Christmas Crafts 1–Wreaths, Table Mat and Christmas Tree Wall Hanging

Table Mat

Having made this bunting out of ‘Scandi’ fabric, which is a one-way design I was left with more upside down triangles (see Bunting previous).

Due to the linear design it lent itself to being matched up into a Pentagon shape.  So I sewed the pieces together, making sure (at the second attempt) that the triangles met perfectly in the middle and the lines matched up-ish.

I then cut out some red spotty fabric for the back and some thin-ish wadding for the middle in the same shape using the top piece as a template.  I sewed these together by ‘quilitng-in-the-ditch’ which means topstitching along the dividing lines of the pieces to keep them together and slightly quilt the table mat.

Finally I edged the mat with inch wide ribbon.  First by sewing the ribbon and the top design side, right sides together with the sewing machine.  Then hand sewing, with a small hemming stitch, the ribbon to the back of the mat, after folding it over the edge and ironing it straight-ish.  Ribbon is very forgiving due to it’s finished edges.

I used a walking foot on my sewing machine which is a recent, very useful and much used addition to my sewing machine.  It prevents the multiple layers of fabric from bunching together. 

Pam’s Table Mat

Wreaths

I made the wreath above (in the centre of the bunting) last year 2013, out of the remains of the bunting fabric in the same picture.

It was a polystyrene ring which I covered by knotting strips of fabric (approx. 1 inch by 5 inch) with a double knot. 

NB.  Cover the white polystyrene ring first, as it takes a lot of hiding.

Then, I threaded some leftover Caribou string feathers through it and finally added some very small baubles I bought in Sainsbury’s for £1.

2014 Wreath

Another Polystyrene ring (only £1 from The Range).  This time I covered it with fine ribbon first!

Then I made approx. 30 bows out of red and green ribbon.

Using pearl headed pins I placed the ribbons around the wreath in alternate colours.

I made larger bow for the bottom out of the same ribbon.

Liz’s made me a bobby-dazzler of a bow for the top, with her new Bow Maker.  Thank You.

The bow topped it off a treat, and it managed to survive the winter weather outside on my back door..

Christmas Tree Wall Hanging

I saw this pattern made up at the Harrogate ‘Knit and Stitch Show’ (great day out) in 2012 and thought I would have a go.

The pattern was sold for charity by a ladies group.

It consists of 75 squares of fabric, painstakingly cut out and ironed, in half and half again, to made a thick edged point.  These are then sewn to a backing fabric and the ‘felt pot’ and edging is sewn on afterwards.

My symmetry OCD meant that I did not randomly place the different fabrics, but I think it would have looked better.

Small brass bells were added at the end for additional decoration.

Never again, it anyone likes it they can have the pattern.