Piecing and Trimming Your Holiday Hills Tree Tops
Putting your trees together correctly for your Holidays Hills quilt or pillow can be a little tricky at first, but also very simple once you get the hang of it! I have created a step-by-step tutorial below and on my YouTube channel to show you a few simple tricks for piecing and trimming these fun tree tops.
VIEW THE HOLIDAY HILLS COLLECTION
Watch the Video Tutorial
If photos and written instructions are easier for you to follow, keep scrolling through the tutorial. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mOFqyDs8okc
Piecing Your Tree Top
Step one:
The key to putting your tree tops together is making sure you are lining up the correct ends. With these templates, we will work from the bottom up. Find the two points circled in red in Figure 1. Then, place your tree top and background piece right sides together, starting with the points found in Figure 1 (Figure 2).
Step two:
Pin in place to keep everything secure and lined up (Figure 3). You should have a bit of background overhang at the top (Figure 4). This is part of the pattern and allows for the space needed for trimming later on.
Step three:
Press seam open (Figure 5 & 6).
Step four:
Similar to the process in step 1, find the two points in red on the other side of your tree top and your other background piece (Figure 7). Place the right sides together starting with the two points in red (Figure 8).
Step five:
Pin place and make sure the same overhang is happening in the background piece. Your previously sewn background piece and pinned background piece should line up at the top (Figure 9).
Step six:
Press the tree top to prepare for trimming (Figure 10).
Trimming Your Tree Top
This is a part that could easily get a little tricky when trying to figure out where to line up your ruler with the untrimmed tree top. But I promise you can do it! Each of the tree tops were designed with a little wiggle room so that once you are at this step, you will end up with a perfect tree top for your quilt or pillow!
Step one:
Start by finding the center of your triangle on your ruler. For this size tree top, the finished trimmed width is 4 1/2″. I have lined up my center point at 2 1/4″ and the top of the point at 1/2″ as shown by the red lines (Figure 11). Work your way down to make sure you have everything lined correctly by finding ruler marks on each side of your triangle that help keep it straight (Figure 12). Trim off excess from the top and right side.
Step two:
Flip tree top around and line up with specified size of the tree top – 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ for this one (Figure 13).
Step three:
Give your tree top a final press if needed and continue with directions for adding a trunk and finishing your block.
VIEW THE HOLIDAY HILLS COLLECTION
If tutorials like this through videos are more helpful for you, make sure to check out the same steps in this video.
Have other questions I can help you with? Send me an email and let’s figure it out together!