Shiny Baubles

Designer: Sharon Wasteney of Something Stitched

• 1-1/4 yards mottled cream (foundation circle)
• 2—18×21" pieces (fat quarters) assorted blue prints (appliqués, yo-yos, binding)
• 18 ×21" piece (fat quarter) each hot pink, lime green, red, purple, and aqua prints (appliqués, yo-yos, binding)
• 2-2/3 yards backing fabric
• 48" square batting
• Lightweight iron-on fusible web
• 22"-long string
• Pencil or marking tool
• Pushpin
• Hand-quilting thread
• 1 yard 1/2"-wide metallic trim
• 2 yards metallic rickrack

Finished tree skirt: 40" diameter

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

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.

Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" above for patterns.

To use fusible web for appliquéing pieces A and B, complete the following steps.

1) Lay fusible web, paper side up, over patterns A and B. Use a pencil to trace each pattern the number of times indicated in cutting instructions, leaving 1/2" between tracings. Cut out each fusible-web shape roughly 1/4" outside traced lines.

2) Following manufacturer's instructions, press each fusible-web shape onto wrong side of designated fabric; let cool. Cut out fabric shapes on drawn lines. Peel off paper backings.

From mottled cream, cut:

• 1— 42" square

From assorted blue prints, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 3 each of patterns A and B
• 2 each of patterns C, E, and F
• 4 of Pattern D

From hot pink print, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 1 each of patterns A, B, C, and E
• 3 of Pattern D

From lime green print, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 4 of Pattern C
• 3 of Pattern D
• 1 of Pattern E
• 2 of Pattern F

From red print, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 1 each of patterns A, B, and F
• 2 each of patterns C and D

From purple print, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 2 each of patterns A, E, and F
• 1 of Pattern B
• 3 each of patterns C and D

From aqua print, cut:

• 1—9" square, cutting it into 2-1/2"-wide bias binding strips
• 1 each of patterns A, D, and F
• 2 each of patterns B and E
• 4 of Pattern C

1. Referring to Diagram 1, fold mottled cream 42" square in half vertically and horizontally to make a 21" square. Fold on diagonal to form triangle; press to make creases for appliqué placement.

2. Tie one end of the 22"-long string to a pencil. Referring to Diagram 2, use a pushpin to anchor opposite end of string to point of triangle. Make sure distance from point of triangle to tip of pencil is 20". Rotate pencil to draw arc. Cut on drawn line and unfold to make a circle.

3. Center circle cutout template on Step 2 circle, using crease lines and lines on template for placement. Trace around circle for tree skirt center and remove template to make foundation circle, but do not cut out center yet (Diagram 3).

1. Thread a needle with hand-quilting thread and tie a knot about 4" from one end. Holding a lime green print C circle with wrong side up, turn edge a scant 1/4" toward center. Make evenly spaced 1/4"-long running stitches through both layers, near folded edge, stitching completely around circle (Diagram 4); do not cut or knot thread. Gently pull thread ends to gather folded edge; flatten gathered circle with your hands. Knot and trim thread, burying thread ends inside gathers, to make a C yo-yo. Repeat with remaining circles to make 16 C, 16 D, eight E, and eight F yo-yos total.

2. Referring to Appliqué Placement Diagram, arrange A and B ornament appliqués at a slight angle, and two C yo-yos, two D yo-yos, one E yo-yo, and one F yo-yo in a vertical row on a segment of foundation circle. Pin yo-yos in place. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse A and B appliqué pieces in place.

3. Referring to photo, below, cut metallic trim to lengths to fit across top of A and B ornament appliqués; sew in place. Cut one or two lengths of metallic rickrack to fit across center of A ornament appliqué; sew in place.

4. Using thread to match each appliqué, machine-blanket-stitch around edges. Hand-stitch yo-yos in place.

5. Repeat steps 2–4 with remaining segments of foundation circle to make appliquéd tree skirt.

1. Layer appliquéd tree skirt, batting, and backing; baste.

2. Quilt as desired. Designer Sharon Wasteney machine-quilted around each ornament and then stitched decorative bows around the outer edge and around the marked tree skirt center.

3. Trim batting and backing even with rounded outer edges of tree skirt top.

4. Referring to Diagram 5, carefully cut along one crease up to marked circle for tree skirt center. Cut out center circle on marked line.

5. Using diagonal seams, sew together enough assorted print 2-1/2"-wide bias strips to total 180" in length for pieced binding strip. Bind with pieced binding strip.