Embroidered Pinwheel Christmas Tree Skirt

A pinwheel-style tree skirt is large, and roomy enough to hold gifts for the largest of families! Embroidered blocks are appliqued with a blanket stitch onto each point, making the skirt colorful and cozy.

The finished skirt has a 56-inch diameter. The center circle (around the tree) measures 5-1/2 inches.

Read below for project instructions!

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies

** 2 yards top fabric (if using 2 different colors, 1 yard for each color)
** 2 yards bottom/back fabric

** Eight 12 x 12 inch fabric squares (contrasting colors)

** Eight 9 x 12 inch sheets of double-stick fusible web
** Cut-away stabilizer
** Spray adhesive
** Air-erase pen
** Four buttons
** Needle and thread for some hand-sewing

** Paper or tag board

The designs used in this tutorial include:
- X3616, A Animals in Christmas Pajamas Design Pack

Download Project Pattern

Gather Materials:

First, cut out a 7-1/2 x 7-1/2 inch square from paper or tag board. This is the pattern for the applique squares. Draw a line from corner to opposite corner, then again to form an X. The center of the X is the center point.

Hand holding blue pencil marking a line on white triangular paper with a black metal ruler on a wooden surface.

Spray a piece of cut-away stabilizer with adhesive and smooth a piece of 12 x
12 inch fabric on top.

Lay the square pattern on top as shown. Trace the shape. Also, poke a hole in the pattern at the center, and mark the center point onto the fabric.

Hand holding pencil drawing lines on white paper pinned to red fabric square with gray edges on a dark wooden surface.

Remove the pattern and draw lines from corner to corner with an air erase pen. These lines will be used for design placement and hooping the fabric.

Hand with purple pen marking a silver metal ruler on a red fabric square with chalk lines, on a brown wooden table.

Use embroidery software to print out templates of the designs.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point marked on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the 7-1/2 x 7-1/2 -inch square. There should be at least 1/2 inch of space from the edges of the design to the edges of the square.

Hand tracing a black-and-white printed cat pattern on white paper, pinned to red fabric marked with chalk lines for embroidery placement.

Start Embroidering:

Hoop the square by aligning the lines on the fabric with the marks on the hoop.

White rectangular embroidery hoop placed on red fabric with stitched lines forming a diamond and triangle pattern on a wooden surface.

Attach the hoop to the machine, and load the design. Move the hoop so the needle is right over the center point, and embroider the design.

Repeat this process for the seven other squares.

Close-up of machine embroidery in progress on red fabric, showing a partially embroidered Christmas elf face with hat, green collar, and candy cane shapes.

After all of the squares have been embroidered, turn them over and carefully cut away the excess stabilizer.

A hand holds orange scissors cutting white stabilizer above red fabric with green and red floral embroidery on wood table.

Cut out the shape of each square.

Square piece of red fabric with embroidered reindeer wearing green sweater adorned with candy canes; yellow scissors on wooden surface.

Next, print the pattern for the main sections of the skirt. The tree skirt pattern is split into seven sections, which will print on seven pieces of paper. Click the link above to download the pattern.

Printed paper pattern templates with triangular and irregular shapes labeled with text, spread out on a dark wood table.

Cut out all of the patterns; sections 1-7.

Paper triangles with printed text, some cut out, arranged on a dark wooden surface next to orange-handled scissors cutting one triangle.

Align the pieces of the pattern according to the instructions printed on each piece. Tape the pieces together.

Printed paper sewing pattern pieces arranged on a dark wooden table. The pattern includes several labeled sections with dashed lines and text instructions.

Next, pin the pattern to the top fabric and trace the shape. Trace and cut out eight sections for the top of the skirt.

We chose to alternate two different colors (red and green)around the skirt.

Flat pattern pieces labeled "Tree Skirt Pattern - Section 4" and "Section 1" lie on a red fabric; a hand holds a marking tool along a pattern edge.

Add the eight embroidered squares to the eight sections of the skirt with double stick fusible web. Remove one side of paper from the web and smooth the square on top.

A hand with a silver ring touching a fabric square with an embroidered brown mouse in a green sweater holding a green garland on red and white fabric.

Trim the excess web, and set the squares aside. Do not remove the back paper on the web yet.

