Once the bonfire smoke has cleared, thoughts turn to decorating the tree. If you would like a home that feels handmade this Christmas, patchwork is a lovely place to start. A tree skirt, a quick quilt or a pair of festive cushions all use simple shapes and straight seams, and with the right prints you can get a cosy, traditional look without spending a fortune.
Here are four in-stock Christmas fabrics we love for patchwork, plus a simple tree skirt method and a few other projects to fill your weekends before December.
Our favourite Christmas fabrics for patchwork
For patchwork you want fabric that cuts cleanly, presses crisply and does not stretch out of shape. Cotton poplin and polycotton both tick those boxes. Mixing two or three prints with a shared colour (red and green are the obvious pair) is the easiest way to make everything look like it belongs together.
- 100% Cotton Christmas Patchwork Squares, Green: a printed patchwork squares design on crisp cotton poplin, so you get the pieced look without cutting dozens of squares. It is 112cm (45") wide and reduced to £6.99 a metre (was £9.99).
- Christmas Bells Xmas Print Cotton, Red: a pure cotton poplin from Clothworks with metallic gold bells and hollies. It brings a bit of shimmer to a red and green scheme. 112cm wide, now £6.99 a metre (was £9.99).
- Xmas Party Snowman Gingerbread Polycotton, Green: a cheerful print for children's projects and backings. It is machine washable, 112cm wide and £3.99 a metre (was £6.99), or £3.49 for a half metre if you only need a little.
- Rudolph Reindeer 100% Cotton: a soft 160gsm cotton at a generous 140cm (54") wide, which is handy for larger pieces like a tree skirt or quilt back. Reduced to £7.99 a metre (was £13.99).
How to make a simple Christmas tree skirt
A tree skirt hides the stand, catches falling needles and gives presents a festive spot to sit. This version is a lined circle with an opening at the back, so it slips around the tree without lifting it.
You will need:
- 1.1 metres of top fabric (for a finished circle of roughly 100cm across)
- 1.1 metres of lining fabric
- Thin wadding the same size (optional, for a quilted, padded feel)
- Matching thread, a long ruler, a pencil or chalk and a length of string
- Ribbon, ties or a few strips of fabric to close the back
Method:
- Cut a square. Cut a 110cm square from your top fabric and the same from the lining. On 112cm wide fabric this fits neatly across the width.
- Mark the circle. Fold the square into quarters. Tie your chalk to a 50cm length of string, hold the string at the folded corner and draw a quarter circle. Do the same with an 8cm length for the centre hole.
- Cut and open out. Cut along both lines through all layers, then unfold. You should have a large ring. Cut one straight line from the outer edge to the centre hole: this is the back opening.
- Sew it together. Layer the top and lining right sides together, with wadding on top if using. Tuck pairs of ties between the layers along the opening. Stitch all the way round with a 1cm seam, leaving a 15cm gap on one straight edge.
- Turn and finish. Clip the curves, turn right side out through the gap and press. Topstitch close to the edge to close the gap and give a neat finish.
For a larger tree, the 140cm wide Rudolph Reindeer cotton lets you cut a circle of up to about 130cm across from a single width.
Three more festive patchwork projects
- A quick "cheater" quilt. Use the Patchwork Squares print as the quilt top, layer it with wadding and a backing, and stitch along the printed lines. It looks pieced but takes a fraction of the time.
- Patchwork cushions. Cut 15cm squares from two or three prints, sew them into a nine-patch block, and back it with an envelope closure for an easy cushion cover.
- A sofa throw for the kids. Alternate squares of the Snowman Gingerbread polycotton and the Rudolph cotton for a playful throw that is perfect for Christmas Eve films.
Tips for neat Christmas patchwork
- Pre-wash cottons if the finished piece will be washed, so nothing shrinks unevenly later.
- Press as you go. Press each seam before you cross it with another; it makes corners line up far better.
- Keep a consistent seam. A steady 6mm or 1cm seam allowance throughout keeps your squares the same size.
- Save the offcuts. Leftover squares make great coasters, tree decorations and gift tags.
Start your festive patchwork this weekend
A handmade tree skirt or quilt is the kind of make that comes out every December for years. Pick a couple of prints from our Patchwork Squares, Christmas Bells, Snowman Gingerbread and Rudolph Reindeer prints while they are reduced and in stock. All our fabrics are cut from the roll in one continuous length. Happy sewing from all of us at Bull Ring Fabrics!
