I hinted last week about a special Christmas project I was making for my sister's birthday. As much as I love to craft, I didn't inherit any sewing skills from my talented mother. Please be kind. As a bonus, you even get to see a few pictures of myself and my little sis. Here goes...
Growing up in the 70s, we had a tulle/netting Christmas tree that came out every year to decorate my shared bedroom.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkiZEDNCIYgrnBwstEhJoln_NcHdzPdUNq4JBK00HmP2YXKHLKz6qOsNduEGI7hclrR6ZYp7H2H6yPQzlaLxGtkjwRGvoqOSdW3HbfJ7bqAPDk-o9XEV7z7XC6ZAaqfN9vF-gyJt2MK3F/s400/michelle_kim.jpg)
(
note the tree in the foreground of our tea party)
They are a tad bit tacky, but when I saw one recently at my favorite antique store, I knew it needed to come home with me so that I could take a closer look and make one for my sister's upcoming birthday. My tulle Christmas tree instructions came from
this website.
Supplies:
4 yards of netting or tulle (I didn't use all of it, but it was close)
1 dowel 12 inches tall (you could buy 18 inch rod to have a taller tree)
1 Styrofoam circle base
hot glue
glitter
small ornaments
white crochet thread, needle and white paint
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGAVVxZs8uL9gADZTSJ9CzOG3xEDTj9ysf2-bBzlv_vJ5LzyBKt4fsZqGkT7blfPPRKC5yPot1s7ewxdMLsEcxEAvwMUvBiHAp8BKu4rO7ehXKKhozD7u-GTYnr_ra90LynFJUwithcP4/s400/supplies.JPG)
1. Make a hole in the Styrofoam base and insert dowel rod with hot glue. Let dry.
2. Paint the dowel rod white and let dry.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S8hyoU9t5fWQmykuvpB5ZUfY8OyVXUloImFKgR0rnVRWrtU4fEZYZKSQheraa2LyVsui-n044vXz-_GjpvAZhpkHAhngCdIxSiU7AyMr_Ti_5CFEPfTzM2HxYhAtTxkgKAz5E5HB__1n/s400/dowel_rod1.JPG)
3. Cut two pieces of nylon net, each 12 inches wide and 72 inches long. Fold in half so that the net measures 6 inches wide and 72 inches long. Thread your needle with an 80-inch piece of crochet thread. Tie a knot in a piece of crochet thread, leaving a tail of about 3 inches on the end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsIXN1fz9Xo2RKLpEMT3tq3bcy5r09Ns5Pdb-bcuLZQq7N09NQgSn0raNOFbyDUefdMmxz_9KqKC-hdRurzBphyphenhyphenS8qqZpC1saYvYZ4blBSk54qhs9-znx-3FZTrDSBKCnaBD0UQAFudVb/s400/tulle1.jpg)
4. Baste the two sides together 1/4-inch above the fold. Once the net is basted, gather the fabric as tightly as possible so that the net forms a donut shape. Tie the two thread ends together to keep the net in a tight circle. Use the hole in the middle of the net circle to slide it on to the dowel. Repeat with the second piece of 72-inch by 12-inch fabric.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpLOc0PDn22vvv8CM0Ym-a5xlQjjoB8SjDa1aVQtVd69ZvNCTf6x5IuDP8h0hhebImNUGAolQSTtlb4uzkY52HHElcmAKc085Bxw7VXObsJ8y0txlWZVAaynySDA9cphjfThdw5r7eZzq/s400/tulle2.jpg)
5. Make the next two layers 11 inches wide by 72 inches long. Repeat the same process of folding, basting and gathering. Reduce each subsequent pair of layers by 1/2 inch. The final two layers should be 1/2 wide by 72 inches long.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Uv3kv_9vNwqmXElsRUVdEzqHf2B4YSGv1-zrP6_IRCBMVr4gGRNdsSUSt2NoDz_vQvOm6LBuEJtSOE4aefUa0-rSleWHqYO2sdIBipfbHJaSwDCM3DAtr4DM7nFsIV14qjSQ60UAOASs/s400/tulle3.jpg)
6. Use your fingers to fluff the layers of fabric into the desired shape. I then used glitter glue on the edges of the tulle.
The whole time I was making the tree, it reminded me of a ballet skirt. You really could turn this into a darling tulle tree with pastel flowers and other romantic items.7. I finished the tree by sewing tiny bead ornaments to the tulle and attaching a vintage angel to the top of the tree.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoZ3GX3AjVixfq8iC1hXV6toJnaPCzePpgamJxTDShZqpHkPhXP6AApjxhFild3KhVFcMyzEQwK7JqgBAZxYPXVgNJtcQAvCnNx5eEBlDAVm6t6mqet4YG-9mfl8zGgZt0aV2eDXvaD8h/s400/tulle_angel.jpg)
* This craft was a stretch for me. Threading a needle completely takes me out of my comfort zone. I almost hate to admit how many phone calls I made to my mother during this project. It's really not hard, I'm just a sewing wimp.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkiZEDNCIYgrnBwstEhJoln_NcHdzPdUNq4JBK00HmP2YXKHLKz6qOsNduEGI7hclrR6ZYp7H2H6yPQzlaLxGtkjwRGvoqOSdW3HbfJ7bqAPDk-o9XEV7z7XC6ZAaqfN9vF-gyJt2MK3F/s400/michelle_kim.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_gcW4gx3DOGFN9M3_LO7Bsx-A6D5tqTW82ywS4q9qiSRk-lKaCJAIlu2hEuxUu1raaX2P7u23-gAr1u3ETi1jzokjdh-oH0y6uOruW0HYsX1RnSAQ60QAFNbagHv-hJV7I-lF2IurAoN/s400/sister_tree.jpg)
Happy Birthday, little sis!
I hope you love your tulle tree!!