10+ DIY Christmas Decorations

Materials and Required Items: Sewing material, sewing machine, thread, sewing needle, scissors, quilt batting/thicker material for inside some of the projects, stuffing, ribbon, googly eyes x2, Velcro.

1. Big tree skirt

2. Small tree skirt

3. Trivet cover

4. Pillow cover

5. Table runner

6. Towel holders

7. Seat cushions

8. Kleenex box cover

9. Coasters

10. Quilted bird ornament

11. Stuffed present decoration

12. Side table center square

13. Hot glue quilted ball ornament

*Start off by making a log cabin quilt block:

*Iron all of your material so it is nice and smooth.

*Cut long strips of material 2.5 inches wide in all of the colours you'll be using.

*Decide where you want each colour to go in the block.

*Pick your center colour and cut out a 2.5 x 2.5 inch square

*Next choose the 2nd colour, align the strip on the square with the right side of the materials facing inwards and sew one side together.

*Cut the excess strip off, and iron. Now you have a piece with 2 squares sewn together.

*Next, using the same 2nd colour, align the strip over the sewn sqaures length ways and sew along one long side.

*Cut the excess strip and iron your piece. You will now have a square block consisting of 2 small squares and one rectangle.

*Take the 3rd colour and align this on top of your block. Find the last piece that you sewed (the longest one on the square), the new strip will be sewn over the end of that piece, but on the opposite side of the block. Sew, cut and iron.

*Taking the 3rd colour again, align ontop of your block so that when opened the center circle is now completely surrounded.

*Continue this pattern, making sure that you always sew the new piece so that it is touching the end of the last piece that was sewn. If it is the same colour it will be on the same side of the square, and if it is a new colour it'll be on the opposite side of the square. Make as large as needed. For the large tree skirt, I used 7 different colours to make the quilt block.

*Repeat this process 5 times so that you have a total of 5 quilt blocks. You may want to work on them simultaneously so that they all finish at the same time.

*Arrange the blocks in a circle so that they all connect at the tip, and the same colours go inwards. It will look like there is a star in the middle.

*Try to make them as evenly spaced as possible.

*Measure the distance of each triangle gap. Measure how long each square is, as well as how far it is from one tip of the square to the next square. Do this for all of the spaces and write down your measurements. The length of each quilt block should be about the same.

*Take the measurement values from the space between square tips (there should be 5), add them together and divide by 5. This makes it so your squares will now be perfectly spaced.

*Measure how long your seam allowance is and add this value to each side of your measured triangle including the tip. My triangle was measured to be about 13 inches on the long sides and ~4.25 inches between square tips. If your seam allowance is 1/2 an inch make sure you add that to all sides. So then your triangle will actually become a quadrilateral with dimensions of 14 inches x 14 inches x 1 inch x 5.25 inches because when you add in 1/2 an inch seam allowance to each side, the tip of the triangle needs to have a seam allowance.

*Now to cut out your triangles. Cut a rectangle that is 5.25 inches wide and a little longer than 14 inches. Find the mid point between 5.25 inches, which is 2.625 or 2 inches and 5/8s. Made a mark as to where the center is, and then make a mark for your seam allowances. Now you will have 3 dots and the distance between the outer dots will be 1 inch (if your seam allowance was 1/2 an inch)

*Now measure from the tip of the rectangle and down to one of the outer dots. Adjust this so that it is 14 inches long. Now cut from one rectangle tip to one outer seam allowance mark and the other tip to the other seam allowance mark. You will now have your 14 x 14 x 1 x 5.25 quadrilateral, measure it just to be sure. If you are off, try again. Better to redo it now than to sew them together and find out your pieces don't fit together.

*Once you have your triangles, arrange them one at a time over the squares and sew together and iron.

*Once you've done most of them, arrange your tree skirt to make sure the last couple of pieces will fit. If all looks good, continue to sew together until there is all but one side of a square and one side of a triangle not sewn. These will remain open so that you can easily put the skirt around the tree.

