Never Too Early featuring the Jolly Holiday Christmas Tree Skirt

The Island Batik Ambassador July challenge was to make a holiday themed project.  I chose to make a Christmas tree skirt, as I've never had one.  My poor tree has been wrapped in a red and green plaid table cloth all these years.

Disclaimer:  The products used to make this project were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners.

I designed my Christmas tree skirt in EQ8.  I was surprised at how easy and fun it was to make this project.

I used the new Holly Holiday by Kathy Engle fabric collection.  I really love the gold fabrics in this collection.  These should be available in your local quilt shop now.  It's the perfect time to begin those holiday projects.

As I pieced the wedges for the tree skirt, I put them up on my design wall.  I thought they looked a bit like candy corn.  Inspiration for a fall project, possibly?

I don't normally mark for quilting, but I felt compelled to use some of the quilting stencils in my collection for this project.  I did feathers on each of the large sections.

I quilted this fun curlicue on the top and bottom edges.

Top edge curlicues.

For this project I used Hobbs Tuscany Cotton Wool Blend, which is washable, but recommended to air dry.  It made my tree skirt soft and fluffy.  I used Aurifil thread in matching colors for the piecing and quilting.  And I used Schmetz needles as well.

Pretty folds.

I used Island Batik's Parchment fabric for the backing.  I really wanted to use the green binding fabric, but I simply didn't have enough for the whole skirt.

Close up of the green binding.  Isn't this color gorgeous?  It's my favorite Island Batik green ever!  I made the bias binding with my Accuquilt strip die, following a neat tutorial I found online.

I have a lot of trees in my yard, but no "Christmas" trees, so I modeled the Jolly Holiday tree skirt around the base of a pine tree.  So pretty!  I can't wait to try this on my tree this year.

Follow my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors for maximum quilting inspiration, here:

Megan Best ~

Bestquilter

Pamela Boatright ~

Pamelaquilts

Elizabeth DeCroos ~

Epida Studio

Jennifer Eubank ~ Archipelago Quilting

Jennifer Fulton ~

The Inquiring Quilter

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts

Joanne Hart ~

Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi ~

Mania for quilts

Jane Hauprich - Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting

Connie Kauffman

~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~

The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~

For The Love Of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~

Sally Manke, Fiber Artist

Maryellen McAuliffe ~

Mary Mack Made Mine

Claudia Porter ~

Create with Claudia

Gail Renna ~

Quilt Haven Threads

Brianna Roberts ~

Sew Cute And Quirky

Michelle Roberts ~

Creative Blonde

Gail Sheppard ~

Quilting Gail

Andi Stanfield ~

True Blue Quilts

Jennifer Thomas ~

CurliCue Creations

Suzy Webster

~ WebsterQuilt

Janet Yamamoto ~

Whispers of Yore

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Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today

Jennifer Thomas

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