Today we’ll finish the piecing and do the quilting on the Christmas in July wall hanging. When we left off, there were two pieces ready to add borders. I used strips 2-1/2-inches wide of a dark background border. Begin by adding borders to the top and sides of the tree section.

On the pocket piece, sew borders to the sides and bottom.

Quilt both pieces as desired. Note that the pocket piece is too big right now (top to bottom), that will be adjusted later.

I quilted mine with a swirly freehand design in the white areas that I hope look like snow blowing around. It is stitched with white thread.

In the borders, I used a simflex gauge to mark evenly spaced lines for a ribbon candy design, stitched in black.

The tree is stitched in green thread, with curves back and forth like garland.

Both pieces quilted quickly.

Measure the bottom white section of the tree base, and trim the upper edge of the pocket piece to that measurement. Mine is 6-1/4-inches top to bottom. I have you do it this way to ensure that your embroidery will fit. If necessary, trim a bit off the bottom. No one will notice if the border on the bottom is a quarter inch smaller than the sides. Just make the embroidery come out in the right place. If you have to trim a lot so the bottom border is markedly smaller, then simply trim the base piece sides and top, and the pocket sides to match.

Cut a smaller strip of border print at 2-1/4-inches and bind the top edge of the pocket.

Apply using your favorite method. For mine, I stitched it to the front with a quarter inch foot, then turned it to the back to finish by hand.

I used this method as the binding would be thinner than my usual.

Stack the pocket over the base at the bottom, and stitch the edges together.

Ready for the outer edge binding. Cut your binding strips 2-1/2-inches wide so you have enough for the thicker bottom.

The binding will go over the double layer just fine. I sewed mine to the front, then turned it to the back and hand stitched. A day of sports on TV for slow Sunday stitching, and the base is done. Next week, we’ll decorate the tree, and I’ll show you two ideas – one with buttons for an Advent piece, and one with broken jewelry so you might still enjoy some pretty pieces that are not wearable anymore.

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