Folded Fabric Trees
I have been
busy these past few days making folded fabric trees. It all started innocently enough when my
quilting group, Stepping Stones (of Binghamton, NY) had our annual quilting
demonstration at the Roberson Museum.
For the past few years we have had a ‘make and take’ demo when visitors
to the Home for the Holidays event can make on ornament and take it with
them. This year was folded fabric trees –
and I was hooked!
I had a stash
of Christmas motif fabrics and decided to make some from each of design. Well, several hours later of tracing an
8-inch lunch plate on each fabric (2 layers) and then cutting out along the
line, I had enough for 76 trees!
Each circle was
cut in half, and matched with a second half-circle. These were sewn together, with right sides
together; leaving a 1.5-2 inch opening for turning on the straight edge of the
half-circle. Press and clip corners, being
careful not to cut into the thread.
Using a hemostat
clamping tool, I turned each of the half-circle right-side out and pressed flat
[you can hand sew the opening closed now if you want]. Fold the fabric from the curved edge to the
straight edge – making the sections of the tree ‘branches’. The ornaments pictured have 4 folds, but 3
work well too. If you have directional
fabric, sometimes you have to fold from the other side to make sure the motifs are
upright.
Next I sewed a
loop of 1/8-inch ribbon, knotted at one end, into a fold of the tree. This will be hidden inside once the tree is
completed. Now it’s time to embellish!
Decorate the
trees with trims, buttons, etc. prior to tacking the sides down. This will hide the sewing inside the tree and
won’t show on the back. Once you are
happy with your little tree, tack the sides with blind stitches and matching
tread. [If you didn’t close the half-circle opening yet, this is the time to
stitch it closed.] I put the star buttons on top once the other
decorations were added – saves from getting your thread all tangled up.
Now I have LOTS
more trees to decorate – will likely spill into next year too!
P.S. The Stepping Stone Quilt Club decorates a
tree every year at the Roberson’s Home for the Holiday’s event with handmade
ornaments. Members of the group also loan
quilts to decorate the walls and hallways – it makes a really warm and cozy
feel to the event.
