Daily Archives: November 11, 2026

The tree skirt is the frame of the whole Christmas tree The tree gets all the attention, but the tree skirt is what finishes the picture. It hides the tree stand, catches the falling needles, and gives the presents a place to sit — and it is one of the easiest Christmas makes there is: a circle of fabric, a little trim, and an afternoon of sewing. Three fabrics make the best tree skirts, and they give very different trees: velvet is the luxurious one, burlap is the rustic one, and felt is the crafty one. Here is how they compare, and which one suits your tree. Velvet tree skirts: the luxury finish A velvet tree skirt is the skirt on the cover of the Christmas catalogue. Deep burgundy, forest green or navy velvet, finished with a cream faux-fur trim or a gold braid, makes the base of the tree look as considered as the top. Velvet’s pile catches the light, so the skirt changes colour as you walk past the tree, and it photographs beautifully — which matters, because the tree skirt is in every Christmas morning photograph. Velvet is also practical under a tree. It is heavy enough to lie flat and stay put, it hides the tree stand completely, and it catches needles without showing them. A velvet tree skirt with a faux-fur edge is the classic luxury look. Our Premium Velvet includes soft stretch velvet in 49 colours, and the Velvet Fabric collection covers royal velvet and silk rayon velvet too. Velvet is the most demanding of the three to sew: it slips under the machine, shows pin marks, and pressing it the wrong way crushes the pile. Use a walking foot, pin inside the seam allowance, and steam rather than iron. It is also the least washable — spot-clean a velvet tree skirt, or dry-clean it if it needs more. Burlap tree skirts: the rustic, farmhouse favourite A burlap tree skirt is the opposite of velvet — and just as popular. Natural jute burlap, in its warm honey colour, gives the tree a farmhouse, country-Christmas feel that suits wooden ornaments, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and simple white lights. A burlap tree skirt looks handmade in the best way, and it is the easiest of the three to make: burlap cuts cleanly, it does not slip, and a simple circle with a bound edge is a one-afternoon project. Burlap is also the toughest fabric under a tree. It does not mind needles, it does not show dirt, and it can be shaken out and spot-cleaned after Christmas. It is the cheapest of the three per yard — a single yard or two covers a generous skirt. Add a lace overlay or a red ribbon trim and the rustic look turns elegant. Our Jute & Burlap collection covers hessian jute and natural jute burlap by the yard. Burlap’s one limit is that it sheds a little — shake it out before you bring it inside, and keep it away from very fine ornaments that might catch on the weave. It is also stiffer than velvet or felt, so it does not drape as softly; a burlap tree skirt looks structured rather than flowing, which is exactly the farmhouse look most people want. Felt tree skirts: the crafty, colourful choice Felt makes the most creative tree skirt of the three. Premium acrylic felt comes in Christmas reds, forest greens, cream, gold and white, it cuts cleanly without fraying, and it glues as well as it sews — so a felt tree skirt can be decorated with appliqué shapes, embroidered names, sequins, buttons and pom-poms, all without a sewing machine. It is the best choice for a tree skirt made with children, or for a skirt that is decorated as much as it is sewn. A felt tree skirt is also the most customisable. Cut it in a circle, a scalloped edge or a star shape; layer two colours for a reversible skirt; add a felt appliqué border of trees, stars or snowflakes. Felt is stiff enough to hold its shape under the tree, so the skirt stays neat all December, and it is sold by the yard, so one cut covers a generous skirt with fabric to spare for matching stockings. Our Premium Acrylic Felt is the same felt used in our Christmas crafts with felt guide. Felt’s limit is that it is not soft or flowing: a felt tree skirt looks crisp and crafted rather than draped, and it is the least washable of the three — spot-clean it rather than machine-washing it, and keep it dry. Velvet, burlap and felt tree skirts at a glance Look: velvet is rich and luxurious, burlap is warm and rustic, felt is bright and crafty. A velvet skirt suits a formal tree; a burlap skirt suits a farmhouse tree; a felt skirt suits a family tree full of handmade ornaments. Ease of making: burlap is the easiest to sew, felt is the easiest to cut and glue, and velvet is the hardest — it slips, shows pin marks and needs steaming rather than ironing. Durability: burlap is the toughest and easiest to clean; velvet lasts for years with gentle handling; felt holds its shape for years if kept dry. Cost per skirt: burlap is cheapest, felt is in the middle, velvet is most expensive — but a tree skirt needs only one to two yards, so the difference per skirt is small, and any of the three costs far less than a shop-bought skirt. How much fabric do I need for a tree skirt? Most tree skirts are 48 to 60 inches across, which means one to two yards of 58 to 60 inch wide fabric, depending on the size of your tree. A single yard makes a skirt up to about 54 inches across if you cut the circle from the full width; a larger tree, or a skirt with a gathered or ruffled edge, needs two yards.

