I can't say I would recommend this project to anyone - it took a looooong time and I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the results. All in all, I will not be making one of these again!
Also, I greatly dislike taking photos with a flash - so forgive the flash - without it, you could hardly see the skirt and it never gets any direct light. Sigh.
The way I finally made this tree skirt work was to braid lengths and lengths of the fabric together and then stitch together the rows of fabric. Then, I made one or two big gathers here and there on the back and stitched on the sewing machine to form more of the shape I was looking for. I stitched ties on to the back edges so it can be tied shut holding it in place.
The next thing that happened was that I have TONS of this fabric left already cut into strips. So, I thought I'd make some garland for our tree! One of you spotted this the other day when I showed a picture of our tree. It is simply braided fabric strung around the tree.
Now for the fun part - I have so much of this fabric left STILL that I made a 20 foot garland to give away here!!! All you need to do is leave a comment - please, please, please do not leave anonymous comments without your name or e-mail address! If you don't want to post your e-mail address, please e-mail me at thehomespunheart (at) hotmail (dot) com. Entries will be taken until Saturday night and I will announce the winner next Monday!
62 comments:
Wow! That was quite a job! Determined you are!
The braided garland is so cute! I would love to win it. If not then I guess I have another fun project to do! Do you have an idea of how much fabric it took to make the garland?
You are so creative and inspire me to actually DO the things I dream up! Thanks for the inspiration and motivation.
What alot of work but the result is so cute! I love the idea of braided fabric garland it adds alot of charm to the tree!
Blessings,
Liisa
Oh my heavens! I think I would have given up long into that project! Way to perservere - if nothing else!
What a sweet, old-fashioned skirt. My g-grandma used to make braided rugs and I still have one of them. I like the idea of the braided garland on the tree...
I think your hard work paid off. I think I might do a wool felt Christmas Tree skirt this year. Anyway, I would love to be entered into win the garland. God Bless you and your family this Christmas.
I have always wanted to try my hand at a braided rug, and I even saw a bowl that was made of fabric braids. I am not sure I quite have the patience though!! My sister made a rug for her bathroom - it tooks her ages and ages to finish it. But they are so nice looking! I would love to be entered into the draw.
Blessings,
Ellie
I love that project...it looks so cute! what a lot of work. Please enter me in your drawing.
I love you blog!
AmyG
Your so in spiring! I love the braided garland. I have a cross stitch tree skirt that I have been working on for a few years. That is right a few years. I am going to finish it up this year. As you have inspired me to do so. Our tree sits right now with out a tree skirt. No one can really tell, but I know. simplybydesign@hotmail.com
Adorable. Please enter me.
Please add me!!! I love this blog and that garland! I would be proud to add to my home!!
TamaraP. North Carolina.
Very pretty tree! I love it! I'd love to win the garland. Before I'd even gotten to the end of the post I wanted to make some of my own!
Love your blog
I just want to know what your method of braiding 20 feet of fabric was! I'm braiding about 6 feet at a time and the ends are constantly getting tangled up.
p~
I think your tree skirt is lovely! Homespun from the Heart... that says it all and I love the garland too!
Those are some of my favorite colors and I think your tree is gorgeous!
Oh, how lovely!
I truly enjoy your blog!
Thank you,
Kim
boswell@ns.sympatico.ca
I LOVE YOUR TREE SKIRT!!! I have been trying to find a pattern to make a quilted one, but my tree is soooo pretty I didn't want the skirt to take away from the tree and yours is absolutely perfect. I am stealing your idea for next year! Love the garland idea too, last year I took scraps of fabric and tied them to a jute string to make a rustic looking garland, but I think I like your idea for garland even better!!!!
Wow! What a huge project that tree skirt must have been. I'm terribly impressed that you finished it. In all honesty, I probably would have given up. :)
I would love to be entered to win the garland. It would fit my Christmas tree just right. (In fact, if I don't win, I might just try my hand at making one over the coming year!)
Thanks for sharing! You are always so very generous to your blogger's. I really liked the garland because it looked like something I could actually do. :) Such a sweet idea.
That looks like it was a hard job, but it turned out really well. I would love to be entered into your drawing.
I think your tree skirt looks wonderful! I am sure that must have taken a long time, but those results are great.
Please count me in for your drawing! I love the garland idea and might do that myself over here :)
I also noticed this on your post the other day. It is so cute and I've been trying to figure out how to make some since then! Please enter me in your drawing. Enjoy the season.
Trina
Oooo OOooo I hope I win. I have memories with that fabric. Haha! Remember last year about this time you came to my house and were just starting on it. Well you know my email address. So enter me into the drawing.
I think it turnrd out great but you have alot of patience.
Monica,It looks wonderful! Pleae enter me into your drawing!
Blessings~Cindy
I like the skirt, you did a great job. This fabric is really beautiful, I would love to win something you made.
Angela
Thanks so much for all of your encouraging comments! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had a project going this long! :)
Wendi - I started with 15 yards I think and it made the tree skirt, enough garland for my tree, the 20 ft. garland and I still have quite a ball left. So, I'm thinking maybe 3-4 yards would do it. I got the plaid on Wal-Mart fabric rack for $1/yard; but the calico was the regular price of $3/yard I think.
