Tuesday, July 29, 2014

MODERN CHRISTMAS TREE APPLIQUÉ

Don't forget to continue the Hop, there are more project posts and more chances to enter for prizes.  Today is Brooke of sillymamquilts and tomorrow Gina Martin the creator of this wonderful fabric.
You can enter any of the bloggers drawings until Thursday the 31st. 
 I will be giving away a layer cake of Gina's wonderful Christmas fabrics. To enter a chance to win please leave me a comment on what you would create with a layer cake of   Gina's Folk Art Holiday fabrics.  
(international entries  are welcomed) Winners  will be announced July 31st.


My wall hanging or table runner, the piece can be used for either, is 16½ inches wide by 38 inches long.  I saw a picture of a similar project on the back cover of the Bernina Look Book 2014, which was created by Bernina staff.  The book did not provide any directions or pattern for the piece, so I have provided a simple tutorial that I hope will help you if you wish to create a similar item.  
These are the 16 fabrics in the Folk Art Holiday line.  You can use 14 fat quarters, or even a layer cake for the circles and star, but you will need 2 half-yard pieces.  I used one of the half-yard pieces for my background, and the other for my binding.
I had a package of June Tailor Mix ‘n Match Templates for Quilters with 6 different sized circles, however I still needed some different sizes.  I found an old art compass and used it to make additional sizes.  If you do not have templates or access to a compass you can search the kitchen and even the medicine cabinet for tops to jars and medicine bottles for different circle sizes. 

I used Steam-A-Seam 2 Light to adhere my circles to my background fabric.  There are several other brands of adhesive paper that are available.  I drew a variety of circle sizes on my adhesive paper, using the manufacturer’s directions.  I even made some half circles.  Following the manufacturer’s directions I ironed the adhesive on to the back of my different fabrics.  I cut them all out ready to adhere them to my background fabric once I had laid them all out in a pleasing design.  

I used one of the half yards for my background using the salvage-to-salvage 40/42 inches by the 18 half-yard cut.  My choice was to use the white background with the light grey snowflakes, as a winter sky.  

I cut a pot for my tree using a quilters’ triangle ruler, and also cut a lip for the pot with the same ruler. 


I put my background up on my design wall and starting at the bottom of my tree and began to set my circles and half circles in a pleasing manner.  I took care to try to use the most visual colors on the outside of the tree to give the best vision of  a tree design.

My last template was a star.  I found a star template in one of my quilt books that seemed to be the right size, and again used adhesive paper to prepare it for the tree.

When I was happy with the entire design; I iron the pot, circles, half circles, and star to my background.
I appliqued my adhered shapes to my tree using a small zigzag stitch.  I found I did not need stabilizer, but some machines do require the use of it to avoid tunneling.  Usually a light-weight tear away stabilizer is sufficient.

I sandwiched my completed appliqued top with Warm & Natural batting, and used a light gray solid for my backing.  I ironed the layers well and used flower pins to hold the sandwich together while I quilted it.  

I used a light grey regular sewing thread in my bobbin and a light grey Isacord thread for the top thread.  If Isacord is not available Sulky rayon 40wt thread can be purchased at most fabric stores and also works well.  I decided on a wavy quilting pattern, which I thought gave the impression of a winter wind blowing through the tree.   
With all the quilting finished I trimmed off the excess back and batting adjusting the width and length to my desired size and sewed a light grey binding on it and included a hanging sleeve.  I wanted to be able to use the piece for either a wall hanging or table runner.           





56 comments:

  1. Wow, this looks great! I think I would make a holiday lap quilt using the layer cake! :)

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  2. I would like to make a table runner using the quilt-as-you-go technique. Thanks for the chance!
    ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

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  3. I might make a lap quilt or I might make a few table runners. I would love to give them as gifts this Christmas. Your project is so cute, thanks for sharing and for the chance to win!

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  4. HI, this is a neat project!
    I'd make a new Table Runner!
    Thanks for your Blog+a great Giveaway too!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  5. I like to make table runners as gifts and I think these fabrics would like great!

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  6. I would make your wall hanging - it is so adorable! Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  7. I would make some of the projects from this hop, including yours. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.

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  8. Thanks or sharing this great design. I need a Christmas table runner so I would use the layer cake for that, and maybe some coasters too. Lovely giveaway. x

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  9. What a fun idea, these fabrics are so pretty.

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    1. oh and I would make a tree skirt, it's about time I made one of those.

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  10. Cute wall hanging! If I won a layer cake, I would make stockings or a lap quilt. Thanks for the tutorial and the chance to win.

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  11. I love your wall hanging and your tutorial was great. I would love to make some Christmas pillows using your technique but making them smaller.

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  12. I would make a table runner or a wall hanging like yours. Very cute project!

