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.

Pairings: Santa and Aqua Cherry Oilcloth

Not every holiday gathering requires the fine china and freshly pressed linens. Come events are just for fun and no fuss, for those parties it's all about the paper plate! Besides some of these paper plates on the market are just so stinking cute that people like me just can't refuse them!!

Recently I've started hosting a craft night with some of my friends at the Modern June studio, we lovingly call it Stitch and Bitch! Every few Friday's we gather up our current craft project, some hors d'oeuvres, a bottle (or 2) of wine and sit around crafting and chatting the night away.

I've been using large scarps of oilcloth to cover one of the cutting tables at MJHQ to add a little cheer and for easy clean up. Food on the cutting table is normally a big no-no! Last week I showed up with my super cute Santa plates from Target and I knew right away which oilcloth to use, Aqua Cherry!! How cute is this combo? Tablecloths don't have to scream Christmas to totally rock the holiday spirit!

Oilcloth is the best for quick and easy decorating. And it's pretty darn cheep too! Use it for the buffet table and for the craft table. Just grab a few yards of oilcloth and cut it down to size. For this craft night, I started with 2 yards of oilcloth and I cut it down the center; in other words I cut it in half lengthwise. Oilcloth does not fray, so I didn't have the hem the edges. It's just a simple cut and go project!

I used a 24" x 72" piece of oilcloth for a table runner on the cutting table and I the other half could have been used on the project tables if they weren't already covered. Clean up was a breeze, I just wiped it down with a gentle household cleanser and a paper towel. Once is air dried, I rolled it up to store it for next time. 

Come back for more of my holiday ideas soon!

The other side of oilcloth...

I get asked about the back of oilcloth often, so I thought I'd give you a close up look at the hard wearing fabric. The back of oilcloth is impregnated with a cotton mesh or scrim, this gives oilcloth it's edge over flimsy flannel backed vinyl. The scrim gives oilcloth strength, because of this cotton mesh oilcloth can hold a stitch where the other can not.

Super cute holiday treasury!

Dang it, I totally forgot to eat a hot dog yesterday! At least I made it on to this fun Etsy treasury that Jessica made up for National Hot Dog Day! Our red picnic check oilcloth is perfect for such a glorious day!

7/8" Picnic Check in Red

Just Listed: Pillow-Palooza!

My 5 most popular oilcloth pillow combinations are now in stock and ready to ship! This round pillows are reversible and trimmed with a coordinating trim, they are perfect to freshen up your summer porch! Oilcloth is great for the outdoors, they happily weather the occasional shower.

Happy summer,
Kelly

I spy oilcloth and laminated cotton at Finding Home!

A while back I invited the Lynn, from Finding Home to be a part of my At Home with Modern June blog tour. I asked her to show her readers how to use the covered seat cushion project that is in the book. I also sent her a box full of black and white oilcloth and laminated cotton to play with.

Lynn, used our great Black Picnic Check oilcloth to recover her kitchen chairs. This fabric has been a big hit. We started carrying it thanks to fellow blogger, The Painted Home, when she had picked it out for her Crafty Camper seat cushions.

The chairs are lovely, aren't they?

Next, she made simple oilcloth placemats by cutting a single layer of oilcloth into squares. She topped it all off with a laminated cotton runner, again, just a simple cut piece of fabric. Both of these fabrics are great, they don't fray so you don't have do any fussy sewing -- if you care not.

Then she got fancy! Lynn created a no-sew silverware sleeve with black polka dot oilcloth and washi tape. Next she topped it off with a chalk cloth tag, that she made with a punch that she just happened to have. A very crafty gal!

See her blog, Fining Home, to see how she made the template.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into Lynn's lovely home! See her blog Finding Home for so much more!

xoxox,
Kelly

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

Scrappy and Simple Bunting Tutorial!

Here is a very simple way to make a pretty spring banner. This is a much simpler and smaller version of the Fair Flags that we made last year for the Rhinebeck Country Living Fair. I made the ones shown here for The Painted Home's, Crafty Camper.

Materials and Supplies

• Fabric scraps that are at least 6" W x 16" L
• Twine, yarn, or rick rack, 35" longer than desired length of banner
• Clear ruler
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter and mat (optional)

Planning It Out
As you plan out your Scrappy and Simple Bunting you want to have a location in mind. Lets use my fireplace mantel as a example. My mantle is 80" wide so I added 20" for two ties and 15" for swag. Thus my total twine length was 115" long.

Each flag is 6" wide and I like the look of 1"- 2" between each flag, so I opted for 8 flags. The great thing about using twine, is that if you need it to be longer you can can just tie on more twine. The best part of this project is simplicity and speed!

Again, for this project is that you can use any type of fabric you desire! I used scrapes of laminated cotton for this bunting, it was all leftover fabric from the pillows that I made for the Crafty Camper. You could use cotton, oilcloth or even paper for this project.

Cut the scrapes down to 6" W x 16" L rectangle and fold them in half lengthwise. Take pin the raw edges together near the bottom. 

Now fold your flag in half width-wise so you have a 3'' x 8" flag to cut. With your rotary cutter, mat and clear ruler, cut a diagonal line that cuts a 2" notch into the center of the flag.

Now you have a notched two-sided flag.

Now it's time to get stringing! Take your twine and measure out a 10" and make a double knot at that mark. This is where you are going to start your flags. Just open up your flags and slide then around the twine, now just fold the flag closed. 

