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When I used to sew items for the shop, I feel deeply in love with how the items looked before I cut them apart. I would feed item after item through the machine but not stop to snip in between them so by the time I was done I had one long strand of ornaments or pouches or bags. Then after sewing up some quilt blocks lately, it’s made me want to make a sewn fabric garland that is part a quilt strip and part repeated element string. The garland.
This garland is pretty darn easy so even the most novice of sewers can do this. I bought 1/2 yard pieces of 5 different quilting cottons and 1 yard of heavyweight wonder under. Wonder Under is a double sided fusible product with a paper backing. You can easily use fabric scraps for this project but starting with fabric that has a 1/2 yard width just means less measuring since you can cut triangles from one long strip rather than measuring out individual triangle dimensions.
From the paper backing side, measure and cut off a 2.5″ strip of wonder under. Place the rough side on the fabric back on the selvedge end. Because you bought 1/2 yard, the length should be just about the same as your wonder under strip and the cotton fabric.
Using a hot iron, press down on the paper backing side. Only make 1-2 passes, it doesn’t take much. Let cool a minute and remove paper backing. Fold cotton strip over 2.5″ and iron on the cotton again to fuse the two layers of cotton together. Cut along the bottom edge of the cotton so you now have a double sided 2.5″ wide strip of cotton. Draw triangles on the fabric using a quilter’s ruler or measure 5″ triangle bases. You will have triangles that measure 5″ wide by 2.5″ tall. Cut each triangle in half again.
Repeat for each color. You should now have a small stack of triangles in each of your colors.
Sew the garland by feeding through each triangle one after another without cutting the threads in between. Be sure you start with a long piece at the first triangle so you can use it to tie your garland where you like.
I think this would be a super sweet for birthday garland to that you can use over and over again. I hung this one from our shower frame and it looks a bit like sailboats.
1e09Entry Filed under: sewing, step-by-step
7 Comments Add your own
1. Rachel | August 18th, 2008 at 10:16 am
How lovely! I adore projects that are simple and can be adapted to any decor! I’ll be linking to this in the Daily DIY.
2. Jo-Ann Coe | August 18th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I love it! I think this will make a great first sewing project for my daughter. Then when we hang it at parties she can show the entire extended family her beautiful work.
Do you mind if I link to this on my party planning blog?
3. amanda @ www.kiddio.org | August 18th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I love how simply this is done and how it turns out. I love the idea of using it for a first sewing project, too. I’ve actually tried to do this with fabric, which turned out okay, but somehow paper would just be a much better and totally obvious choice!
www.kiddio.org
4. Sarah | August 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Genius. Why shouldn’t the bath tub be festive? I will definitely make two to hang in our bathrooms–they are 1970s florida condo style–windowless with purple and harvest gold paisley tiles–I do wish our bathtubs had claws–this garland might make them bearable.
5. Paula | August 20th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Technically, you could do the same with card stock paper. Then you wouldn’t have to use the wonder under.
6. Freshly Found | August 21st, 2008 at 3:33 am
Hi there
I have just given you an “I love your blog” award. Pop over to my sight if you would like to pass it on.
7. Emily Flippin Maruna | January 11th, 2011 at 12:18 am
Hi,
I posted about this on my blog, The Handmade Experiment in a post featuring triangle tutorials. Check it out! http://wp.me/pkcUM-yT
I'm curious about your two cents. You smart cookie!
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