How To Sew a Christmas Tree Skirt - 72" Finished Skirt for a Large Tree

These directions sew a Christmas tree skirt that is approximately 72" wide when complete, for a large Christmas tree. When complete this skirt that extends about 36" from the trunk.
Using a serger makes this project a snap but if you don't own a serger, use zigzag stitches and baby hems to create your own version of this Christmas tree skirt.

Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 8 to 10 hours
Here's How:

Materials needed:
Fabric - 6 1/2 yards of 45" wide fabric (4 yards for the body of the skirt & 2 1/2 yards for the ruffle)
Lace or trim if you don't want a ruffle
Thread - lots of it if you are going to use your serger for rolled hems
A serger with a rolled hem plate
For the body of the skirt, cut your 4 yard length of fabric into two 2 yard lengths.
Sew a seam along 1 yard of the 2 yard length. The un-seamed area will become your opening for the back.
Fold the fabric in half along the seamed edge and then in half again to form a square.

Using a 36" piece of string with a pencil attached to one end, hold the sting at your folded corner and make a circular mark at the raw edges. Repeat this procedure with a 3" string to create a center circle for the trunk opening.
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Leaving the fabric folded, cut along your pencil lines.
Make 4" strips out of your remaining fabric for a ruffle. Join the strips together at their narrow ends. Use your serger to make rolled hem along one raw edge.
Serge the back opening edges and center circular opening of the body of the skirt, to finish the raw edge.
Use a ruffler or a long basting stitch along the raw edge of your ruffle strip to gather it. Attach it to the outer edge of the circle.
Using the regular plate on your serger finish the edge of the seam, press toward the body of the skirt and top stitch it down.
If you want a lace edge, finish the edge of the circle and attach the lace.

Tips:

When making the rolled hems, use a short stitch length. You can be creative by using thread to match one color from the print rather then the background color.
If you have a sewing machine with embroidery capabilities, stitch the year near the back edge as a reminder of the year you made it.
To change the size of the skirt, visualize and sketch a square to calculate the amount of fabric you will need.
If you don't have a serger, you can zigzag the body edges and baby hem the ruffle.