Paige - As far as the braiding, I think I did it in about 4-5 ft. sections. As I came to the end of one strip, I just knotted the new piece on and trimmed the ends. I held it together with a clothespin while I was tying the new piece on. I only stitched the very beginning end and the final ends together. The rest is one long braid. Does that make sense?
Please enter me Monica!!! Donna at jakeandasa@aim.com
I love the garland. I would love a chance to win this. Please enter me.
Ruth
That looks like a ton of work, but I think it turned out great! Count me in on the give-away!
I am gonna have to go back and read through the comment to see if someone asked already, but I first wanted to get my comment in to WIN this BEAUTIFUL garland! WOW! OK, now to my question, is there a tutorial for this? I would LOVE to know how you made it!!! Blessings! Paula --- paula aatt paurian doottt com
I have never seen a braided tree skirt before - how interesting! I do love the garland.
Sheila
sglaurence@comcast.net
Looks wonderful!! Please enter me in your drawing....
email: beccaketcher@hotmail.com
blog: www.pugwisher.blogspot.com
Thanks!! Becky
Hi!
Just love the homespun braid. Wow! You have such great ideas. Please add me in your giveaway drawing!
Ruth K., PA
I absolutely love the creativity in your blog! I've never been "craft-y" but my son is two and I'd like to show him how to live simply but still have beauty and fun in his life, so I'm trying. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
oooo---how fun! i would love to win. if i dont', i'm going to have to make one myself. you are so creative!
gail
What an accomplishment! Lovely photos!
Blessings,
Katie
Hooray! I hvae a homespun tree and that garland would look awesome! I'm trying again for a Monica prize...
Oh I WOULD love this...
Deby
debsblog at gmail dot com
I would love to win your garland! What a beautiful idea. I may try to make some myself, too!
Thanks!
Nancy @ Homemade Blessings
oh please do count me in!!!
SO CUTE! love it! I can't believe you did all that work. WOW!
I would love to enter your drawing - thanks so much! Your blog is such a lovely source of inspiration!
Blessings,
Julie D.
thedrucks@netzero.com
How beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!
You are such an inspiration...where do you come up w/ all the ideas?!? :-) Guess some of us just have a harder time being creative than others, but I always look forward to seeing what you're doing to make your home so cozy!
Eunice
rsmile2u(at)gmail(dot)com
Love your blog - it's so refreshing. The garland is charming - way to be creative!
Cheryl
PS I will be traveling next week with no internet (gasp!), so SHOULD I win and you don't hear from me, be patient, please! :O)
So cute! The extra fabric would make a wonderful crocheted rag rug. If I win, that''s what I'm going to do with it!
How sweet of you to share your handiwork! Thank you for all your craft shares - they are lovely! ~v
bvcanoy@yahoo.com
Hi, Monica. I love your blog - read it everyday! I also LOVE your fabric garland - you are just SO talented in all you do! I'd love to be eligible to win!! :-)
Audrey
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/birdlady/
WOW!!!!I am working on a braided rug and it is taking FOREVER!!!! I cant imagine having that much done after the job was done!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!
Adorable !! I love reading your blog, it is so inspiring.
please enter me in your drawing. Danene at danenestewart@aol.com
Your tree skirt is so pretty. You chose a beautiful fabric. I think you did a great job because I don't sew well and it looks wonderful. Endurance has paid off!
Kim
Please count me in! You are my inspiration, I love your blog. Your potato soup recipe was great and we sent three shoeboxes off to Samaritan's Purse all because of you! Thanks so much!
Wow, what perseverance to stick with a project like that! Good for you :)
I would love to have some of that homespun garland too!
Thanks for putting up such a fun give away :)
I think the braided tree skirt looks very nice. Old fashioned yet in style at the same time. I would love to win the tree garland as we have none for the tree. If not I might just have to find some fabric to cut into strips and put all the girls working on braiding it. Really cute idea. THanks!
CindyMcCarthy@hughes.net
I do love your braided tree skirt! :> And I would dearly love to win that braided garland!! :> :>
You did such a great job! That would be soo hard! I admire your dedication to it! :)
The garland looks fabulous and would go great with my decor! I would love to get it if you pick my comment!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)
I can't even imagine the time and energy it took to complete this, but the result is well worth it. I love the braided garland, adds the perfect touch.
I love that garland and I'd love to be entered. Thanks!
I love your blog and I check in every morning with my cup of coffee in hand. Your ideas are so inspiring and I am not just saying that.., I really love to see what you are doing and feel the spirit of your thoughtfulness.
Kindest regards, Andrea
Please enter my name.
You did a terrific job, Monica. That is something that will become a family heirloom and will be enjoyed by future generations!
Monica,
I thought I left a comment here but now I don't see it......? Please enter me. I was coming back because I wanted to be sure I didn't forget to put in my email address
jamarcil@yahoo.com
Thanks!! That garland is so charming and country looking I absolutely LOVE it! You are so talented!
Jenn
What a lot of work! But, I hate to say it...I agree with you. I kind of don't like it either. And, the garland looks like a snake wound around the tree.
It just gives off a blah look with the dark colors.
It's very creative, but I just wanted to give you an honest opinion. Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts.
I just have to tell you how *gorgeous* that tree skirt is! My great-aunt used to work in a rug mill -- you guessed it -- braiding rugs by hand. I admire your creativity and persistance to finish the project! Just found your blog and *love* it! Very inspiring.
I am way past the time of entering, but have to say, I love your garland and tree skirt! cindy Il.
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