The shiny fabric can be a bit sticky so when working with laminated cotton or oilcloth you'll want to use a specialty foot like this roller foot that I attached to my sewing machine. Don't have a fancy foot? No worries, just trick out a regular foot with tape.

Here's another handy tip, when your top stitching on slick fabric you want to lengthen your stitch length to 4, this will keep your sewing machine moving along easily.

Now line the side of your foot right up to the bump of twine that is within the fold and sew along the top of you flag, creating a little channel for your twine. Back tack on each end of your flags. Be careful, making sure not to sew across twine. If you catch a bit of it by accident you just need to rip out your stitches and redo it. The flags need to move freely from right to left on the twine.

This is a great project to use the sewing technique called chain stitching. As you finish sewing the channel for one flag keep sewing. Run your machine to create a few (empty) stitches, then add the next flag and sew that one in place. Once you have all your flags sewn around the twine you can clip the treads between each flag and you are almost done!

The only thing left to do it to hang and enjoy it! I use cup hooks on my mantle to hang all sort of good things through out the year. These hooks were left over from Christmas stockings. I put a slip knot at each end of the twine and hook it to the hook. Just move your flags from right to left till you like the spacing. 

I love how Denise used her Scrappy and Simple Bunting in the Crafty Camper! What a fun little window treatment.

I hope you enjoy this simple little bunting!

XOXOX,
Kelly

Non-Traditional Ways to Iron Oilcloth

Oilcloth is a PVC product so you never want to take an iron to it. Instead we have to get tricky when sewing seams that we would normally press. I have 3 simple methods for you to try; finger pressing, book pressing and crease pressing.

Book Pressing is very easy, but it can cost you time. It's best for projects that need a really crisp edge or for really thick seams. Simply lay a stack of books on top of your seam(s) for a few hours or overnight. Gravity and the weight of the books flatten out your oilcloth so you can stitch with ease.

This next one is just a good old finger press. All you do is rub your finger, thumb or the palm across the seam that you need to be flatten and tamed. Tip: I always press both my seams off to one side when working with oilcloth, it's just gives you a nicer finish. Trust me trying to keep open seams flat on oilcloth is a losing battle.


The last method I have for you is the crease press. I do this when I work with the 1" oilcloth trim that I used on the floor mat in At Home with Modern June. All you have to do is fold your trim in half and rub the oilcloth trim along the edge of your table. This just creates enough of a crease down the center so you can sew fast and free!

I hope this helps you in your addiction to oilcloth!

XOXOX,
Kelly

Spring Oiclloth Settee

It's time to get the front porch fancied up! My book, Sewing with Oilcloth, has a great seat cushion pattern that you can make to the exact size of your outdoor furniture! My oilcloth covered settee is now 4 years old and it's still looking great. Which is pretty impressive since this is our cats favorite sleeping spot year round.

My reversible seat cushion sports Yellow Hibiscus and Lime Zoya with Lime Dot oilcloth accents. 

Metallic Lace Oilcloths for the Holidays!!

How fun is this metallic gold lace oilcloth ? It's great for your holiday decor!! 

Gold not your thing? We have it in silver lace oilcloth too!

Pretty Oilcloth Prints!

This recent order of four pretty oilcloth prints inspired me to create a listing for a new combo pack! Pick 4 different 1 yard cuts and save $4.00. With over 50 oilcloths to choose from your sure to find 4 you can't live with out.

New Oilcloth: Doilies with Fruit

How totally retro is this print? Doilies with Fruit on pretty blue oilcloth, I'm in love!!

New Oilcloth Swatch Sheets

Sewing with Oilcloth Tip: Sticking Together

You've probably noticed that oilcloth and laminated cotton are pretty sticky but that's not always a bad thing. Use the stick to your advantage.  When you cut two pieces from the same pattern piece place the right sides of the fabric together and the two pieces of oilcloth will naturally stick together.

This is really handy when your using a rotary cutter, mat and ruler to cut out a project. You'll need to do a lot less pinning!

Here are some tips to get you through that sticky business while sewing.

Color Combo: Kelly's Current Favorite

Here are 4 great oilcloths that I'm currently crushing on!! One of our new prints, Red Bloom, takes center stage! Combine it with green gingham, dot on red and yellow and white stripes and you've got summer all wrapped up!! 

Come back on Friday to see what I'm doing with these 4 prints!! Tutorial Spoiler: No-Sew Picnic Mat!!

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!!

I Spy Oilcloth: Royal Pains

Can I tell you how much I love the show Royal Pains? What's not to love, the brothers get to live in guest house for free. Never mind that the house is 4 times larger than my own. Hank is part doctor and part Macgyver. And Divya, she still wears designer cloths even though she's been cut off from her rich parents. It's so real life and pretty! I love my guilty pleasure TV!

Any how, look what I spied on the first episode of this season? Oilcloth!! To get the look check out our new Red Bloom oilcloth and our pretty Orange Mum oilcloth. I'll see you all in the Hamptons!!

Our Studio: Fabric Storage

After 7 years of business I finally have proper storage for all of our laminated cottons, chalk cloth and oilcloth!! I am just a happy as I can be. The other day I went in to the studio early and was overwhelmed by the days tasks. Then I turned my head and saw my pretty new wall of fabric and I actually waved at it, like a teenage girl flirting with a boy across the lunchroom. Hhheeeey! Yikes, I hope I didn't blush! 

Nicole loves it!

Geneva and Kathie love it!

I love it!

Great Idea: So cute!!

Check out Wifey with a Knife's latest project!! Oh, the cuteness!!