Cut a strip of background fabric that measures 11 inches long by the width of each tree strip—then you'll have an 11-inch background strip for each side of your green tree strips, for a total of (14) 11-inch strips. Attach these, using a 1/4 inch seam, to each side of each green strip. Use this same method to make your tiny tree trunk, which will be from 1 to 2 inches wide. Press all seams open.
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Now you'll start sewing your horizontal strips together. I have found it's easiest to press the seams open as you sew. You’ll have to get up and down a lot but it’s worth it, I promise. Finger-press seams open before ironing to make it a little easier. After all strips are sewn together, flip your piece over and press from the front. (Remember: press up and down. Don't drag the iron back and forth. These little strips are fragile and you don't want to distort the grain of the fabric!)
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Measure the height of your tree and subtract that number from 22 (the height of the finished piece). For example, my tree was about 9 inches tall, so 22-9=13. Now divide this number by 2, and you'll have the length of your top and bottom strips of background fabric (in my case 6½). So I cut 2 strips of background fabric 6½ inches by 19 inches (the finished width of the piece). Attach one strip above the tree and one below, making the total height approximately 22 inches. Now it's time to square up your tree. Use your rotary cutter and mat to trim your tree patch to 19 inches wide by 22 inches tall. Sketch a star and trace onto your fusible web. Following the manufacturer's directions, apply fusible web to fabric and cut out star shape. Iron onto the background fabric right above tree. I chose to hand-embroider inside my star. You could also machine stitch around the star, embellish it with buttons, or just leave it plain. christmas 2010
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