Gather Around the Christmas Tree
- Nicola
- 39 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Twenty four bonus half-square triangles really are a gift. When I'd finished making my Christmas Market quilt last year, I had a delicious little stack of HSTs left over from trimming the market stall blocks and, given that there was a Christmas Tree at the centre of the quilt, I decided to make some classic basket blocks and turn them into a matching tree skirt.
I'll be honest, that was twelve months ago and I planned to share the tree skirt when the pattern appeared in Today's Quilter. I got as far as making the blocks, but time got away from me, as it always does at Christmas. But better late than never, yes? I found those blocks during a studio tidy this summer so, to round out a year of celebrating ten years in business, here we are at last!
Now you don't have to make a Christmas Market quilt to make this tree skirt - although I'd love it if you did* - so there are instructions here for making your HSTs from scratch.
To make a 40" diameter tree skirt you will need...
24 3½" HSTs*
1 Fat Quarter of contrast fabric for the baskets
1¼ yds of background fabric
42" square of cotton batting
1¼ yds of backing fabric
1 yd of binding fabric (I chose to match my binding to my background)
*or 12 various 4" print squares and 12 4" background squares (cut from an additional
¼ yd of background fabric)
Please read through the pattern before you begin. Fabric is always placed rights-sides-together and joined with a ¼” seam allowance unless otherwise noted.
WOF = width of fabric; HST = half square triangle
To make the HSTs (if you are making them from scratch)...
1. To make a pair of half square triangles, first mark a diagonal line on the back of a 4” print square and pin, right sides together, to a 4” background square (a).
2. Stitch a ¼” away from BOTH sides of the line and then cut the two units apart along that line (b). Press the pair of half square triangles (HSTs) open, pressing the seam open too. Trim both HSTs to 3½” square (c).
MAKE 12 PAIRS (24 in total: you will need 6 HSTs for each gift basket block)
CUTTING:
3. From the contrast Fat Quarter cut 2 7" squares and 4 4" squares.
4. From the background fabric cut 1 7" x WOF strip and subcut 2 7" squares. Then subcut the remainder of the strip into 2 3½ strips and subcut 8 3½" x 6½" pieces.
Next, cut 4 6½" x WOF strips and subcut 2 6½" x 40½" sashing pieces and 2 6½" x 28½" sashing pieces.
Finally, cut 2 4½" x WOF strips and subcut 1 4½" x 28½" sashing piece and 2 4½" x 12½" sashing pieces.
5. Fold the binding fabric diagonally - selvedge to cut edge - press to mark the diagonal then cut 8 2¼" x diagonal strips. Cutting the binding strips across the bias of the fabric with allow it to stretch around curves.
PIECING THE BASKETS:
6. To create the base of the basket, make a pair of half square triangles - as described in step 1 and 2 - with a 7" contrast square and a 7" background square. Trim to 6½".
MAKE 2 PAIRS (4 in total)
7. To create the sides of the basket, make a pair of half square triangles - as described in step 1 and 2 - with a 4" contrast square and a 4" background square. Trim to 3½".
TO ASSEMBLE THE GIFT BASKET BLOCK:
8. Choose four of the 3½” print HSTs and join in two rows of two, pressing the seams open (a).
9. Next, join a 3½” contrast HST to the bottom of a 3½” print HST, taking care with the placement and pressing the seam open, then join a 3½” x 6½” background piece to the side, pressing towards the background (b).
10. Repeat step 9, REVERSING THE PLACEMENT (c).
TIP: Turn your previous unit to the wrong side to use as a guide.
11. Finally, join the three portions of the block together with the 6½” HST in two rows of two. Press each row to alternate sides so that they nest together when joined together. The final seam can be pressed to one side or open, if preferred.
Your block should measure 12½” square.
ASSEMBLING THE QUILT TOP:
The tree skirt will first be assembled as a square, to make it easier to quilt, before being trimmed down and bound.
12. Arrange the four blocks with their bases at the centre and join together in two rows, separated by 4½" background sashing.
13. Add the 6½" background sashing to each side and then to the top and bottom.
14. Cut the backing into a 42" square and then sandwich the batting between the backing and the quilt top. Baste and machine or hand quilt.
At this point you’ve essentially made a lovely table topper, so you could just bind it and add it to your Christmas table. But if you'd like to go ahead and make a tree skirt, read on...
CREATING THE TREE SKIRT:
15. First mark a 6" diameter circle – either with a template or a suitably sized plate - at the centre of the quilt top.
Next, mark points 12" away from each corner and draw diagonal lines (to turn our square into an octagon. Then use the curve template to turn your octagon into a circle.
Finally, mark a straight line linking the two circles using the sashing as a guide. This will form the opening.
16. Turning your stitch length down slightly, sew a stay stitch around the marked edges, sewing a double line each side of the opening. This step is particularly important if you've hand quilted, as it will secure the ends of your threads.
17. Trim away the excess portions of the tree skirt, cutting carefully between the stitching each side of the opening.
18. Join the binding strips end to end, with bias (diagonal) seams, to make one long strip and press in half, wrong sides together, along its length.
Cut 6 7" pieces of binding to make the ties (you could also use decorative ribbon).
19. To make the ties, turn and press one cut end over ¼" then fold the long sides towards the centreline and press, before sewing around the perimeter.
MAKE 3 PAIRS (6 in total) then baste each pair in place along the opening.
20. Using the remaining binding, finish the raw edge of the tree skirt using your preferred binding method - you can find mine here - then adorn your Christmas tree stand and help yourself to a mince pie. You've earned it!
If you, like me, make some Gift Basket blocks but don't get around to the tree skirt, those 12" finished blocks are also the perfect way to decorate a Christmas tote bag: you can find my tutorial for one here. And with a simple switch of fabrics they could also make wonderful last-minute gifts for any season.
Or a lovely little something just for you ;-)
With love from the studio,
