no-sew felt christmas tree skirt - tutorial

If you are anything like me, there may be some things you put off at Christmas.  For me, I can't even begin to count.  But I decided this year I REALLY wanted a tree skirt.  But I didn't do anything about it (notice the date....)

(here's my moments shot for you - see how the bottom foot and a half isn't really decorated... I have two small kids, need I say more?)

I was unexpectedly at Joann's last week and saw the red felt and though - hmmm, how could I do this?  It was a 72" wide bolt, so I decided to buy 2 yards so I would have a square.  I figured the least I could do would be wrap it haphazardly around the tree.

I've been mulling it over in my head all week what to do.  And once I figured out what I wanted to do and maybe how to do it, I was excited to get it done.  And there was no sewing involved - it's so easy!  But, the best part?  The felt cost me $10 and it took about 10 minutes to cut it up!

I figured I'd better get busy, since today is the last day to link up with Natalia's Homespun Holidays!



So while my husband was watching a football game I went to work.


Supplies:
72" square piece of flannel
Dissapearing ink pen/chalk
String
Can, bowl, plate, or something else circular
Scissors
Embellishments

1. I took my felt and folded it in fourths.  I marked the center with a curve using my #10 can. This way I will have a bit of a hole for the skirt to wrap around the trunk - you can eyeball this to match you tree/stand.

2. Next, grab your disappearing ink pen or chalk (I used a sharpie so you can see it).  Tie your marker to a string.  Get the cute guy watching football on the couch to hold the string firmly in the corner (during a commercial) so you can trace an even curve from the bottom right corner to its kitty corner.

 

It should then look like this!

3. Next, take your circle template and trace a scallop design along the circle edge.  I probably could have made my scallops a little bigger, but I like it.

4. Then cut along your cutting lines: center circle (on left) and scalloped edge.

5. Finally, unfold your circle (isn't it cool?) and cut along one of the fold lines to the center.  I picked the least pretty edge, since this will be in the back.  I can put the sharpie side down and my prettiest scallops are in the front.

6. Lay it under your tree and see how it looks!

I think this would be cute with ric rac, pom poms, sequins, little trees and birds. . . oh, the possibilities!  I have plans to embellish mine with snowflakes.  I'm hoping it will look something like this (these are foam snowflakes from the dollar store):

Maybe next year.

If you make one - I'd love to see it!  You can add it to my Flickr tutorial group!

what I did when I should have been folding laundry and/or sewing

I made a magnetic memo board!

I have a knack for starting/finishing less important projects when I have deadlines for other things.  I'm starting to feel like this blog is turning into a forum for procrastinator's anonymous.  Seriously!  Anyway, I've had this picture frame I got at Goodwill for a while.  I painted it while I had my can of blue paint out for another project last spring. ( I have A LOT of things this color - it's amazing how many things you can paint with a quart of paint!)

I went to the local hardware store and asked someone to help me find some sheet metal.  I guess that's what you call it.  I told them what I was doing.  I found a piece that was just a couple inches bigger than my frame.  So I needed something to cut it with.  My trusty father-in-law, aka purveyor of all tools, had some, um . . . scissors?  They're HUGE!

I'm not sure if these are tin snips or what.  And yes, that is a normal sized sharpie.

I wiped the metal down with some clorox wipes so that my hands won't turn black everytime I touch it.  If it keeps doing that I might take it out and seal it with some clear spray paint or something. (I've also thought about covering it in fabric....)

I took the sharpie and a ruler and marked off the sides to be cut.

And then I tried to cut it.  I don't have pictures, because I was by myself watching The Biggest Loser during my kids nap (By the way, The Biggest Loser + Pregnancy Hormones = tears.  Just in case you were wondering.).  But cutting that was a little tricky.  You have to be careful to start in a very straight line or the unpliable metal will steer you at an angle.  Does that even make sense?  I bet if you try it with these kind of scissors it will!

After I got it sized up, I put it in the frame, backed it with the same size of cardboard and stepped back to admire it.

I really like it!  I'd like to hang it in the kitchen for our calendar and menu and shopping list and stuff, but I've got to work with it, since I don't have free wall space anywhere.  I'll figure something out.

The best part!  Frame $3 + metal $18 = $21!  Way cheaper than buying one somewhere.

I'm working on those bags - hopefully I have one to share in the morning for Sew & Tell.

just a little pillow tutorial

edited: in case the pictures weren't working earlier, they should be now!  Thanks!

Well, the pillow isn't that little (although it can be any size you want) but this pillow is super easy to make!  I'd say if you are an experienced sewer you can whip this up in 30 - 40 minutes!  And if you are newer - give yourself an hour!

I made theses pillows for a bridal shower gift.  I had been scoping out her tastes and furniture so I could do something quick and easy.  I didn't have time for the throw quilt I wanted to pull off.  So I made 2 pillows and the day after the shower she came over and I taught her how to make another one.  

Teach a woman to buy fabric and she'll be buried in it.  Teach her to sew and at least she might keep her head above the top of the pile!

