No-Sew Oilcloth Tree Skirt

If you're like me you really love a retro tinsel tree. But, one of the drawbacks of artificial trees is the tiny little pole that holds all that kitschy bling. It's really hard to find a tree skirt that has a small enough hole that will cover up the tree stand. So when I set out to decorate my tree this year, I knew it was time to make a quick and easy tree skirt that would go right up to the pole.

My silver Christmas tree sits in a corner that has a radiator and a fireplace hearth, so I went with a small 28" diameter tree skirt. It's just a few inches bigger than the tree stand and works well in the space allowed. Oilcloth is 47" wide, so you can make it much bigger than my sample.

Once I picked out the red lace oilcloth, I needed to find the center of the oilcloth. Notice how the print has a medallion motif in the center of the width of the oilcloth? This motif repeats every 16 inches, so when you are working with a print with a predominate repeat you need to buy a bit more fabric than you need, so you can adjust your pattern left and right so your circular tree skirt looks its best.

Once I found the center of what will be my oilcloth tree skirt, I folded it in half and did a little finger press to mark my center with a crease.

Next, I fold it into quarters so the wrong side is out; do so by folding it half width-wise and then length wise. Thankfully you can see a faint bit of the lace on the back side to help you fold properly and find dead center of the medallion.

To double check the placement you can place a pin in the corner as shown above. Open up the fold and check to see if your pin is in the center. If not, make any adjustments needed.

Refold and place some clothes pens along the folds to keep the fabric from sliding around. Use your ruler to measure out a quarter circle. Once you decide on the diameter of your tree skirt divide your that number by 2. My tree skirt is 28", so I drew an arc that is 14" from the corner, or pivot point. Using a ruler or table measure, make a series of dashes every inch or two from the top to the bottom of your arc, then connecting the dots into a smooth curve.

Do the same process for the smaller hole that is in the center of your tree skirt. This hole needs to be the same diameter as the hole in the base of your stand that holds the pole of your tree. My stand has a 1" diameter hole so I make a tiny 1/2" arch at the corner of my folded tree skirt fabric.

Oilcloth doesn't fray or ravel so you don't have to finish off the edges. I used pinking shears to cut out the outer circle and regular scissors to cut out the center hole.

Now unfold the tree skirt and cut a straight line from the outer edge to the hole. I did this with a rotary cutter and ruler on top of my cutting mat. I just followed the print of the fabric to do so. This slit allows me to get the tree skirt on and off with ease.

June Suggests: If you have the time to make this super fancy you could trim off the edges with 1/4" bias tape, but you don't have to.

Simply wrap the tree skirt around the base of your tree and allow it to cover the stand. The back of the skirt will overlap and create a little volcano like shape. See, easy peasy!

Helpful tip: Oilcloth tree skirts are great for pet owners; the non-stick, water-proof, easy-to-clean surface helps with many issues.

I spy oilcloth and laminated cotton at Finding Home!

A while back I invited the Lynn, from Finding Home to be a part of my At Home with Modern June blog tour. I asked her to show her readers how to use the covered seat cushion project that is in the book. I also sent her a box full of black and white oilcloth and laminated cotton to play with.

Lynn, used our great Black Picnic Check oilcloth to recover her kitchen chairs. This fabric has been a big hit. We started carrying it thanks to fellow blogger, The Painted Home, when she had picked it out for her Crafty Camper seat cushions.

The chairs are lovely, aren't they?

Next, she made simple oilcloth placemats by cutting a single layer of oilcloth into squares. She topped it all off with a laminated cotton runner, again, just a simple cut piece of fabric. Both of these fabrics are great, they don't fray so you don't have do any fussy sewing -- if you care not.

Then she got fancy! Lynn created a no-sew silverware sleeve with black polka dot oilcloth and washi tape. Next she topped it off with a chalk cloth tag, that she made with a punch that she just happened to have. A very crafty gal!

See her blog, Fining Home, to see how she made the template.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into Lynn's lovely home! See her blog Finding Home for so much more!

xoxox,
Kelly

Color Combo: Kelly's Current Favorite

Here are 4 great oilcloths that I'm currently crushing on!! One of our new prints, Red Bloom, takes center stage! Combine it with green gingham, dot on red and yellow and white stripes and you've got summer all wrapped up!! 

Come back on Friday to see what I'm doing with these 4 prints!! Tutorial Spoiler: No-Sew Picnic Mat!!

Great Idea: No-Sew Oilcloth Bunting

Photo Credit: Judi Kahn via Dash

A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Judi Kahn an author and all around crafty lady. We had a nice time chatting about oilcloth while she picked out fabrics for the following project that as featured in May 2nds Parade Magazine. I just love the colors. Head over to Dash and learn how to make this simple and fun no-sew bunting! It's perfect for Porch Party week!

