Biased about Bias

Before I start this post properly, I want to take a moment to say a huge great big thank you to you all.  You've given me such a Fabulous Facebook Welcome and I really appreciate it.  A wonderful 150 of you have popped in to smoosh my little button over there so far and you've really made me feel very chuffed and a bit on top of the world actually!

THANK YO

I ought to explain what these dancing gingerbread men and jolly candy canes are all about though, so we'll turn to them now.  These yummy sweet treats are  actually doing a very important job of concealing all the ugly wires and plugs that are necessary to make my Christmas Tree all sparkly and bright.  They are part of my new tree skirt you see.

It was one of those very 'touch and go' type projects.  There were times when I floundered around for ideas and times when I feared disaster.  There were many revisions and re-thinks, but in the end, I think I just about managed to salvage it.





I started with just the men and the canes, but then there was a huge expanse of red just didn't sit right at all, so I hummed and hawed a goodish bit until I had the Eureka moment of adding the inner circle of a different fabric.  Actually, it had been my original idea but I didn't really know the best way to go about sewing an inner and outer circle of fabric together without making a huge pickle of the thing.

The 'lightbulb' moment came when I had the idea of making a scalloped edge to ressemble... I don't know, snow, or icing maybe... then appliquéing it on.  After I'd thought of that I was much happier with the whole affair.  The applique isn't my bestest work either, but it will suffice.





The next big hurdle was the bias binding.  I'd not done it before, using just plain old binding for my quilts so far, so I was a bit anxious about it.  I knew how to make the stuff, it's just the sewing it on I was worried about.  What if it didn't curve enough to go round my circle?  What if it all wrinkled?  How was I going to keep to the curve neatly? I foresaw difficulties.

But research and the wonderful world of the web came to my rescue.  Half a dozen tutorials later, I felt ready and able to give it a shot and my goodness it worked!  It worked like an utter dream and delight.   I sewed away and it curved it's little heart out.






I particularly like how the seams in the binding aren't all stacked as they are all cut on the angle too.  Oh yes, I am totally converted to this slanted view of binding.  Already I am wondering what future projects I might be able to use it on... humm so many possibilites.  Don't you just love learning something new?

It was very pleasing to find something I could use some nice big buttons on too.  I have lots of buttons in different shapes and sizes, but I find the smaller ones are more useful generally.  These nice big shiny red ones were just the ticket here though.



Here it is look.  You can just about see it doing it's nifty business under the tree.  Looking rather precious actually.  It's a shame I've got to cover it up with all the presents.



S x


Comments

  1. wow, your tree is amazing and your mantle looks lovely!! and a lovely tree skirt, well done! Heather x

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  2. That is soooo cute, I love it. The buttons are a great idea... my cats love to untie the bows on mine, believe it or not!

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  3. It looks wonderful. I always have plans to make a tree skirt but never get round to it. I can't see it happening this year either - I still haven't even put the tree up!

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  4. Wow Sandra that is gorgeous. Your home is so divine,cozy and just gorgeous. Hubby and I will be getting a house soon and I would love to hire you to come sew and make it pretty for us;) I can sew but not like that. I want to learn more so bad. You are amazing and so blessed. Thanks for sharing your work its beautiful hun.

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  5. Sinceramente, precioso.

    Saludos y buen día.

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  6. well as usual Sandra, you've simply outdone yourself! What a delightful tree skirt! I too would be nervous about doing a binding on something round, but yours is just perfect!

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  7. Beautiful Christmas tree skirt!!!
    xxx Ale

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  8. Hey, this is great! Your work is very neat - you shouldn't fret. Space the presents out so the little gingerbread men can still peek out :-) xx

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  9. Your tree skirt is amazing! I love it!

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  10. Sandra, it looks amazing! The combination of fabric made good job. And yes - the round bordering looks sooo gorgeous! Jolana

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  11. It turned out perfect! And it looks so great under your beautiful tree. I just bunch up an old quilt around the stand to cover it up:)

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  12. Your room looks so magical and twinkly. I like the way the white bit on the skirt looks like icing. We don't put presents under our tree because our dog always opens them! Lily. xxx

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  13. Such a pretty tree skirt! And your tree is gorgeous too!! :)

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  14. That's is lovely, and it does make a huge difference to bendyness cutting bias strips actually on the bias and not cheating like most of us do most of the time and cutting straight!!!

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  15. I love the tree skirt. It is adorable and the buttons are such a great idea. Your fireplace looks so perfect.

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  16. Dear Sandra! I was happy to like you on Facebook! You are always so inspiring and sweet! I am sorry I haven't visited in so long. I was glad to find you again! Sweetie, your Christmas tree skirt is beautiful and sweet! You did a wonderful job making it! It is amazing! You are so creative! I love your Christmas tree and your room looks so festive and cheerful! Love and hugs, Paula xo

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  17. Love your tree skirt Sandra - especially how the buttons look like Minstrels. Mmmmmmm!!!! x

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  18. I'd never heard of tree skirts until I entered the world of blogging, amazing! It's so much prettier than those plastic legs :) Once all your presents are opened you'll be able to see it again. Merry Christmas! :)

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  19. It's perfect - balance, colour, design, buttons, everything! And yes, bias binding is the bomb. :)

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  20. It turned out just perfect, Sandra! So festive and cheerful, I love it! And welcome to FB, I am your fan :)

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  21. Your mantle is amazing!!! How beautiful!!!

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  22. That's gorgeous Sandra!! Around the bottom of my tree is a huge square of batting (the stuff you put inside quilts) all scrunched up to look like snow but you've inspired me to make something a little more respectable for next year!!! xxx ♥

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