tape along the open edges of the tree skirt and around the interior circle. I did it in three pieces rather than one continuous piece because corners give me a hard time.  Never sewn bias tape before?  Here is a quick photo tutorial I whipped up for the occasion (don’t be scared just and go for it!):
  10. Hem the outer circle and sew on a trim around the outer circle.

And you’re done! This project comes together quickly – the longest task is hemming the outer circle. I could also imagine this project in red and green alternating panels. I’d love to see what you come up with!

2 thoughts on “Quick and Easy 8-Piece Christmas Tree Skirt

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