I'm not known for my very clever jokes, so pardon me if that was a little silly.  :)

I have a little secret (besides the bad joke telling.  Oh wait!  I don't think that's a secret).  I'm sort of lazy.  I like shortcuts.  I dread cutting things out with regular scissors (thank heaven for rotary cutters) and putting in zippers is tricky (I'll do it if I must), AND if I can avoid hand sewing things closed - I do.  (With the exception of quilt binding - which is always finished by hand.)

The pillow I made for this tutorial is 20" x 20".  Therefore, your supplies are as follows:

one  20" x 20" pillow form - I prefer feather.

2/3  yard fabric (44/45" width)

matching thread for topstitching

rotary cutter, mat and ruler (scissors and measuring tape will work too)

pins (if you want.  If you are lazy like me then, well, then.....)

1. I start out with a nice fluffy pillow form like this:

I buy mine at IKEA - they are only $6.99 and are feather.  I ♥ IKEA and their cheap inexpensive, fluffy pillows.  The reason I suggest feather is that they pack down really small so when you are doing your last top-stitching, which is also sewing the pillow inside the cover, you can get the pillow out of your way!  It's so great.  It's a little harder to do with fiberfill forms.  You can still do it, it's just a little trickier.  And remember me? Hi! I'm lazy!

2.  With your fabric ironed and folded selvage to selvage, square it up on your mat.  Then cut the 2 layers into 22" squares (or if you are using another size - 2 inches bigger than your pillow form)  We are allowing a half-inch seam allowance on each side as well as a half-inch flange around the edge.

3. Lay your two squares right sides together.  Make sure if you have a one-way directional print, that you have them going the same way.

 

4.  Pin your squares together on 3 sides.  On the 4th side only pin 2" in from each corner.  We will be leaving this side open to put in the pillow form.  If you have a one-way print, I like to leave the bottom open.

5. Starting at the 2" mark on the 4th edge, Line your fabric up for a 1/2" seam allowance.  Start stitching, taking a quick back-stitch to secure the loose threads.  Stitch to the edge of the fabric.  Turn the cover and continue down the adjacent side.  Continue until you have stitched the full length of 3 sides.  On  the last corner start at the edge and stitch in 2" with a quick back-stitch at the last pin.  Don't forget to take out your pins while you sew.  I refuse to admit how many needles I've broken by sewing over pins.

When you look at your pillow you will have 3 edges sewn with the last edge having a large hole in it.  The important thing is that the corners are all stitched on the machine so they look like....

6.  Trim off a little of the edges around the corner so you will get a nice clean point when we turn the cover right side out.

7.Turn the cover inside out!  We are ALMOST finished!

8.  Using something pointy, push out your nice crisp corners.  There are tools for this.  I just couldn't find mine at the time.  If using scissors, be careful you don't poke a hole in your fabric.  Not that I've done that...

9.  Wrong sides together, press your seams and corners flat. Work the seams with your fingers rolling them to the edge so you don't end up ironing folds into your fabric.  You'll know what I mean once you start doing this.  On the side that is open, press 1/2 inch on both sides.  This will prep the cover for stitching it closed on the machine.

10.  Now for the top-stitching.  With the cover facing you, open end on top, start with the upper right hand corner.  

Find the edge of the opening and line up the edge of the cover with the 1/2" seam allowance line, back-stitch a stitch or two and then sew.  Stop when you reach a 1/2 inch from the next edge.  Lower the needle to the down position, lift the presser foot, and turn the fabric so that you can stitch down the next side without breaking the stitch line.

11.  Continue on until you pivot the last corner, stitching to other edge of the opening and back-stitching.  (click on the image to enlarge and get a better view.  I should have used a better contrasting thread!)

I don't have pictures,  but next, do the same top-stitching, this time just at the edge of the cover.  I like to gauge it by keeping the edge right on the inside of my presser foot.  (I actually did this on the second pillow I made - wait, I'll get the pic..... there we go.  See how there is stitching on the very edge as well?  This makes closing the pillow THAT much easier.)

12.  Fold your pillow form in half or thirds.  Insert it into the cover.  Match up the top two corners of the pillow with the corresponding corners of the cover.  This will ensure that the pillow sets right in the cover and doesn't get all twisted.  Mmmm, yes, maybe I have learned from experience.

13.  Squash the pillow down so that you can pull up the edge that needs to be sewn shut.  Pin the edges together where you pressed  your seam allowance in.

14.  Starting at your back-stitch point, top-stitch the opening closed, 1/2 inch away from the edge.  Again, back-stitching on both ends of the seam.

Repeat top-stitching on the very edge of the opening.  Isn't that sneaky?  No zippers, no hand-stitching....

15.  Now grab the top two corners and shake the pillow down into the rest of the cover.   This is fun - if you have any frustrations to get out, take them out now!  (please not in my comments section - just let me know if I need to explain something more clearly!)

And there you go!  A very cute and (hopefully) easy pillow!

If it needs a fancy little sister you can always add some pom-pom fringe!

Let me know if you make any pillows! 

In fact....  because you needed another Flickr group, you can add them here!  amylouwho tutorials

I'm just warning you, Flickr is addicting!

PS - I found a 30% off coupon code for Fabric.com 2PLTRY9,  you're welcome!

PPS - This is my first tutorial, so any help in making it easier to follow is welcome!