No-Sew Oilcloth Tree Skirt

If you're like me you really love a retro tinsel tree. But, one of the drawbacks of artificial trees is the tiny little pole that holds all that kitschy bling. It's really hard to find a tree skirt that has a small enough hole that will cover up the tree stand. So when I set out to decorate my tree this year, I knew it was time to make a quick and easy tree skirt that would go right up to the pole.

My silver Christmas tree sits in a corner that has a radiator and a fireplace hearth, so I went with a small 28" diameter tree skirt. It's just a few inches bigger than the tree stand and works well in the space allowed. Oilcloth is 47" wide, so you can make it much bigger than my sample.

Once I picked out the red lace oilcloth, I needed to find the center of the oilcloth. Notice how the print has a medallion motif in the center of the width of the oilcloth? This motif repeats every 16 inches, so when you are working with a print with a predominate repeat you need to buy a bit more fabric than you need, so you can adjust your pattern left and right so your circular tree skirt looks its best.

Once I found the center of what will be my oilcloth tree skirt, I folded it in half and did a little finger press to mark my center with a crease.

Next, I fold it into quarters so the wrong side is out; do so by folding it half width-wise and then length wise. Thankfully you can see a faint bit of the lace on the back side to help you fold properly and find dead center of the medallion.

To double check the placement you can place a pin in the corner as shown above. Open up the fold and check to see if your pin is in the center. If not, make any adjustments needed.

Refold and place some clothes pens along the folds to keep the fabric from sliding around. Use your ruler to measure out a quarter circle. Once you decide on the diameter of your tree skirt divide your that number by 2. My tree skirt is 28", so I drew an arc that is 14" from the corner, or pivot point. Using a ruler or table measure, make a series of dashes every inch or two from the top to the bottom of your arc, then connecting the dots into a smooth curve.

Do the same process for the smaller hole that is in the center of your tree skirt. This hole needs to be the same diameter as the hole in the base of your stand that holds the pole of your tree. My stand has a 1" diameter hole so I make a tiny 1/2" arch at the corner of my folded tree skirt fabric.

Oilcloth doesn't fray or ravel so you don't have to finish off the edges. I used pinking shears to cut out the outer circle and regular scissors to cut out the center hole.

Now unfold the tree skirt and cut a straight line from the outer edge to the hole. I did this with a rotary cutter and ruler on top of my cutting mat. I just followed the print of the fabric to do so. This slit allows me to get the tree skirt on and off with ease.

June Suggests: If you have the time to make this super fancy you could trim off the edges with 1/4" bias tape, but you don't have to.

Simply wrap the tree skirt around the base of your tree and allow it to cover the stand. The back of the skirt will overlap and create a little volcano like shape. See, easy peasy!

Helpful tip: Oilcloth tree skirts are great for pet owners; the non-stick, water-proof, easy-to-clean surface helps with many issues.

Summer Sale!

It's that time of year again, it's summer! We're celebrating our favorite season with a sale. Save 20% on all our products and fabrics by using coupon code summer20sale at modernjune.com and at our Etsy shops: Oilcloth Addict and Modern June.  

Sale ends Friday, June 27 at Midnight! 

Happy shopping,
Kelly

New: Picnic Check Oilcloth

I fell in love with this print when I helped Denise from The Painted Home deck out her Craft Camper a few months ago. She had picked out this 1" check oilcloth in black and white for the seat cushions that I made.


I used my pattern from my first book Sewing with Oilcloth.

You know I had to get it my favorite color too! Red, red, red! We just got a few bolts to sell, check out our new site modernjune.com.

New Laminated Cotton: Flirty Flowers

We are just in love with this super fun laminated cotton from Robert Kaufman! Flirty Flowers is BPA-free and 56" wide.

New Oilcloth Swatch Sheets

Sewing with Oilcloth Tips: Tracing Patterns

Ever wonder how to mark your pattern pieces onto oilcloth? The regular methods such as pinning and spiky tracing wheels just won't do, they would leave your project full of holes before you even started your project. Never fear, here are two methods that work well.

For this first method, just raid your sewing supplies and pull out a point turner and tracing paper. The sharp edge of the point turner is great for making small details. See how I made an X to mark the snap placement on my Sewing with Oilcloth Garden Apron pattern?

The second method is great for stitch lines and darts, just use a flat or smooth edged tracing wheel and your tracing paper. This handy tool can be found in the notions section at any large fabric shop. I think it's better to use this method if your using tissue paper patterns, I worry that the point turner would rip your pattern.

When it comes to buying tracing paper, might I suggest that you don't buy the double-sided paper. Oops! Luckily the markings came off of my oilcloth with a little rubbing.

Oilcloth: Orange Mums!!