Your thoughts on Christmas tree skirts?

My boys were the rascals who always peeked at their gifts, so only a few gifts for family were under my tree- until Santa made his delivery on Christmas Eve. That continued for as long as a son lived at home so my tree skirt was always visible. Before I became a quilter I had a skirt that was purchased and pretty much a red felt circle.

Very early in my quilting career I made one for each of my two sons plus I had a pretty one that got stained when we had a plumbing leak in the attic. One was 8 repeated sections with a PFP angel in each section- I designed the angel with a gold lame' halo, a cream colored gown with a swirly metallic gold on cream for the wings and a muted red and green print for the background.

One had a PFP scrappy green Christmas tree in each section- most of the pieces of the tree were diamond shaped and on a slant so it was quite unique and pretty. Most of the green fabrics had bits of red and metallic gold in the print and the background was navy blue with scattered metallic gold stars. That pattern I developed from a PFP tree block in a quilt magazine.

And mine was crazy quilted in eight sections- all in various cream colored tone-on-tone fabrics with gold threads and trims... until the wet red felt oozed on it.

Now I bunch up three yards of a mostly green Christmas print fabric and smoosh it around under the tree- when I put up the tree. This year I didn't have one because I was invited to Christmas with family rather than hosting. ;-)

I have not made one but I'm of the school of thought that they are used for many years they should be nice. I took me a couple of years to buy a really nice one at half price. It's on my list to do one day. Along with personalized stockings for my girls. Plus another xmas panel quilt. Maybe I'll get to them by next xmas.Can't wait to see what you come up with. Joanna Ok I guess I have one suggestion. I've seen a crazy quilt type done and it was wonderful except I felt it was missing something. The ring of white fur around the edge. I've seen many homemade tree shirts and to me that's all that's missing.

Polly Esther wrote:

I made two tree skirts for my DDs a few years back -- the easiest I think I've ever seen, and quite spectacular to see under the tree. Pics are here: . If I tell you these were made from an Eleanor Burns pattern, you'll understand how easy they were ; they came from her Christmas at Bear's Paw Ranch book.

Mine is green felt with white rick-rack around the edges and about 7 buttons holding the slit together, But Velcro could be substituted if that is your preference. I made it about 10 years ago and it is still going strong.

John

As John posted, mine is also made of felt. It is 72" diameter with about 12 scallops around the edge. I made a cut up one side and cut a hole to accommodate the tree trunk. I added velcro "buttons" for closure and sewed r/w/g metallic trimmed lace around the outer scalloped edge and around the hole for the trunk. I like a bit of fancy but don't want mine too fancy. it is covered by gifts before, during & after the holiday AND it is used under a fresh tree. This means there are water issues, tree sap issues, and cats sleeping under the tree amongst the presents issues so you can imagine what happens to my tree skirt. The one I made for the SMDGD that is used under the family tree is the same size as mine. Each year hers has two 6" diameter counted cross designs sewn to a scalloped section -- I stitch one and the EvilMIL stitches the other. DD has another skirt -- same size with the scallops and trimmed similar to mine. She's like me and always have presents under the tree ASAP once the decorations are up and then they are left under the tree until someone gets enough energy to clear them out and get them put away -- LOL! Pictures of the SMDGD's tree skirt are at my Webshots Needlework album. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

You can see mine that I made about 30 years ago at . It's just

3" squares (finished size)of red, green, blue, and yellow calico prints sewn together, leaving open in the back, and cut into a circle, with a smaller circle in the center. I added a green & white polka dot ruffle around the outside. It's backed with a piece of an old sheet & has poly batting. I think I layered it, stitched around the outside and then birthed through the center hole. I tied at the intersections of the blocks with red yarn and bound the center hole. I did this long before I ever did much quilting, so it's pretty basic. I've thought about making a more elaborate one, but it's usually covered with gifts anyhow, so have not bothered.

Julia > Between the wedding and Christmas goings on, I never did wrap gifts;

I'm enjoying this - whether you're bragging or confessing. I don't think I told you about my 'down the lane' neighbor. In the middle of it all, she was having new kitchen cabinets installed. In emptying her old cabinets (groan), she discovered a set of dishes. Ugly dishes. Really ugly. She didn't remember where they came from. Didn't want to put them in the new cabinets. So! She gift wrapped the dishes and put them under her tree. We'll have to wait until next Christmas to see if that was a permanent solution. Polly

"Tia Mary" As John posted, mine is also made of felt. It is 72" diameter with

Howdy!

