When my husband saw me gradually assembling and sewing what looked like a Christmas tree in late May, he was rather confused. He knows I like to be organised, but even he thought that was a bit early. I tried to explain about Christmas in July, but he's never heard of it. We're from the UK and its not a term you'd hear there – is it just the US? You can read more about the origins of Christmas in July at Wikipedia.
Not to be deterred by his Scrooge impressions, I've made the cutest Christmas Tree. What do you think? It's the perfect size to go on an entry table or use as a table centerpiece, although I designed it initially with toddlers in mind, so they could safely decorate their own Christmas Tree. I even included magic buttons to play Christmas Carols too.
It also comes with 4 different sets of felt ornaments you can make which I'll be sharing tomorrow – but that's not all! Lots of other bloggers have teamed up to create unique felt and fabric Christmas ornaments for your tree, and they'll be sharing them with you over the next couple of weeks. We are going to have a great big Christmas in July sewing celebration. Plus, it gives you plenty of time to get to work on this and have it ready in good time for when Christmas really comes.
Making the Fab Felt Christmas Tree
Materials needed:
- Stiff cardboard
- Strong tape like parcel tape
- Scissors and a craft knife, pencil and ruler
- Felt in brown and green, white optional
- Matching thread
- Red and green buttons
- Spray adhesive
- Optional – decorative elements such as snowflake brads, light bulb buttons etc
- Optional – magic buttons that play music!
You'll need to download the felt pattern, tree dimensions and directions to start. The download includes all the pattern pieces you need, the written instructions and links to the video tutorials.
You can download the pattern and instructions for the Felt Christmas Tree from my design account at Payhip. It's a PDF file containing both instructions and pattern pieces all in the same file. Enjoy! And check the blog for the post about the ornaments pack too - they are really cute!
Our first step is to cut and assemble the cardboard shape which will form the bones of the tree. It's not difficult, but you'll need to start saving or bringing home some cardboard boxes.
Take a look here at how to assemble the 4 stacking tree elements.
Subscribe to the YouTube channel:
So now your tree is assembled but bare. It's time to cover it with the felt cover. You'll need brown and green, and if you want to add snow at the top, also some white felt. I also added a couple of spots of red felt to mark where my musical buttons are.
Subscribe to the YouTube channel:Decorating your tree
Check back tomorrow when I'll be sharing some cute tree ornaments in two sizes. No huge collection of colored felt needed – these are iron-on!
Easiest ever felt Christmas Tree Ornaments – coming tomorrow
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You can download the pattern and instructions for the Felt Christmas Tree from my design account at Payhip. It's a PDF file containing both instructions and pattern pieces all in the same file. Enjoy! And check the blog for the post about the ornaments pack too - they are really cute!
Excerpt from the 1940 film Christmas in July.
Love your christmas tree. came from totally tutorials. I love the felt and your blog is super!
Thanks very much Sonia.
How cute I am going to make this for my room so I can have a Christmas tree! I would love it if you would share one of your posts on my Meet Up Monday Blog Party!
http://jennymaire.blogspot.com/
I love your tree! My husband is from New Zealand, and they do talk about Christmas in July there (probably because it’s winter), but he’s still a Scrooge about me doing anything before Thanksgiving! Thank you for linking up with The Caffeinated Crafters!!
I love this, thanks sharing and great directions.
I was just thinking I should start stashing up some handmade gifts for Christmas! Hadn’t thought about making a tree, too! but it’s sooo cute!! I’ve got a post scheduled for tomorrow morning that links to your pattern and also to your ornament printable: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-felt-christmas-tree-plus-a-printable-for-miniature-felt-ornaments/2014/07/09/
–Anne
Thank you so much Anne.
Perfect time to start making things for Christmas!
If I don’t start now it won’t be finished in time for sure!
‘Tis the (pre) Season. Wow!
What a cute tree and I love that you posted it now! I really need to plan my Christmas activities better. If I saw this in November it would never make it on the ‘must-do’ schedule for the holidays:)
That’s exactly the same for me. Unless I Pin this now and think about it far in advance this sort of thing escapes me by the time Christmas starts to draw near.
Christmas in July is common in Australia . It’s a way to enjoy the roasts and puddings in cooler weather. The hot meal in midsummer not so enjoyable for many
Very cute, Debby! Yes, Christmas in July! And would you believe that I DO have my Christmas Tree up along with my Nativity and tons of decorations throughout the house?!! Yes, I’m the weird lady in the neighborhood! Well, it wasn’t intended to stay up all year, but I knew we were having more family for Christmas in March so I left it up till then. Then I was just busy and kept putting it off. Then I counted how many months till it was time to put it up again and I just said “Forget It!” But you can bet it WILL come down in January 2015! Husband was a little embarrassed about it at first, but we neither notice it now. It was funny in early June when I hosted Canasta for a friend and one lady brought in Christmas gifts (yes, she was very late) and asked if I could hold one until the other lady returns from summer travels. I said “yes, I have the perfect place for it!” I do turn on the lights when someone new is coming over as I did on Friday. We all get a good laugh. So Merry Christmas in July!!
Ok, I admit, I put up Christmas lights in my bedroom the first week of December, and they are still up, and being used now in June. I just like them. A tree though – my cat would be constantly trying to climb it.
Very cute Deby! I can’t wait to see everyone else’s contributions!
I was so inspired by the advent calendar tree you made last year, I simply had to make a felt tree all of my own to decorate too.