3D Christmas Tree

Christmas In July – 3D Christmas Tree

Designed by Jamie Janow Elfert

 

Size:  44” X 64”

Fabric and Cutting Requirements:

Background (Medium creams to tan*)

(18) 4 ½” X WOF** (appx. 2 ½ yards total)  

                Cut (138) 4 ½” squares

Border (Medium cream)

 ½ Yard Medium cream

                Cut (6) 2 ½” X WOF Strips

Christmas Tree Branches (Medium to dark greens*)

(11) 3 ½” X WOF strips

                Cut (120) 3 ½” squares

Tree Trunk (Medium to dark brown)

(1) 4 ½” X 20” strip

                Cut (4) 4 ½” squares

Stars (Bright White)

(1) 2 ½” X WOF strips

                Cut (16) 2 ½” squares

(1) 4 ½” X 10” strip

                Cut (2) 4 ½” squares

Cross (Medium blues*)

(8) 1 ½” X 15” strips

Binding (Medium to dark green)

1/2 Yard

                Cut (6) 2 ½” X WOF strips

Backing

3 Yards (pieced horizontally)

Other:

     (30) Buttons for the center of each pinwheel

* This is a good time to exchange with friends to have a nice variety. ** WOF, Width of Fabric

  

Assembly:

Christmas Tree Branch Units:

Fold and press the (120) 3 ½” green squares diagonally; WRONG sides together.  As you press them, store them under a heavy book (or anything you have) to maintain the crease.   Fold and press AGAIN, diagonally and store them under a book.  You now have a folded quarter triangle.

Pull a variety of (74) 4 ½” background squares and (2) 4 ½” brown squares.  Using pins, attach the quarter triangles to these squares as follows:

A – Pin (1) one triangle along any edge of a 4 ½” background square, repeat for a total of (30)

B – Pin (2) two triangles along two opposite sides of a 4 ½” background square, repeat for a total of (44)

C – Pin (1) one triangle along any edge of a 4 ½” brown square, repeat for a total of (2)

Rail Fence Units for Cross

Divide the (8) 1 ½” X 15” blue strips into (2) sets of (4).  Sew together the (4) strips, pressing to one side. Make a total of (6) Rail Fence Units

Star Units

Pull a variety of (8) 4 ½” background squares (suggestion:  use your darker shades to make sure the stars “pop”). Place a 2 ½” Bright White square in the top left corner of a background square, and sew on the drawn diagonal line.   Cut ¼” away from the sewn line, fold out and press.  Repeat on the right side.  Make a total of (8).

Assemble the top (10 units across, 15 down)

Using Illustration II below, position your units on a design wall/area.  Important:  Take a snapshot of the layout to verify you can see the (30) Pinwheels.  Sew each row across and press away from the pinwheel and spin the seams.  Below is a picture of the back of my top as a guide to spinning (Illustration I).

Illustration I

Join the rows.   There will be a lot of bulk, possibly causing some intersection seams not to match up perfectly.  Not to worry, the ornaments (buttons) will disguise those areas. 

Borders

Join together the (6) 2 ½” X WOF border strips using a diagonal seam.   Measure from top to bottom down the middle and cut (2) strips to this measurement.  Attach these border units to the sides of the quilt top.  Measure from left to right in the middle and cut (2) strips to this measurement.  Add these border units to the top and the bottom.  (Hint:  When attaching the borders, pin from the center and work out to the ends.)

Illustration II

Picture of the actual quilt below: