Christmas Star Tree Skirt

INSPIRED BY: The Charmed Life from designer Amanda Wilbert

QUILT TESTER: Diane Tomlinson

FINISHED TREE SKIRT: 48-1⁄2" diameter

FINISHED BLOCKS: 12" square

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

• 7⁄8 yard white star print (blocks 1 and 2, corner units)
• 1⁄2 yard red print (blocks 1–3)
• 3⁄4 yard blue reindeer print (blocks 1 and 2)
• 5⁄8 yard green print (blocks 1–3, corner units)
• 18×21" piece (fat quarter) red stripe (block 3)
• 1⁄2 yard solid red (binding)
• 3-1⁄4 yards backing fabric
• 57"-square batting

Cut pieces in the following order. 

If you prefer to make triangle-squares larger than necessary and trim them to size, cut 5" squares instead of the 4-7⁄8" squares specified here.

From white star print, cut:

• 30—4-7⁄8" squares
• 6—4-7⁄8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 12 triangles total

From red print, cut:

• 20—4-7⁄8" squares

From blue reindeer print, cut:

• 12—4-7⁄8" squares
• 8—4-1⁄2×8-1⁄2" rectangles
• 8—4-1⁄2" squares

From green print, cut:

• 16—4-7⁄8" squares
• 4—4-1⁄2×8-1⁄2" rectangles
• 4—4-1⁄2" squares

From red stripe, cut:

• 6—4-7⁄8" squares

From solid red, cut:

• 6—2-1⁄2×42" binding strips

Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Press seams in directions indicated by arrows on diagrams. If no direction is specified, press seam toward darker fabric. 

1. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each white star print 4-7⁄8" square and 12 red print 4-7⁄8" squares.

2. Layer a marked white star print square atop a blue reindeer print 4-7⁄8" square. Sew together with two seams, stitching 1⁄4" on each side of marked line (Diagram 1). Cut apart on marked line. Press open to make two matching triangle-squares. Each triangle-square should be 4-1⁄2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 24 blue-and-white triangle-squares total.

3. Repeat Step 2 using green print 4-7⁄8" squares instead of blue print to make 20 green-and-white triangle-squares total.

4. Repeat Step 2 using unmarked red print 4-7⁄8" squares instead of blue print to make 16 red-and-white triangle-squares total.

5. Repeat Step 2 using marked red print squares instead of white star print and red stripe 4-7⁄8" squares instead of blue print to make 12 red-and-white-stripe triangle-squares total.

6. Repeat Step 2 using remaining marked red print squares instead of white star print and remaining green print 4-7⁄8" squares instead of blue print to make 12 red-and-green triangle-squares total.

1. Referring to Diagram 2, sew together one blue reindeer print 4-1⁄2" square and two blue-and-white, one green-and-white, and two red-and-white triangle-squares in two rows. Join rows to make Unit A. The unit should be 8-1⁄2×12-1⁄2" including seam allowances.

2. Referring to Diagram 3, sew together a blue reindeer print 4-1⁄2×8-1⁄2" rectangle and a blue-and-white triangle-square to make Unit B. The unit should be 4-1⁄2×12-1⁄2" including seam allowances.

3. Referring to Diagram 4, sew together units A and B to make a Block 1. The block should be 12-1⁄2" square including seam allowances. 

4. Repeat steps 1–3 to make four total of Block 1.

5. Referring to Diagram 5 for triangle-square placement and, repeat steps 1–3 to make four of Block 2.

6. Referring to Diagram 6 for triangle-square placement and orientation, repeat steps 1–3 using green print 4-1⁄2" squares and 4-1⁄2×8-1⁄2" rectangles, red-and-white-stripe triangle-squares, and red-and-green triangle-squares to make four of Block 3.

1. Referring to Diagram 7, sew together three green-and-white triangle-squares and three white star print triangles in three rows. Join rows to make corner unit. 

2. Repeat Step 1 to make four corner units total.

1. Referring to Tree Skirt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks and corner units in four rows. Sew together pieces in first two rows. Sew together remaining pieces in pairs, as shown. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row.

2. Join pairs and rows, leaving half the center seam open, to make tree skirt top (Diagram 8). Press seams in one direction. The tree skirt top should be 48-1⁄2" square including seam allowances.

1. Layer tree skirt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Trim away excess batting and backing.

3. Referring to Diagram, 8 use a compass or saucer and pencil to draw a 2-1/2"-diameter circle in the tree skirt center. Cut on marked line to create center opening.

4. Bind tree skirt using solid red binding strips.