We can work in the round and get around to it. In this case, I did both! A couple of years? ago my mom and dad gifted me the pattern with foundation paper for the Quiltworx, Judy Niemeyer Christmas Celebration tree skirt. I love how their gifts keep on giving!
I had been ogling the finished tree skirts online, and for some reason, wanted to try my hand at paper piecing. Why is it that beginner quilters have notions of glory right out of the gate? I think it must be akin to bull riding. I mean, how hard can it be anyway? I should start rating quilting patterns like I do puzzles. At least this one has distinct color transitions!
(OK, are you laughing yet?) If you are, you are laughing with me! I am, but fondly. 600 or so pieces later. I am ready to quilt it.
Paper piecing, for those that have not tried it, requires all of the same skills that “normal” piecing requires, but enables you to do some intricate angles and sizes without lots of measuring. The paper serves as your base, and you build up your blocks on the paper. The results are stunning, and as I have grown more experienced in quilting, realize how some of the show stopping quilts I have seen at the quilt shows were constructed.
This is the first time I have posted about my tree skirt, though it was started before I began my blog, or online journal. I did not get to use any special add-a-quarter rulers on this one, but relied on a glue stick, a ruler, a peice of thin template fabric to fold my paper on, a rotary cutter, and pins. I found working assembly line style was the most effective use of my time. I like the results so far and will have fun planning the quilting.
Have a peek at the 60″ diameter skirt. Will the hard part be cutting a hole in the middle? I don’t know. I plan to leave a “slit” in the skirt to wrap around a tree, but decided to stitch it all together to make quilting easier. I will float the skirt over the backing and batting on my quilter and custom quilt it. I am especially excited to stitch the center star and the golden points. They deserve some special attention. I might check out what one of my favorite designers, Nancy Haacke / Wasatch Quilting has for this discontinued pattern.
I am entering the final stretch of the year strong and have emptied another basket. I wonder what I will fill it with? I wonder if any of the ladies at the Fabric Stasher retreat in 2017 would like to learn paper piecing…
Dueling Threads 
That is a beautiful quilt! I don’t know if I could cut a center hole in it; I might opt for an eye-popping table topper instead! Anyway, the hole and slit shouldn’t be too bad. I’ve done tree skirts and that part seems to go pretty well. I enjoy paper piecing now and then!
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Beautiful! I’m not sure I would want to turn it into a tree skirt the star in the center is beautiful!
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I didn’t know she had a tree skirt pattern! That is beautiful. I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to cut a hole in that after so much effort went into it!
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Oh my gosh! This is beautiful. It will look lovely under your tree! Are you going to the MSQC retreat this year? I looked in the group and didn’t see your name. I so want to see this (and you) in person!
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