Close-up of a red fabric square with an embroidered reindeer wearing a green sweater and holding a holly branch; hand cutting white fabric border with orange scissors.

For perfect placement, place the pattern back on top of the skirt section. Mark the center of the widest part of the skirt section by poking a hole in the pattern where Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 meet.

Hand writing on a paper pattern for a tree skirt, with text labeling sections and instructions, on a dark wood surface.

Remove the pattern, and draw a line between the notches on each side of the skirt section and the center point.

Green fabric laid flat on a wooden table with one edge cut diagonally. A metal ruler and a purple marker are placed along the fabric edge.

Place the square pattern onto the skirt section. Poke a hole in the center of the pattern and align it with the center point marked on the fabric. Align the side corners with the line on the fabric and mark the corners onto the fabric.

Hand holding a purple marker drawing lines on green fabric, guided by a white paper template with diagonal lines, on a wooden surface.

Remove the paper from the back of the square, exposing the sticky side, and align the side corners of square with the marks on the fabric of the skirt section.

Press the square onto the skirt with a pressing cloth and an iron. Follow the instructions for pressing on the fusible web packaging.

Hand holding a white and turquoise iron pressing a white fabric piece on a wooden table, next to a green fabric piece. Background with wooden slats.

After pressing, sew around the square with a decorative stitch We chose a "blanket" stitch or "E" stitch for the skirt. We used cotton thread for a hand-stitched look.

Press and stitch all of the squares to the sections of the skirt.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching white thread in a decorative blanket stitch on bright red fabric bordered by green fabric, with part of a green embroidered design visible.

Next, assemble the skirt.

Lay two sections of the skirt right sides together and pin along one edge.

Partially folded fabric pieces on a table, including green, red, and white sections with pins and embroidered square borders, likely for a Christmas tree skirt.

Sew a straight stitch along the pinned edge with a 3/8 inch seam.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching two layers of bright red fabric, with a yellow-headed pin holding the fabric in place on a wooden surface.

With the skirt sections wrong side up, press the seam to one side. This helps the fabric lay flat.

Close-up of a white iron pressing two fabric pieces: a green piece folded over a red piece with white embroidered stitching along the edge.

Add a third section by laying it right sides together with the second section. Pin along the outer edge and sew a 3/8 inch seam.

Add each section as you did the previous, pressing as you go. Do not sew the side edges of the last sections.

Green fabric tree skirt being lifted to show red and white embroidered pinwheel pattern underneath; visible straight stitches and pins on wood table surface.

Prepare the bottom fabric by tracing and cutting out 8 skirt sections with the pattern.

Two pieces of white fabric with irregular edges lie on a wooden table next to an orange-handled pair of scissors. A dark wood and metal shelving unit is in the background.

Lay two sections right sides together and pin along one edge.

White fabric layers pinned together on a wooden table, with a few straight pins visible; fabric edges are irregularly cut and folded back.

Sew along the pinned edge with a 3/8 inch seam.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching white fabric with straight pins placed nearby on the fabric under bright LED light.

We chose a sturdy craft felt for our bottom fabric. This fabric is so thick that the seam must be pressed open instead of pressing it to one side.

Add each section as you did the previous sections. Do not sew the side edges of the last sections.

White fabric with scalloped edges laid flat on a wooden table with an iron pressing a white folded strip along the center.

Align one end of the fabric for the top of the skirt, right sides together, with one end of the bottom fabric. Pin in place.

Partially assembled Christmas tree skirt with green, red, and white fabric layers pinned and laid flat on a wooden table in a room with blue walls.

Sew a 3/8 inch seam along the inside edge, the entire outer edge, and one side end of the skirt. Do not sew the second side end -- this is where the skirt will be turned.

Sewing machine stitching a wavy white embroidered line on green fabric with several pins holding fabric layers together.

Turn the skirt right-side out.

Round Christmas tree skirt with alternating red and green triangles, each with a square applique showing holiday-themed embroidery like candy canes and a snowman.

Press the seams with a pressing cloth. This will help the fabric lay flat for top stitching.

Iron pressing a white fabric piece next to a green and red Christmas tree skirt with a reindeer embroidery on a table.

Sew a 3/8 inch top stitch seam all around the inside edge, the outer edge, and the side end of the skirt already sewn. Once again, do not sew along the open side end.