Have made several, ended up selling them or giving them away. Tree Skirts just don't seem necessary (or important) any more; too much other stuff goes under the tree. ;-) At church my team puts up 4-6 trees; the big tree in the sanctuary has a lovely counted-cross-stitch skirt that several women made; there's an older, smaller felt skirt (w/ sequins & glitter) that someone unearthed this year & laid over the c-c-s beauty- I've hidden that thing so it won't get used next year. Someone else donated a lovely skirt to go under another tree, and one kind person loaned a hand-made skirt for a small tree. The rest of the "skirts" are brightly colored tablecloths wound around the base of the trees. For my own trees, I use long pieces of yardage (the big tree has 10 yds of red plaid under it) scootched around the tree base, easy to fling out dust when I sweep the floor, easy to throw in the washer this week. And if I ever need just that much plaid or Christmas green to back a quilt: there it is, back in the stash! I keep ornaments, and cards... and decorations, and pictures, not skirts,

Happy New Year!

R/Sandy - .. I don't own any skirts, tree or otherwise...

Look at my site below my siggie. Even have directions for one

Now that I'm on my own, I've got a smallish tabletop tree. Well, it's probably three feet tall or so....sitting on a table, it fills the living room window so that someone walking by cannot tell if they're seeing a tree on a table or the top of a tree on the floor.

When I bought it, I picked up one of the super-cheap essentially pressed-batting skirts with a design ironed on....and that's just about exactly the size of the round table I put the tree on.

Lurking in my stash are three large yardages of some folk-arty Christmas fabric I must have picked up on clearance (I'm not a gonzo Christmas fabric person). When I took the tree down yesterday, I didn't put the skirt away. I've been contemplating it and thinking "My, that looks like pattern and batting, all in one."

I'm thinking of making one side solid fabric A, the other side solid fabric B, and the binding out of fabric C. Nothing fancy; presents don't sit under my tree, but cats do (it's in a WINDOW, you know)......they and I have an agreement: I don't put breakable ornaments on the tree, and they're welcome to bat ornaments off to their hearts' content.

Solid fabric would protect the table and house the cats quite nicely, I think, while still being decorative to look at.

Those of y'all with big trees who actually put stuff under them, this might not be so helpful for. :)

--pig

Am I the only one who uses cotton batting? My "skirt" is now safely put away in my quilting supplies closet....waiting for the next quilt, or next Christmas!!

My own tree skirts are old with warm memories and match the themes of the various trees. As gifts I have made several tree skirts using a pattern from "Quilts Without Corners" by Cheryl Phillips. It gives me an opportunity to do something a little modern without having to live with the results. Everything in the book uses the ten-degree wedge ruler. My favorite is the "Speedy Spiral" pattern. It takes only four fabrics (3/4 yard each) plus backing. I especially like it in batiks (dark green, deep red, dark green with metallic gold print and a Christmas batik that matches the other fabrics) The finished tree skirt is really great but it only takes a few days to complete from start to finish. If the fabric says it is OK I just tack with machine embroidered stars rather than quilt the entire skirt. Make one to check the pattern and then the other three on an assembly line. You are so clever to make them now and not have to rush next fall. I have given these several times as wedding gifts to couples who don't need much in the way of items to set-up housekeeping. Sorry no pictures.

Susan

On Wed, 6 Jan 2010 08:46:14 -0600, "Polly Esther" wrote:

LOL. Sandy. When I was working in the fabric store (and before..... long before) there were always several really nice tree skirt panels that came in with the holiday collections. Really pretty designs on half circle panels. I kept looking at them, and thinking that most people only use one tree skirt and use it for years. So I made "me skirts" instead of "tree skirts" with the panels. (Still have some somewhere to make up....) Add pockets and waistband and a coordinating border to make them long enough. Sometimes even a coordinating top. Great easy to wear, and not too expensive holiday outfits. (Yes, a bit hokey, but every time I wear one I get complements.) Kids love them too. (Both seeing someone wearing them, and having their own. Circle skirts are "twirly". ) Circle skirts can also be flattering for anyone, no bulk at the waist, but plenty of movement at the hem.

BTW, I do have a tree..... bought several years ago. It is still in the original sealed box in the closet. With our cats we don't dare try a tree. sigh.

Pati, in Phx

Years ago I enlarged a "Dresden Plate" type block to be about 4 feet wide. It has 8 points, and I cut 4 out of green polycotton, and 4 out of red polycotton. I made it the usual way as if I was going to applique it to a giant backing, but just turned the edges of the pointed blades over and hemmed. I left an opening between one green and red blade, then cut a hole out of the middle bit - about the size of a small plate. I probably used a small plate in order to figure it out. I then hemmed that raw edge down. I think I was going to put ties onto the open sides, but never did. Anyway, I use that every year, and this year it was on a newly varnished floor... the cats took turns running and sliding on the Christmas tree skirt. So it's really just a giant cat toy.

-- Jo in Scotland

I'm late to this thread, but I have a beautiful tree skirt made by grandmother that I cherish. It does sit without presents on it for awhile before and after the holiday itself, so I do get to admire it. I vote for a "fine" creation. :-)

Michelle in Nevada

Beautiful!

Michelle in Nevada