Never Too Early for Island Batik
The Island Batik Ambassador July Challenge is “Never Too Early.” Summertime but it’s the best time of all to get an early start on Christmas and holiday projects. This thought sparked my tendency to push myself so I created two Christmas Tree Skirts, a modern Christmas Cactus and a traditional favorite Patchwork Tree Skirt.
Island Batik along with their industry partners, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles and Aurifil Thread provided the batik fabric, batting, sewing machine needles and thread used in this project for my role as an Island Batik Ambassador.
Christmas Cactus Tree Skirt
This challenge was a perfect time to design and create a new Christmas Tree Skirt. It might also include a new pattern if there is interest. A.) Drafting full-sized pattern with paper on my CutterPillar Glow Ultra Lightboard. B.) Tracing paper piecing sections onto freezer paper. C.) Freezer paper pattern ready to iron on fabrics. D.) Three Island Batik fabrics were selected for the tree skirt.
Work began on new the Christmas Tree Skirt with one of its four sections. It will be paper pieced with freezer paper. A.) The freezer paper piece is pressed to the red fabric. B.) Paper is folded back for joining red and white sections. C.) The second white section is added and the unit is pressed. D.) The first red and white unit is trimmed with 1/4” seam allowance. Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eights are my favorite rulers for precise work. E.) Freezer paper removed from the first section. Three more red units to go.
Green and white are the colors for the second section of this tree skirt. A.) The freezer paper pieces are stitched then accurately trimmed with Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eights ruler and Olfa rotary cutter. B.) Fabric and freezer paper is pressed (with Oliso Iron) after the diagonal seam is trimmed. C.) The entire block was then trimmed with 1/4” seam allowance. D.) First green and white unit with freezer paper removed. Three more green units to go.
It’s so refreshing when the idea in your head actually comes together in the studio. A.) Two mirror images of the red units are joined with mirror images of the green units to bring the block to life. A green square in the lower right makes this almost complete. B.) One more white section is added to complete one block. C.) PROGRESS…a second block is added. D.) and a third. E.) The fourth block finishes the design. Stitching was completed on my Bernina machine with Schmetz Needles and Aurifil thread.
The project moved to the long arm room to be loaded on Annabelle, my Handi Quilter Amara. A.) A layer of Heirloom Natural by Hobbs Quilt Batting is in place between a backing of Island Batik Milk Shake Neutral and the tree skirt top. B.) Aurifil #4650 Mako 50 wt Thread in Variegated Red & Green is used to stitch out the design. The edge-to-edge pattern by Nancy Haacke Designs titled E2E Christmas Trees came preloaded on my Pro-Stitcher. C.) The tree skirt is ‘squared’ up. D.) The binding is ready to turn to the wrong side to finished the project.
Huge thank you shout out Island Batik Ambassadors and FaceBook followers for suggesting a name for this new tree skirt design. While I was pondering a title, Christmas Cactus was suggested and seems perfect. One project for this month’s challenge is completed. Time to move on to project number two!
Patchwork Tree Skirt
Switching things up on the second tree skirt with that looks like a ton of work but goes together quickly. From my Island Batik stash, I selected a Christmas green as the main fabric, two lighter accent colors and two reds for the borders. The pattern is available in both hard copy or instant PDF download in my Etsy Shop.
This tree skirt pattern has 200 pieces however it all goes together with only 52 seams. More good news…it requires ZERO seams to match. A.) Five fabrics are stitched together. B.) Alternating wedges are cut. C.) On quarter of the tree skirt is created with ten alternating wedges. D.) Four quarters are completed and ready to have seams pressed.
PRO TIP - Tree skirts, Dresden Plate blocks or other circular quilts need to lay FLAT. To check the accuracy of your stitching, lay each quarter of your project on the square corner of a cutting mat or ruler. The entire length of each raw edge should form a ninety degree angle. If needed, make adjustments at this point to guarantee that it will lay flat when the four sections are joined.
Wrapping up the second tree skirt for this month. A.) The four sections are joined and the tree skirt lays perfectly flat (see above note). B.) Hobbs Quilt Batting in Tuscany Silk was selected for its soft, supple, luxurious feel and lovely drape. C.) Nancy Haacke’s Christmas Lights E2E design loaded on my Handi Quilter Amara’s Pro-Stitcher. Quilting with Aurifil #4650 Mako 50 wt Thread in Variegated Red & Green. D.) The final step of stitching the bias binding is held in place by Wonder Clips.
An just like that, two projects are completed. I still have plans to get the pattern completed for the top skirt but there are a few things on the to-do list before that happens. The pattern for the bottom design is available in my Etsy Shop as either a printed hard copy or a PDF download.
Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist