How to Make a Velvet Christmas Tree Skirt

By Alyssa
45 minutes

This year, I really wanted to up my Christmas tree game. While “tree collars” are the trendy thing right now they are a large space commitment the rest of the year while they sit in storage, and I like the traditional look during the holidays.

I have also been itching to use this new Taupe Velvet we started carrying. It is wonderfully soft with a very subtle golden sheen.

I chose to make both sides the same material, but it could be reversible if you play with the materials and colors you use.

How to Make a Velvet Christmas Tree Skirt

Materials

Video

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the template

Included in our template are two different variations, I will be making mine with the scalloped edge but if you like a more streamlined look, you could go with the classic circle skirt.

Download the Christmas tree skirt template from our website, assemble it, and then cut it out.

When printing out any of our templates, you should always make sure that the box on the first page is a perfect square inch. If it is not, computer may have scaled the template when you printed it so just go back and make sure that you are printing it on the “actual size” setting as opposed to scaled.

Step 2: Cut out the fabric

You are going to need a top and a bottom panel, so repeat the process to cut out an identical piece.

Once it’s together, you’ll notice that the template is only a quarter of the full skirt. Fold the fabric in half and line the edge up to the fold.

Trace the top quarter and then swing the template around and mark out the bottom half. Don’t forget to mark out the center circle before moving the template.

Cut the fabric out while it is still folded to get a symmetrical shape.

Step 3: Pin Together

Pin the top and bottom pieces with right sides together.

Pin way more than you think you need to, especially if you are using velvet as it can be a really slippery material to work with.

Also, it’s pretty important the all of the scallops are the same size as the one that they are matched up to, so if you need to trim one down a little to match the one below it, I highly recommend doing so.

Step 4: Pick the back edge

Using my straight edge, I am going to cut from the scalloped edge to the center hole. To make sure that it is straight, you can fold the skirt in half and match it up to the scallop on the opposite side and use that line to make your ruler straight.

Pin both sides of the opening in place.

Step 5: Sew

Sew the entire thing together leaving about a 10” gap on one side of the opening in the back.

Start at the back opening before a corner and end on that same side right after the other corner.

It’s much trickier to close corners with an invisible stitch so make sure you plan it out a little bit so you don’t have to deal with figuring that out.

When you are sewing, go slow, and take your time pulling out pins and rotating the fabric. If you are using velvet, be extra vigilant because it can be really slippery. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end.

And I did want to mention – I did have some puckering. I did not pay enough attention to the scallops being the same size before sewing and I probably could have pinned about twice as much as I did and that would have helped. So do as I say, not as I do.

Step 6: Flip Right Side Out

Cut away any bulkiness happening around your seams.

Flip the entire thing right side out through the opening making sure to pop out all the corners.

Iron all the seams of the tree skirt, making sure to press them down flat.

Fold in the edges of the opening so they match the seams on the surrounding sides and iron the opening so you can sew it closed easily.

Step 7: Stitch closed the opening

Using an invisible stitch, sew the opening closed. If you have never sewn an invisible stitch, or you need a refresher on the steps, I will link our invisible stitch tutorial here.