No-Sew Fall Tablescape

Today we are taking an old school fall decoration and giving it an oilcloth twist. It doesn't get any easier than this, just a pair of scissors and template and our new Fall Five Pack of Fat Quarters. The template can be enlarged on your scanner and then pieced together, cut out and your good to go.  The small leaf that adorns the place setting is as is, the leaf coaster was enlarged by 142% and the centerpiece leaves by 200%.

You know I love the oilcloth, but I say use what you have, if your a paper fiend check you stash or use felt.  You know you have a pile of felt somewhere in you house or studio!  But if your like me and you LOVE your oilcloth, I have a special pack of Oilcloth Fat Quarters just for this project.  The Fall Five Pack includes one 18"x 21" piece of orange, brown and red lace as well as the yellow and brown check oilcloth.

Holiday Tutorial Series -- Small Circular Tablecloth for Halloween

Creating a small circular tablecloth with oilcloth is very simple, since oilcloth doesn't fray you can leave the edge cut.  Yes, that is right this is a no-sew project!!!  In this tutorial I will walk you though the process of making a cute holiday tablecloth.

My table is 27 inches and I wanted a 10 inch drop for my spooky tablecloth, I simply plugged in the my dimensions into the following formula.

drop x 2 + diameter of table= finished tablecloth 

10" x 2 + 27" =47"

Please note that oilcloth measures between 47-48 inches wide, this tutorial is only for small tables.  We will chat about about larger tablecloths later.

tools of the trade:

A square of Oilcloth

measuring devise, yard stick or measuring tape

pencil and Sharpie

regular scissors, pinking shears or rotary cutter

fancy scallop blade (optional)

Starting off with a square of oilcloth, fold piece into quarters.

Finger press center

Lightly mark center with pencil. Please note, a heavy mark will show through on the polka dot oilcloth. Unfortunately, I know this from experience!  Oops!

Begin this next step by opening up your fabric once.  I like to do half of the circle at a time.  This way you can get a much better cut and in the end a much nicer tablecloth.

My finished tablecloth is going to be 47 inches so divided that number by two to get 24 1/2.  I mark that onto my tape measure with a heavy line to make sure I don't forget my half mark.  Now line your half mark with the center mark and begin to mark the outer edge (hem) for your tablecloth.

I like to use the edge of the tape measure to use small lines placed close together.

Next use a Sharpie to connect the dots and create a heavy line.

Cut just inside the heavy line.

Fold you oilcloth back in to quarters and mark the second half of your circle.

Once you have the second half marked open up you fabric and cut inside the line once more.

I like the scalloped edge that this rotary cutter blade adds to the simple tablecloth, of course you can use plain scissors or pinking shears to create a lovely tablecloth.

I am of two minds, use what you have and buy more toys!

Every day look for fall.

Tricked for Halloween!

The Oilcloth Alfresco Series, NO-SEW Chalk Cloth Bunting!

Todays project is a NO-SEW Chalk Cloth Bunting!   Even those of us that have been sewing for (WAY to many) decades love a good no-sew project.  With just a few tools and a little chalk and oilcloth you can make a cool banner that you will use at all of your parties and celebrations for years to come!   I hope you enjoyed making it as much as I did!  

The number of banner pieces you will need depends on your desired greeting, think Birthdays, Graduations, and Barbecues!  

stuff you gotta have:  

• 1/2 yard of Chalk Cloth yields 15 banner pieces.  
  
• 3 Fat Quarters of Oilcloth, each F. Q. yields 6 pieces. 
  
• Rotary Cutter, ticked out with fancy blade!
  
• Cool Ruler
  
• Cutting Mat
  
• 2 spools of 1/4" ribbon 
  
• cloths pins (optional)
• chalk and a white colored pencil 

step one.  Cut chalk cloth 6" by 8" and oilcloth slightly larger at 6 1/4" by 8".   By doing so you get a peak of the back side of the oilcloth--it hints that there is something fun to be seen from the back too.  

step 2.  Once you have all your pieces cut out clip them together.

step 3.  Use white colored pencil to mark your cutting line.  Careful not to clip to close to the edge.  

step 4.  Fold both layers of fabric and clip.

step 5.  You're now ready to string the ribbon through the slits.  I like wrapping the end of the ribbon with a piece of tape to make this easier to work with, think flat shoe lace tips.   Alternate the look by sliding the ribbon in from the top and then on the next piece come up from the bottom.  

step 6.  Now you are ready to chalk it up!  

It should say Happy Summer!  

Everyone wants a pretty backside!