Mini Garland Tutorial
Well, wow! What a fun week it has been for the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop! Thanks so much for all of your kind and encouraging comments! I hope you have been visiting the blogs each day and finding some great ideas for Christmas!
So many of you commented on the little JOY mini garland that I thought I’d do a really quick tutorial on how I put it together. It really goes together quickly. Depending on the number of blocks you in the garland, this can easily be made in a day or less. So let’s get started!
You’ll Need These Items
- Your colored block. I’m using a leftover block from when I was drafting the garland. If you are just joining us, you can read about how to make the colored letter blocksĀ here.
- Four 1″ x 5″ strips of fabric to use as borders around the block. You can adjust the length of these strips to match the size of your block after it’s cut. I used a charm pack square, so I cut mine 1″ x 5″.
- One piece of background fabric. I also used a charm pack square here, but you can go scrappy with this. It needs to be just a bit bigger than your trimmed block.
- One scrap piece of fusible fleece or regular batting the size of your backing fabric.
- Chopstick or other turning tool
Take the colored block and trim it down to the size you want. I leave 1/2″ around my letter, to allow for 1/4″ seam allowance and some space around the letter.
Next, gather your scrap strips, or charm pack square for your border, and cut them 1″ x 5″, or 1″ by the length of your colored block square after trimming.
Take two of the strips and sew one strip to each side of the colored block.
Trim them even with the colored block. Then take the other two strips and sew them to the top and bottom of the block. Trim them to the size of the block. Now you have your bordered block.
Next, take your scrap piece of fusible fleece and fuse it to the wrong side of the block. (Note: If you are using regular batting, place it on the wrong side of the block. You can either secure it with a quick spritz of spray baste or with pins.)
Here it is with the fusible fleece added — you just can’t see the fusible but it’s underneath there!
Next, take your backing fabric and trim it to the exact size of the bordered block. Lay the backing fabric on top of the block so that the backing and block are right sides together. Stitch around the block, using a scant 1/4″ seam. Make sure to leave an opening so that you can turn the block.
Clip the corners to reduce bulk. Just don’t clip through the stitching!
Turn the block, and use a chopstick or another tool to push out the corners.
Give the block a good press with the iron, tucking under the seam allowances of the opening. Stitch close to the edge all the way around the block.
All done and ready to hang with a cute mini clothespin!
I hope you enjoy making this little mini garland. I’d love to see pictures of what you make!
Don’t forget to keep following the Blog Hop and commenting — you don’t want to miss out on that giveaway. You can find all the details over on Sarah’s blog at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
Happy stitching, friends!
Wendy
16 Comments
Kathleen McCormick
Another great project! So wish I was having time for these – but soon enough. When I get to Maine, I’ll email you some pdfs of a few places to go! It will be August….
maggie
very cute idea and very doable
cheriec12
This is great. Thanks alot.
Vicki in MN
You are really getting into this tutorial thing-nice job on it!
Needle and Foot
what an adorable idea Wendy. I love the simplicity in this. š
Sparkle On with Abbie
This will look so joyful hanging up year round. I am adding it to my holiday project list, thanks Wendy!
treadlemusic
Very cute and I can see so many other “announcements” that could be done (like “Happy Birthday”). Very nice.
smilesfromkate
Lovely detailed tutorial Wendy. It is so adaptable too, thank you.
Jan Snell
Thanks for the detailed tutorial. A sure winner of a project. Janice.snell@gmail.com
Anita Jackson
What cute mini’s those are! Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely tutorial for us!
Lori Smanski
this is so sweet . I will have to make this for my daughter whose middle name is JOY
dezertsuz
Thanks! Such a cute design and really not difficult.
The Joyful Quilter
Cute!! Thanks for sharing the project you posted during the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop.
Nicole Sender
Terrific tutorial! Love the garland!
inquiringquilter
So glad you did this! I was wondering how you’d made that.
nancyangerer
cute idea!