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  13. I would make a table runner or wall hanging. I have seen trees made out of circles for several years now. I really like them. One of these years I'm going to actually make one. Thanks to your tutorial, I can now do it. Thank you!

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  14. I really, really like your wall hanging. Turned out wonderful. I would make a tree pattern that I have.

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  15. I'd make a wall hanging a new one for this Xmas as then I'd embroider my grand babies name in then keep adding :))!thanks love this fabric line still Christmassy but modern .

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  16. My first thought was to make a Christmas quilt, but maybe a wall hanging would be nice. It. old hang in our entry way. Great way to welcome in the holiday spirit. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  17. I love your wall hanging/table runner. I would most likely make a set of placemats or two with the layer cake, or a small quilt. CDahlgren at live dot com

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  18. I always make a Christmas quit each year - this layer cake would be perfect !

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  19. Hi, I would make some Christmas place mats for the family, since we don't have any. It would be lovely. x

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  20. I love your appliqued tree! I really want to make a tree skirt since the one I have (a hand me down) is just really bad.

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  21. I love your appliquéd tree so I think I would use the layer cake to make that and maybe some Christmas decorations

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  22. I have a layer cake book that I'd love to make a Christmas quilt with!
    Or Moda's Charming Stars, or the pinwheels pattern. Christmas quilts are definitely on my bucket list!
    reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. I would make an advent calendar with little stuffed Christmas creatures with a treat behind each door.

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  24. I'd make some christmas baubles for all the family, and a cushion for my husbands grandma.

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    1. Steph,
      Congrats, you won the layer cake. Thank you for entering our blog. I hope you enjoy making some fun projects for Christmas with Gina Martins Folk Art Holiday fabric.
      Please E-mail me with an address that we can mail your layer cake to.
      Donna

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    2. Well that was no help at all Steph. My E-mail address is DonnaleeQ@comcast.net

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  25. i would make a lap quilt from this layer cake.

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  26. I would make some pillows for my mom. She loves to decorate for holidays.

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  27. I would make a lap quilt for my mother-in-law.

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  28. I would make a lap quilt with this beautiful fabric.

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  29. Thank you for the tutorial! I would make Christmas presents for teachers at my son's school.

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  30. I love your use of this fabric in the wall hanging - to make the appliqued tree! I would no doubt try to use it in a very similiar way...

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  31. Love your wall hanging. Would like to make some table runners as Christmas gifts.

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  32. Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial with us. It will probably be used as Christmas gifts for family and friends. I'm thinking of playing with a dark background, maybe dark blue with silver stars, or a hunter green and use brightly colored fabrics as ornaments and maybe some metallic trim on them. I probably spend more time trying out new fabrics than I do on the actual sewing. Also thanks for the giveaway opportunity. lv2bquilting2@comcast.net

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  33. What a fabulous wall hanging! thank you for the tutorial! I would love to use this fabric for a lap quilt for my dad!!

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  34. Great tutorial thank you. I love star quilts I'd make, a Christmas star quilt. ;->

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  35. I like your wall hanging. I would make a lap quilt for my mom, she doesn't have a holiday quilt yet.

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  36. I like your quilt - cute idea. I might make a Christmas art quilt - maybe with a Scandinavian horse motif!

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  37. Love those prints and your wall hanging!!! Thanks for sharing in the hop!!

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  38. I have been looking for a Christmas wall hanging pattern. Love what you have done. Your tutorials are wonderful - great pictures! The fabric is beautiful and my first thought is to use it for a table runner.

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  39. I like that wall hanging. I think I'd like to make it. kthurn@bektel.com

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  40. That is a cute wall hanging! I would probably make a table topper with that layer cake, (If I was lucky enough to win!)

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  41. I love your pattern and this fabric line, I would love to make a table runner out of it.

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  42. I'm not sure what I'd make, maybe some Christmas placemats.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  43. I would make aprons for friends (would need to add stuff from the stash) but what the heck.

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  44. I want to make a new Tree Skirt this year and this fabric would work fine.Love your wall hanging.

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  45. Probably use Fat Quarter Shop's pattern Layer Cake Lemonade to make a Christmas quilt for one of my kids... I like your wall hanging...

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  46. I would use your fabrics for an advent calendar!
    emily@reznechek.com

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  47. I would make a tree skirt with these, or maybe a wall hanging like yours; I love it! sarah@forrussia.org

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  48. Your Christmas tree is delightful! I would use this fabric for a table runner. I love how fresh and cheerful it is. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  49. How creative your tree is! My daughter would sooo love this to hang in her Entryway!! You did beautiful job!

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  50. I love your project idea and I love the folkart theme. I would use the layercake to make the traditonal round tree ornaments along with folkart shapes. Thank you for sharing your great idea!

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  51. I love layer cakes and would make a Christmas quilt!

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  52. Super Cute! I'm visiting from Crafty Tammy

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