*Now you have the top piece of your quilted tree skirt. To make the bottom piece, I cut out squares the same size as the quilt blocks as well as additional triangle connecting pieces as I didn't have enough material in one colour to cover the whole backside. Sew the triangles to the squares as was done above. Once it is all together arrange on the top making sure that all the pieces align properly. If you want to use quilt batting cut this out in the same size and put between your pieces. Depending on how thick your batting is, you may need to sew a border on as opposed to sewing inside out and flipping right side out when finished.

*I did the latter, so that I didn't have to sew a border. Sew both sides together with the right side inwards, notch any edges, flip right side out when finished, and iron.

*At the opening, fold inwards 1/2 an inch and iron.

*Using the invisible stitch, hand sew the opening so that it is completely closed.

*Set up your Christmas tree, and you can wrap the tree skirt underneath!

*The small tree skirt is very similar to the big tree skirt except I made it with 6 squares, and small blocks. I used one center square and then only a second colour and went all the way around the center square. But the steps are ultimately the same.

*Create 6 blocks

*Align into a circle, measure triangles as before and cut out.

*Sew together, making sure to leave one side of the square and one side of the adjacent triangle unsewn.

*Cut out backside, sew together, and iron.

*Hand stitch opening.

*Arrange around tree.

*Create Quilt Block as in step 1.

*I used the same colour for the first 3 segments so that it was the proper size, and the same colour for the outside.

*Trace and cut out backside of trivet cover.

*Sew top to bottom leaving 1 of the sides open.

*Choose zipper to be used, make sure it is cut to length. Sew over end before cutting.

*Sew on using zipper foot on sewing machine, making sure to change the needle position as well.

*Make sure zipper closes well.

*Hand stitch the edges so that it is smooth.

*Insert trivet, close zipper, and enjoy!

*Create 2 log cabin quilt blocks as in step 1.

*Sew two blocks together with the right sides facing inward, Leave one side open.

*Add zipper as in step 3.

*Insert pillow and enjoy!

*Create log cabin quilt blocks as in step 1. Create as many as are needed for table length, I made 5 for mine.

*Cut out small squares of a single colour to go between the quilt blocks. These can be as big or small as you want. I used 5 x 5 inch squares for this.

*Sew the small squares onto the quilt block so that when you sew blocks together you will be sewing a straight line.

*Sew all blocks together, and iron.

*Align the top part of your table runner onto the bottom material, trace and cut out.

*Sew top to bottom, making sure to leave a gap to flip inside out.

*Alternatively, using a quilt batting attach the top + batting + bottom with a border.

*Notch the edges, and iron so it is all smooth.

*Hand stitch the opening with an invisible stitch.

*Measure the distance around your towels and make the length of the material a bit smaller. This will make it so that it stays on the towels.

*Cut this strip of material to a width of 2.5 inches.

*Fold the material in half length ways and sew.

*Flip inside out using tools if needed. I used needle nose pliers and a chopstick.

*Iron so that it is flat and smooth.

*Hand stitch both ends.

*Apply velcro to the ends and sew onto material, making sure to pay attention as to which sides will be touching when folded with a small part overlapping.

*Hot glue a tiny ribbon to the center.

*Put onto your towels and never have to worry about the towels falling off the bar again!

*Create quilt block as in step 1.

*Trace and cut out backside of cushion.

*Cut long strips of material 2.5 inches wide, these will be the ties. You will need 2 of these per cushion. Fold in half and sew lengthways. Flip right-side-out and iron. Find half way point and make a mark.

*Place block onto your chair and make a small mark on the wrong side of the material where the middle point of the chair back is.

*Put the top and bottom piece of the cushion with the right side facing inwards.

*Insert the chair ties between the two pieces of material.

*Line up the center of the ties with the mark made from where the chair back is. There will be a little bit of overhang, this is fine.

