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Finished Size 40" x 40"

Number of Blocks and Finished Size

     4 Appliqued Santa blocks 18" x 18"

Yardage Requirements
... Green plaid - 1 1/4 yards
... Green solid - 10" x 13" (holly leaves)
... Red - 2 1/4 yards (sashing, triangles, Santa's hat & mouth, holly berries, backing and binding)
... Flesh - Fat Quarter (Santa faces)
... White - 3/4 yard
... Batting - 44" x 44"
... Paper-backed fusible web - 1 yard
... 8 buttons 5/8" (eyes)
... Sewing thread
... Machine quilting thread

Appliquéing Blocks
Step 1. Trace Templates A-J on paper side of paper-backed fusible web. Cut apart, leaving small margin beyond drawn lines. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse to wrong side of appropriate fabrics; cut apart on drawn lines.
Step 2. Finger -press green plaid squares in half on both length and width; use folds as placement guide. Referring to Diagram I, position template fabrics. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse in place to make 4 Santa Blocks. Appliqué edges by machine or hand using buttonhole stitch (Diagram II). Square blocks to 18 1/2" x 18 1/2".

Diagram I

Diagram II

Step 3. Using Diagram III-A and III-B as a guide, add 2 white and 1 red triangles to corners (quick piece using 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" squares). Check to make sure color placement is same as shown in Diagrams. Measure and mark 4 1/8" on each side of remaining corner of green plaid square. Using marks as a guide, cut corner off of square.

Quick Piecing: Draw line diagonally on wrong side of red square. Sew on line and cut away excess fabric 1/4" from seamline. Repeat steps for 2 white squares.
Diagram III-A	Diagram III-B

Assembling Tree Skirt
Step 4. Sew red 2 1/2" x 14 5/8" strip to white 2 1/2 " x 4 3/8" rectangle (Diagram IV-A). Make 2 sashing strips.
Step 5. Sew red 4 3/8" x 14 5/8" strip to white 4 3/8 " x 4 3/8" square (Diagram IV-B) Make 3 sashing strips.

Diagram IV-A and IV-B

Step 6. Using Assembly Diagram as a guide, sew blocks and sashing together to make tree skirt. Leave seam open between two 2 1/2" x 18 1/2" pieced-sashing strips. (Strips will overlap approximately 1/4")

Assembly Diagram

Step 7. Make a circle cutting guide using Template K diagram. Place assembled tree skirt top on a flat surface. Using Diagram V as a guide, lay circle cutting guide (Template K) over square opening. Draw line around template. Using line as a guide, cut to make circular opening.

Diagram V

Step 8. Using Diagram VI as a placement guide, appliqué holly leaves and berries on white pieced-trapezoids on each side of tree skirt. When appliquéing pieces on side that is split, be sure to leave room for binding to be attached.

Diagram VI

Step 9. Layer and baste tree skirt top for quilting method of your choice. After quilting has been completed, trim backing and batting even with edge of tree skirt top. Using top's open side and center circle as cutting guide, cut batting and backing between 2" wide sashing strips and around center circle.
Step 10. Bind outer edge, slit and center circle of tree skirt with bias-cut red fabric