Cut fabric as follows:
Fold Holiday print in half (right sides together), and cut 13 sets of circles, diameter: 8½", pin each pair together (leaving right sides together) for sewing as soon as each is cut
Background fabric cut to 26½" x 90"
Note – this pattern was designed for a large fireplace, with a mantle 90" long. If your mantle or shelf is shorter, take the length of the mantle and divide by 6½" for the number of circles needed.
Construction –
Create 13 finished circles by stitching around the circle using a ¼" seam. Leave 1" open to turn the circles.
After stitching all 13 circles, turn them right side out and iron flat.
Lay the background fabric on your workspace right side up, with a 90" length at the top. Measure 7" from one side of the fabric, and mark that point, from that point measure 6½" and mark. Continue across the 90" length marking every 6½" - you should have 13 marks when finished.
Pin top of one circle (I used the opening from turning the circles as the top) to each of the 13 marks, allowing circles to overlap. Use a basting stitch along the top to hold all circles in place and remove pins.
Fold the bottom edge of your background fabric up to cover the circles, and match that edge with the top of the fabric. Pin through both layers of the background fabric and the circles.
Using a ¼" seam, stitch through all three layers, creating a tube with the circles caught in the seam on the inside.
Being careful of the circles (which will hang loosely from the seam), turn the tube right side out. Measure 1¾" from the bottom of the circles and press a fold with your iron. Keeping this fold, press a second fold at top of the tube. Your seam should now be approximately 3" below the top fold.
After both folds have been sharply pressed, turn the tube inside out again, and sew one end shut using a ¼" seam. Sew the second end ⅔ of the way shut, leaving an opening for turning.
Turn the tube right side out, press again (keeping the folds created previously), and hand stitch the opening.
Place on mantle or shelf and decorate!