MAY GIBBS TREE SKIRT

INSTRUCTIONS

TEMPLATE

To make wedge template draw a 24½" x 14½" rectangle on the paper or card and mark the centre on one short (14½") side. Measure 1" on each side of the centre and mark. This is the 2" top of the wedge. Draw a line from each end of the top to each bottom corner. Cut out your wedge template.

CUTTING

Step 1 - All strips are cut across the width of fabric unless otherwise stated.

From each of Fabrics A, B, C, D, E & F cut 4 x 4½" strips (24 strips in total). Crosscut strips into following lengths:

• Fabric A strips into 6 x 16" and 6 x 6".
• Fabric B strips into 6 x 14" and 6 x 8".
• Fabric C strips into 6 x 12" and 6 x 10".
• Fabric D strips into 6 x 12" and 6 x 10".
• Fabric E strips into 6 x 14" and 6 x 8".
• Fabric F strips into 6 x 16" and 6 x 6".

Step 2 - From remaining Fabric F cut 9 x 2½" binding strips.

WEDGE 1

Step 3 - Layout strips in the following order:

6" Fabric A, 8" Fabric B, 10" Fabric C, 12" Fabric D, 14" Fabric E, 16" Fabric F. Finger press each strip in half.

Step 4 - Matching the centre bottom edge of 6" Fabric A strip with centre top edge of 8" Fabric B strip place right sides together and pin. Sew together.

Step 5 - Repeat Step 2 to sew 10" Fabric C strip to 12" Fabric D strip. Then again to sew 14" Fabric E strip to 16" Fabric F strip.

Step 6 - Centre bottom edge of 8" Fabric B strip along top edge of 10" Fabric C strip with right sides facing, pin and sew together. Centre bottom edge of 12" Fabric D strip along top edge of 14" Fabric E strip with right sides facing, pin and sew together.

Step 7 - Repeat Steps 3-6 for remaining 5 strip sets of Wedge 1.

WEDGE 2

Step 8 - Layout strips in the following order:

6" Fabric F, 8" Fabric E, 10" Fabric D, 12" Fabric C, 14" Fabric B, 16" Fabric A. Finger press each strip in half.

Step 9 - Matching the centre bottom edge of 6" Fabric F strip with centre top edge of 8" Fabric E strip place right sides together and pin. Sew together.

Step 10 - Repeat Step 7 to sew 10" Fabric D strip to 12" Fabric C strip. Then again to sew 14" Fabric B strip to 16" Fabric A strip.

Step 11 - Centre bottom edge of 8" Fabric E strip along top edge of 10" Fabric D strip with right sides facing, pin and sew together. Centre bottom edge of 12" Fabric C strip along top edge of 14" Fabric B strip with right sides facing, pin and sew together.

Step 12 - Repeat Steps 8 - 11 for remaining 5 strip sets of Wedge 2.

Step 13 - Press seams in Wedge 1 strip sets in one direction alternating the direction for Wedge 2 strip sets.

Step 14 - Centre your template on a strip set and cut out a wedge. Repeat for all 12 strip sets. Arrange wedges in alternating order and decide on where the opening will be.

TREE SKIRT

Step 15 - Starting at one edge of the opening and matching seams sew wedges together in pairs. Sew pairs together making 3 sets of 4 and then sew the 3 sets together. Press seams in one direction around the circle.

Step 16 - Cut backing fabric in half, remove selvedge's and sew the two lengths together, pressing seam open.

Step 17 - Layer the backing, batting and skirt top and baste together taking care not to pull skirt top out of alignment. Do not cut the backing but work with batting and backing in a square as this helps to stabilize the tree skirt. Quilt as desired. We quilted ¼" on each side of the long seams and ¼" on each side of seams across each section of the wedges.

Step 18 -Trim excess batting and backing from around outside edge, down each side of the centre opening and around the inside circle.

Step 19 - Join the 9 x 2½" binding strips together on the bias to make one long strip. Press in half lengthwise.

Step 20 - Starting at the top of the left front edge sew binding down the front all the way around the edge and back up the right front edge. Trim off excess binding and set aside. Fold binding to the back and hand or machine sew in place.

Step 21 - Take remaining binding and starting at the top right-hand edge, leave a 15" tail and sew binding around top inside circle. Leaving a 15" tail trim off excess binding.

Fold ends in ¼" and stitch across. Fold binding to the back and hand or machine sew in place. Fold tails in half and sew together to create ties.

Step 22 - To make ties cut 4 x 15" lengths from remaining binding. Fold ends in ¼" and sew. Sew to inside edge of binding - one 9" down from top and another a further 9" down. Sew remaining 2 to line up on opposite edge of the binding.