Newsgroups: alt.sewing
From: reid@csri.toronto.edu (Karen Reid)
Subject: SUMMARY: Christmas Tree Skirts
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:15:26 GMT

I received a few responses to my request for sizes of Christmas tree skirts.
The most common response was, "It depends..."  Just what I was afraid of.  I
did get some good suggestions though.

What I finally decided to do was a log cabin star where the diamond in the
centre of each of the 6 points was cut from 2 inch strips (2.5 for seam 
allowance) and each of the strips in the rest of the log cabin was 1 inch 
(finished size) wide.  
                       ____________
                      /\    /\     \  		Each of the 12 diamonds is a
                     /  \  /  \     \		log cabin pieced block.  The
                    /____\/    \_____\		total width is 48 inches 
                   /\     \    /     /\		vertically and 54 inches 
                  /  \     \__/     /  \	horizontally.  I will cut one
                 /    \____/  \____/    \	of the outside diamonds in half
                 \    /    \__/    \    /	so that I can make an opening
                  \  /     /  \     \  /	the full diameter of the skirt.
                   \/_____/    \_____\/		The opening for the tree is 
                    \     \    /     /		described by the little hexagon
                     \     \  /     /		at the centre of the star.
                      \_____\/_____/

I have finished 2/3 of the the piecing already and plan to machine quilt it.
This will be my first attempt at machine quilting so if it is quick and 
successful I may try to make 2 tree skirts to give away.

	Karen Reid
	reid@csri.toronto.edu

Thanks for your responses.  Here they are:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:	phillips@lonestar.utsa.edu (Wendy J. Phillips)

It is simply a function of what size room one has for a tree.  I have seen
tree skirts that are 72" in diameter (almost 3 meters!), and I have one for
a table top tree that is less than one meter in diameter.  Most of them that
I have seen (or made for that matter) were about 60" or so in diameter.  I
made my mom one for her tree & she uses it for a table topper on the dining
room table at Christmas.

Another thought....
Why make it round???
I have a nifty one started that I love, but cant find the time to finish....
It is a log cabin star, 8 points and the edges are pointed.  I'm even thinking
of putting prarie points on it to use up part of the large box of Christmas
fabric I have!!

Hope this helps!

Good luck
-- 
Wendy Phillips (otherwise known as "Rowdy")
phillips@lonestar.utsa.edu
The Roadrunner would rather be quilting!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:	Debra Mallette <debram@hpsmtc1.cup.hp.com>

Mine is approx. 63" diameter. The finished hole is 6" diameter.
The opening is not secured, just lapped, so the 6" works even 
if the tree is a little bigger around.

The pattern I used was Simplicity 6099 (Copyright, 1983) for a
patchwork tree skirt.  Total of 88 6" patches - 5 different fabrics
each requires 5/8 yds.  Backing fabric requires 3 3/8 yards. 
Pre-gathered eyelet edging requires 5 3/8 yds of 3 1/2" wide. 
Polyester batting requires one sheet 72" X 90".  3-ply yarn is
required for bows.


   Debra Mallette
	debram@hpsmtc1.cup.hp.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:	Vicki Marie Redcay <vr0i+@andrew.cmu.edu>

The cutest tree skirt I have ever seen (although that's not saying much) was
one my Mom and I made from a Bucilla kit.  We got it on sale, but it probably
would have been expensive otherwise.  If you want, I can ask her if she still
has the kit number.
   It's pretty big, all applique and embroidery, and the hole in the middle is
actually an X cut.  Unless you are really bored or enthusiastic, you probably
won't finish it by this Christmas, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

Please let me know if you want more info on this one.
Vicki
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:	Cyndi Cuppernell <ccuppern@psych.uiuc.edu>

I quilted a skirt a few years ago.  It was all 4" squares (4 1/2"
with seam allowances) made of various Christmas fabrics.  I used
a fairly simple Christmas print for the backing and another print
for a ruffle around the outside edge.  

What I did for the center hole is make the hole itself just big
enough to see the level of the water in the stand (we have a real
tree each year) and add water as needed.  Then I extended the hole
with a slit that was just large enough to get the tree stand
through.  You can play with the stand without a tree in it to see
how big the slit needs to be.  If you are using an artificial tree,
your hole does not need to be as big, because you can put the
"trunk" of the tree down through the hole of the skirt and right
into the stand.  I have also seen skirts that have a slit that goes
from the middle all the way to the edge, but I didn't like that
idea for myself.  

As for diameter of the skirt, what you can do if you usually have
a real tree is go to a store that sells artificial trees.  If they
are anything like the stores around here, they are already set up. 
Find a tree that is about the same size as you usually get.  See
if you can find out the bottom diameter, either by using a
measuring tape, estimating, or by asking a store employee.  That
may be information about the tree that is printed on the box.  If
you have an artificial tree of your own, you can get it out and
find out what the diameter is at the bottom of the tree.   

You also need to decide what your personal preference is with
respect to how big the skirt should be relative to the tree's
diameter.  Do you want the skirt to be about the same diameter,
somewhat smaller, just big enough to cover the stand, or extend
beyond the tree's diameter?  Once you know all these things, you
can decide on a diameter.

I wish you luck.  We sure enjoy our skirt.

Newsgroups: alt.sewing,rec.crafts.textiles