CHRISTMAS WREATH
YOU WILL NEED
■ Print fabrics: twenty (20)
7in squares
■ Fusible interfacing (20in
wide): 1yd
■ Bias binding: 20in
■ Ribbon for hanging loop: 16in
■ Metal hoop: 6in diameter
■ Toy stuffing
■ One (1) copy each of the Dresden, Interfacing and Circle templates
FINISHED SIZE
■ Approx 16in
This modern Christmas wreath uses the classic Dresden block as the base for a unique 3D Christmas decoration!
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise stated
■ Press seams open throughout, unless otherwise instructed.
■ RST = right sides together.
■ WST = wrong sides together.
FABRICS USED
All fabrics are from the Jolly Darlings collection by Ruby Star Society.
CUTTING OUT
1 From the print fabrics cut:
■ Twenty (20) blades using the Dresden template, as shown in Fig A.
2 From the fusible interfacing cut:
■ Twenty (20) blades using the Interfacing template.
PREPARING THE BLADES
3 Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply the interfacing to the wrong side of each print fabric blade, centring it so that there is a ¼in seam allowance all the way around, as shown in Fig B.
4 Follow steps 6–9 of the tutorial to make two ten-blade Dresden circles, which will make each side of the wreath (Figs C– D). Press the seams in a clockwise direction for each circle. If you would like the blades to be in the same order on the front and back, then you need to lay out the blades in a clockwise direction for the front and an anticlockwise direction for the back.
CONSTRUCTING THE WREATH
5 Place both wreaths WST, carefully matching up all the seams. Pin each seam to keep the blocks in place (Fig E).
6 Decide which blade will be the top of your wreath. Beginning with the next blade from the top, topstitch the two layers together as follows. Starting at the centre, stitch up one side, across the pointed top and down the other side, approx 1/ 8in from the seams and edges. Leave the centre circle edge open. Repeat for each blade, leaving the top blade unsewn at this point.
7 Take your ribbon for the hanger, and tuck 1/2in of the ends in between the layers at either side of the top blade (Fig F). Pin or clip in place. Topstitch the last blade, catching the ribbon in the topstitching to secure.
8 Centre the circle template on your wreath, and trace around it (Fig G). Trim along your drawn line to create a smooth centre circle. Stuff each blade from the centres, as demonstrated in Fig H. Make sure to push it right up into the point, but don’t overstuff.
9 Sew the two short ends of your binding together in order to create a loop. Clip or pin to the wreath centre front, right sides together, matching the raw ends (Fig I). Sew in place.
10 Fold the binding over to the back, covering the raw edges, and gently press. Insert the metal hoop inside the fold of the binding and clip in place (Fig J). Hand stitch the folded edge to the back to finish your wreath.