*Sew together, leave an opening so you can flip it right side out.

*Flip right side out, and iron, you will now have 4 ties (2 with 2 halves).

*Stuff the cushion.

*Fold over ~1/2 an inch of the opening and sew shut with an invisible stitch.

*Fold ends into the opening and hand stitch the ends of each of the ties.

*Place onto chair, tie the ties, and enjoy your new comfy cushion!

*Choose the Kleenex box you want to cover.

*Rotate it on a piece of material so you have enough space.

*Place with the top side down and make a tiny mark in each corner.

*Gently rotate the box in each direction and trace the edges, making sure to return to the original position before rotating again.

*Draw 1/2 inch seam allowance around original drawing.

*Place ontop of 2nd piece of material, this will be the other side. Have the right side of the material facing inwards.

*Pin and cut out.

*Measure the opening of your Kleenex box.

*Draw an oval, fold into 4 so that it is even.

*Measure the center of your drawing and trace the oval here.

*Cut oval before sewing if you want a large opening, or after for a smaller opening.

*Sew around oval.

*Pull one of the coloured materials through the hole and now they will both be right side out.

*Fold each colour separate and sew the corners.

*Then fold the two colours together, pin and add elastics.

*Sew along the bottom, stopping occasionally so that you can get around the elastics.

*Insert the Kleenex box in upside down and iron.

*Remove and insert box properly, and you're done!

*Flip material inside out for alternative colour.

*Cut 4 squares 2.5 x 2.5 inches.

*Sew 2 together, and the other 2 together as well. Iron flat.

*Sew these two pieces together, and iron.

*Trace out a thicker material/quilt batting for the middle, as well as cut out a material for the back of the quilt.

*Sew together making sure to leave a gap.

*Notch the corners.

*Flip right side out.

*Iron so that it is smooth.

*Hand stitch shut with an invisible stitch.

*Find a bird picture you would like to create.

*Print on a piece of paper and cut out.

*Trace onto a new paper and draw lines for where certain colours will be. Make sure to draw lines so that you will always be stitching straight lines.

*Cut out pattern, add seam allowances to all sides.

*Trace onto material and cut out. Create 2 of each so the bird is double sided.

*Sew the pieces together so you now have 2 halves of the bird.

*Sew the two halves together leaving an opening.

*Flip right side out.

*Add stuffing.

*Hand stitch shut, inserting a ribbon for hanging in the middle.

*Trace out wings, cut out material x2 for each wing, sew together, flip right side out, hand stitch shut.

*Hand stitch wings to bird.

*Hot glue eyes.

*Hang ornament!

*Cut out 6 squares 2.5 x 2.5 inches.

*Sew 4 squares together in a straight line.

*Sew the remaining 2 squares to the second square down. One on each side.

*Sew corners together, making sure to leave an opening.

*Iron and add stuffing.

*Hand stitch shut.

*Add a ribbon, and you're done!

*Create 2 log cabin square blocks as in step 1.

*Lay together with the right side inward.

*Sew together, making sure to leave an opening.

*Flip right side out, and iron.

*Hand stitch opening.

*Cut out a bunch of 2.5 x 2.5 squares in two different colours.

*Fold in half to create a rectangle.

*Find the center of the rectangle on the folded edge.

*Place a small amount of glue onto a styrofoam ball and attach the center point to the glue. Use a cold pen to press so you don't burn yourself.

*Place a small amount of glue on the opposide side of material from the center.

*Fold down the top corners to the middle. This will now create a triangle. Place glue at each point.

*Repeat on opposide side.

*Repeat on two adjacent sides now so that it is all covered.

*Repeat process on a second layer about 1/2 inch down from first layer. Make sure to line up so the center lines are continuous.

*Repeat for opposite side of ball.

*Iron and glue a ribbon to the middle of the ball to cover the open seams.

*Glue a ribbon to hang the ornament, and a button to hide the seams.

*Hang up and we're finished!