Here’s the story of the Tall Trim the Tree Quilt: I saw it at a show in Stover, Missouri.

Fell. in. love.

Bought the pattern. Didn’t know how to foundation piece. Then, I watched these three Youtube videos & learned. I also bought a teeny, template from the Missouri Star Quilt Company to create a inner border from scraps. Purchase links & how to for template are here. Then, I sent it all the way to Missouri to be quilted by Jan at Prairie Queen Quilting. She uses a computerized quilting machine, so I was able to pick from these designs. I selected “christmas tree modern simple.” It came back to South Dakota in the mail on November 22! Just in time for Christmas decorating after Thanksgiving. I really like the stars & tree pattern in the quilting. 

I modified the original pattern a bit. Mine is on the left. Original pattern on the right:

• Changed color scheme a bit
• Left off the “tree skirt” in the original pattern
• Added the pieced inner border
• Added four “candy cane” corner border blocks

It was fun for me to change up the pattern a little bit to “make it my own.” I just started doing this in 2013. Before, I was a diehard pattern-follower. Now, I guess I’m sort of a quilting rebel!? Ha, that doesn’t even make sense. Quilting rebel. More like 20-something quilting geek.  🙂

Anyway – where was I? I am so excited to use this tree as a wall hanging this year. One minor drawback: I think it is almost too tall for our walls!

I teasingly told my Mom the tree need to be hanging in a grand foyer. (Notice how foyer sounds fancier than entryway?)

In my mind, it should hang somewhere like this…right there on that open wall. And…a grand piano could sit below it – with three white, pillar style candles. Okay. Enough dreaming….

Photo credit: Pinterest (of course!)

 This is where it really ended up, on a wall in my studio. I’m happy to be looking at it every day as I walk around our house. 

Happy stitching & Merry Christmas –