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Turn an Old Quilt Into a Christmas Tree Skirt
Country Style Blue and White Christmas Tree Skirt From Quilt
A hand-me-down quilt may be too fragile or old to use as bedding but holds too many sentimental memories to simply throw away. Preserve the best part of the quilt, giving it new life as a charming Christmas tree skirt. Our step-by-step instructions make this repurposing project a snap — even for beginning sewers.
Photo by: Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Materials Needed:
- heirloom cutter quilt
- 2 packages double-fold quilt binding
- craft paper or cardboard (for template)
- tape
- all-purpose cotton thread that matches binding
- scissors
- pins
- 3-4 yards of coordinating ribbon
Make Template and Cut Quilt
Determine size of tree skirt and which portion of quilt to use for skirt. Make template by taping together several pieces of craft paper to make a square to desired size (Image 1). Fold square in half, then in quarters, then eights and cut curve at edge of paper and unfold to create a circle (Image 2). Pin paper to quilt, then cut around template with sharp scissors (Image 3).
Craft Paper Template For Quilted Tree Skirt
Determine the size of tree skirt and which portion of quilt to use for the skirt. Create a template by taping together several pieces of craft paper to make a square to the desired size.
Cutting Paper Template For Christmas Tree Skirt
Fold the craft paper square in half, then in quarters, then eights and cut a curve at the edge of the paper and unfold it to create a circle, which will fit around a Christmas tree.
Cutting Quilt For Upcycled Tree Skirt
Pin the paper template to the quilt, then cut around the template with sharp scissors.
Cut Slit in Tree Skirt
Find center point of tree skirt, then cut out a circular hole to allow for tree trunk (Image 1). Next, cut a straight line from edge to center of skirt to create a slit so sliding the skirt around the tree will be easy (Image 2).
Cutting Out Center Circle for Tree Skirt
Find the center point of the tree skirt, then cut out a circular hole to allow for the tree trunk.
Cutting Slit For Christmas Tree Skirt
Cut a straight line from the edge to the center of the tree skirt to create a slit so sliding the skirt around the tree will be easy.
Add Quilt Binding
Wrap double-fold quilt binding around raw edge of quilt and pin in place (Image 1). Cover the entire perimeter of quilt, slit and tree trunk hole. Sew along binding edge and remove pins (Image 2).
Pinning Binding For Christmas Tree Skirt
Wrap double-fold quilt binding around the raw edge of the quilt and pin in place.
Sewing Quilt Binding For Upcycled Tree Skirt
Cover the entire perimeter of quilt, slit and tree trunk hole with quilt binding. Sew along the binding edge and remove the pins.
Add Personal Touches
If quilt has signatures or dates, cut them out and hand-stitch them to tree skirt to preserve the quilt's history. If quilt doesn't have any, hand-stitch a date and/or family names, if desired.
Personalizing Quilt Christmas Tree Skirt
If the quilt has signatures or dates, cut them out and hand-stitch them to the tree skirt to preserve the quilt's history. If the quilt doesn't have any, hand-stitch a date and/or family names, if desired.
Make Ties
Cut ribbon into eight 12" lengths. Fold one end of each ribbon over twice and stitch on sewing machine to finish end (Image 1). Repeat on all eight ribbons. Pin unfinished side of ribbon to underside of skirt along slit, evenly spaced and paired with a ribbon on other side of slit, so they can be tied together (Image 2). Sew ribbons to skirt (Image 3). Remove all pins and trim threads, then slide skirt around Christmas tree and tie ribbons to secure it (Image 4).
Marian Parsons
Hemming End of Ties For Quilted Tree Skirt
Cut a ribbon into eight 12" lengths. Fold one end of each ribbon over twice and stitch on sewing machine for a finished end.
Sewing Fabric Ties Onto Christmas Tree Skirt
Pin the unfinished side of the ribbon to the underside of the skirt along the slit, evenly spaced and paired with a ribbon on the other side of the slit, so they can be tied together.
Upcyled Quilt Christmas Tree Skirt
Some old quilts are too fragile or tattered to use as bedding, but they're too precious to throw away. Repurpose one into a charming, cottage-style Christmas tree skirt by using the largest intact portion of the quilt.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
