Thursday, February 5, 2015

Skaters Village Tree Skirt

So I began my next new start yesterday: Skaters Village Tree Skirt!


I have always loved Victorian Christmas themed decorations. One reason I chose the stockings I did for all of us is because they fit into that old fashioned theme, and when I saw this tree skirt years and years ago, I knew that it would be perfect to compliment the stockings I had completed:


The problem? I kept putting off buying this kit. I had other projects to work on, other things to do, and it was a pricy kit anyway. By the time I decided I really wanted to do this kit and was ready to purchase it? It was retired! I could not find it anywhere! I was so disappointed! I kept an eye out on EBay and other places - this $50 kit was being sold for nearly $200 everywhere I looked! No way!

I kept an eye out over the years. I was willing to pay up to $100 for the kit because it was retired and it was my own fault for not purchasing it sooner. Plus, I just never fell in love with another tree skirt in the same way and none of the kits that came out really fit the stockings as well as this one does, in my opinion.

Last fall, I lucked out! I found an EBay seller that was selling the kit for $75! It was already opened, but everything was in the kit, nothing had been started, so I absolutely used the Buy It Now option and it was mine!

Last night, I finally started this piece! And oh my goodness, this is going to be both a beautiful piece to work on...and probably the hardest project I ever worked on. The pattern isn't complex, it's not even the biggest pattern that I'm working on - I have several HAED's that are bigger. The difficulty with this project is going to be the MASSIVE fabric I'm stitching it on!

Here is the progress I made last night:


This stitched up pretty quickly because so much of it was done in half stitches. To give some perspective of how big this fabric is - I'm doing 3-4 strands of floss for each of the colors, rather than two on most normal pieces. Backstitching when I get to it is done with two strands. But to really make it clear:


That hoop is a 10-inch hoop. This piece of fabric is HUGE. Now, I will only stitch on the bottom half of the fabric, and the rest will be used to help cut out and shape the tree skirt when I'm done, but this is going to be a unique challenge to stitch! But that's okay. It's going to be so worth it in the end!

Until next time!
~Katy

16 comments:

  1. Good luck with the tree skirt, the picture is beautiful. Wonderful stocking.

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  2. The design is beautiful and huge, good luck can't wait to see your progress.

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  3. Oh wow Katy. Your stockings are gorgeous as is that tree skirt. But, that is one huge project.

    Linda

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  4. Wow. What a beautiful piece. I agree with you though what a challenge. You can do it!

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  5. What an amazing project to be working on it will look fantastic with all your fabulous stockings.

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  6. I love Victorian Christmas designs too. Those stockings are fabulous, and the tree skirt is stunning!
    It will be fun watching you progress. Happy stitching!

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  7. WOW
    That tree skirt is going to look stunning!!!

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  8. Wow is right !!! Enjoy the challenge, you will do great!
    Happy Stitching
    Denise

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  9. I did the same thing you did, kept putting off buying it, and now it is crazy expensive. I put it off until I could buy just the chart, as I didn't want to do it on aida. Now I live in a Victorian and still cannot buy just the chart. Heartbreaking.

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  10. On your stockings labeled "Paul" "Katy" "Teresa"...will you sell the pattern and color charts? "Teresa" is the main one I'm interested in. When I first saw this one on sale, my daughter only had a girl. She has since added a boy to the family. So this stocking is perfect! However, I can't afford the $189.90 price tag on eBay. The other two are ones I really like as well.

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  11. I no longer have these patterns as I write on my copies and I did that one over a decade ago. I'm sorry! Good luck!

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  13. Hi, i was curious, did you finish this project?
    I have been all over the place, I am in Canada, my mom used to have this under our tree, she had a fire at her home and lost it :( i have been all over to try and locate this pattern so that i can make it for her, which is how I came across you! Do you by chance still have the pattern?? I would be willing to pay you for it, i don't even need the paper copy, just even a PDF?? I contacted dimensions, and they don't even have it. Is there anything you would be willing to do?? Thank you for your time! You can email me directly at aconnors2907@gmail.com if possible to help. Thanks, Ash

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