The Christmas dress question: shine or softness? Every December, the same decision lands in front of anyone sewing a Christmas dress: satin or velvet? Both are festive, both photograph beautifully, and both are sold by the yard at ValentinaTextile.com — but they behave very differently on the body, under the sewing machine, and on a cold December evening. Satin is the fabric of shine: smooth, fluid and light-catching. Velvet is the fabric of depth: soft, warm and rich. Here is how they compare for a Christmas dress, and which one suits the dress you have in mind. Satin for Christmas dresses: shine, drape and movement Satin makes a Christmas dress that moves. The smooth face of the fabric catches the light as you walk, so a satin dress changes as the room changes — bright under the tree lights, softer in candlelight. It drapes in long, fluid folds, which makes it the natural choice for full skirts, bias-cut dresses, A-line silhouettes and anything with movement built in. A satin dress looks elegant without trying, and it is the fabric most people picture when they think of a Christmas party dress. Satin is also the lighter of the two fabrics, which matters at a long evening event. A satin dress stays comfortable through dinner, dancing and photographs, and it packs and travels well — a useful thing when the party is not at your house. Mikado satin, the heavier structured cousin of dress satin, holds a shape beautifully, so it is the pick for a fitted bodice, a sculpted skirt or a dress with a defined silhouette. Our Mikado Satin is sold by the yard, and the full Satin Fabrics collection covers bridal satin, charmeuse and more. Satin’s limits are practical ones. It shows water spots, so keep drinks away from the dress, and it can feel cool against the skin on a winter evening — a wrap or a shawl is a wise companion. It also slips under the sewing machine, so pin generously, use a sharp needle, and cut with the fabric flat and weighted rather than hanging. Satin rewards patience, and the result is a dress that photographs like a magazine page. Velvet for Christmas dresses: warmth, depth and drama Velvet makes a Christmas dress that feels like Christmas. The pile catches the light in a different way from satin: instead of a bright shine, velvet gives a deep, soft glow that changes colour as you move. A burgundy velvet dress looks almost black in shadow and wine-red in the light; a forest green velvet dress shifts between deep green and emerald. That depth is why velvet is the fabric of winter evenings, candlelit dinners and formal Christmas photographs. Velvet is also the warmer of the two fabrics, and on a cold December night that is not a small thing. A velvet dress with long sleeves is genuinely cosy, and it does not need a wrap. It suits structured silhouettes — a fitted bodice, a sheath dress, a wrap dress — because the pile gives the fabric body and presence. Stretch velvet adds comfort: it moves with you, which makes it the easiest velvet to wear all evening. Our Premium Velvet includes soft stretch velvet in 49 colours, and the Velvet Fabric collection covers royal velvet and silk rayon velvet too. Velvet is the more demanding fabric to sew: it slips, it shows pin marks, and pressing it the wrong way crushes the pile. Use a walking foot, pin inside the seam allowance, and steam rather than iron. It is also the least washable of the two — dry-clean a velvet dress, or spot-clean it gently. But a velvet Christmas dress is a keepsake: the one you bring out every December and wear for years. Satin vs velvet at a glance Look: satin shines bright and fluid; velvet glows deep and soft. A satin dress looks glamorous; a velvet dress looks luxurious. Both photograph beautifully, but satin photographs bright and velvet photographs rich. Warmth: velvet is clearly warmer — the pile insulates, and a long-sleeved velvet dress needs no wrap. Satin is lighter and cooler, which suits a heated room and a long evening of dancing. Ease of sewing: both slip under the machine, but velvet is harder — it shows pin marks and crushed pile, while satin forgives a little more and presses more easily. A first-time dressmaker will find satin the friendlier of the two; an experienced sewer will enjoy velvet’s drama. Care: satin can usually be hand-washed or dry-cleaned depending on the fibre; velvet should be dry-cleaned or spot-cleaned gently. Both should be stored hanging, out of direct sun, so the dress is ready next December. Cost per dress: satin is usually the cheaper of the two per yard, and a simple A-line satin dress needs around three yards. Velvet costs a little more, and a long-sleeved velvet dress needs three to four yards — but both are sold by the yard in one continuous cut, so the colour stays consistent across the whole dress. Which fabric should you choose? Choose satin for a Christmas party dress: a full skirt, a bias cut, a dress that moves when you dance. Choose velvet for a formal Christmas dinner, a family photograph, or a cold evening when warmth matters as much as looks. Choose Mikado satin when the dress needs structure — a fitted bodice, a sculpted skirt — and choose stretch velvet when comfort matters most, because it moves with you all evening. Colour matters too. For satin, classic Christmas colours are red, emerald, champagne and black — all shine beautifully. For velvet, burgundy, forest green, navy and plum are the colours that show off the pile best. And if you truly cannot decide, make both: a satin dress for the party and a velvet dress for Christmas Day is the kind of problem every sewer would like to have. Our Velvet vs Satin guide compares the two fabrics in more detail, and our Satin