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Raise your hand if you've ever promised yourself you'd start your Christmas sewing early this year! If that's your goal, I've got the perfect project to help you get a head start.
Jennifer Long's Sew A Story Nutcracker Tradition Tree Skirt Panel for Riley Blake Designs was designed to become a stunning tree skirt, but with a little creativity, it can become something just as festive. In today's tutorial, I'm transforming the panel into a set of cozy throw pillows that let you enjoy the beautiful Nutcracker Tradition artwork throughout your home instead of just around the Christmas tree.
Whether you tuck them onto a sofa, accent chair, guest bedroom, or your favorite reading nook, these pillows will add warmth and holiday charm to every space. So gather your supplies, and let's give this beautiful panel a whole new purpose!
Let's get started.
1. Using a diamond-shaped quilterâs ruler, decide which parts of the panel you would like to showcase on your throw pillow. Take your time positioning the ruler to make the most of each design element. I used a water-soluble fabric pen to mark my cutting lines, carefully selecting the perfect placement for each nutcracker and other details I wanted to highlight on my pillows.
2. Cut out the additional fabrics needed to complete your design. I chose a cotton twill fabric because it has a similar weight and weave to the panel fabric, creating a consistent look and feel throughout the pillow. Place all your fabric shapes on a flat surface and arrange them the way you would like them to appear on your pillow. Take a moment to adjust the placement until you are happy with your final design.
3. Working with the diamond-shaped pieces, assemble your design one row at a time. Once each row is complete, stitch the rows together to create the finished pillow front.
6. Trim the pillow front to your desired size. Each of my pillow fronts measures 18 ½", but you can customize the size to suit your project and the pillow form you would like to use.
7. Since the other fabric I used for my pillow front was plain, I decided to add some accents to the blank spaces using the Nutcracker Tradition Sparkle Stencil and Sparkle Paste. It was the perfect way to bring a little extra sparkle and dimension to the design.
8. I used Pressing Paper when curing the Sparkle Paste with my iron and again when applying the HeatnBond Fusible Fleece to the back of the pillow front. It helped protect my project and gave me a smooth, professional finish.
9. Using a Âźâ guide, I topstitched the pillow front. You can choose another way to add a quilted aspect and texture to your pillow front.
10. Finish the pillow as desired. You can simply put two identical pillow shapes with right sides together, stitch around the perimeter leaving a 3 inch opening, turn your work right side out and close the opening by hand. You can also go to one of my previous blog posts and follow the instructions for a zipper closure. Youâll find all the information you need right here
Thanks for joining me in creating these festive Nutcracker Tradition throw pillows. I hope this project inspires you to look at panels in a new way and find creative ways to bring beautiful fabrics into your home.
If you enjoyed this project, I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And donât forget to stop by my  Instagram and say HI, I would love to see what youâre creating!
By Deb Zaleski
