I wanted to create a tree skirt this year to last through Ivan's childhood. Every time I thought about it I kept coming back to the tree skirt mom made with us sometime in the 70's. Her original was on felt and had red and green accents. I could not find white felt big enough so I used fleece instead. I like the end result even better.I used one yard of fleece. Cut it into a half circle. Cut a small half circle from the center of the straight edge. Sewed a couple feet of double fold bias tape around the small half circle to form ties. The my helper and I traced cookie cutter shapes and our family handprints on red felt. We cut them out and sewed them on using red thread and a zig zag stitch.
The best part was the working together with my almost four year old. He was pressed against the side of me the whole time I sewed. He was my reverse switcher and my presser foot lifter. I started out doing it myself, then he said "mama I can help, I can do it for you." At first I would say, "Up... down.." then he got to where he knew when my foot let up the gas it was time to lift again, and we were working together in harmony with no words needed.
I wanted him to be a part of the making so he would treasure it more but I had no idea how much fun we both would have.
