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Friday
Dec052008

D.I.Y. Fabric Flower Garland


Kayte Terry (Stylist/crafter/blogger/author extraordinaire) wrote to me a little bit ago and asked if I thought you all might appreciate a crafty tutorial.  Of course you would... right?!!!  So because Kayte is such a sweetie, she created this fabulous Fabric Flower Garland project (plus tutorial) for us to try out this weekend (even though it is close to the Holidays, you can use this project for a decorative or party accent all year round).  Make it your own by using fabric scraps you have laying around in your favorite colors and patterns.  You could even add beads, pom poms, or any matter of goodness to make this project perfectly you.  For more amazing D.I.Y. projects be sure to check out Kayte's book: Complete Embellishing and look for her new book coming out in 2009 (published by Chronicle Books)!

 I'll can't wait to make this garland myself today.  As is tradition on my birthday, my family gets together and
creates a reusable holiday craft.  It's been so fun to pull these
projects out each year and remember the wonderful times we've spent
creating and laughing together.  Here's a little peak at one we did for a past b-day. 

What you need (makes one three yard string):

Download Flowers Template

  • Scissors for cutting fabric & for cutting paper
  • Measuring tape
  • Scraps of wool felt in five or six colors (if you don’t have wool felt, regular old craft felt will do)
  • Two different 8 ½” x 22” scraps of cotton fabric
  • Two 8 ½” x 11” sheets of paper backed fusible webbing
  • Iron
  • Tailor’s chalk
  • Three yards of yarn
  • Embroidery needle with an eye large enough for yarn or a sharp yarn needle

Start by printing out the flowers template and cut those shapes out with paper scissors.

Step 1)  You want your garland to be pretty on both sides so you need to fuse two pieces of fabric together. To do this, cut one of the pieces of fabric in half so that you have two 8 ½” x 11” pieces. Lay one piece of fabric wrong-side-up on a flat surface. Peel one side off the paper backed fusible webbing, place it on top of the fabric and iron to the fabric to fuse. Peel the other side off the fusible webbing, place the other piece of fabric right-side-up over the webbing and iron to fuse.  Repeat Step 1 for the other fabric.

Step 2)  Use your tailor’s chalk to trace the garland templates on the fused fabrics and the felt. You want an even selection of the different shapes and the felt and fabrics.  To give you an idea, I cut 18 fabric flowers and 36 felt flowers plus 15 of the felt circles for flower middles.  Cut all of them out with fabric scissors.  Brush away any of the marks left by the tailor’s chalk.

Step 3 + 4)  Thread the yarn with your needle and make a knot about 4” away from the end of the yarn.  Pierce the center of a flower with the needle and thread onto the yarn to the knot. Make another knot right over the flower.  Make another knot about 2” above that and thread on another flower, making a knot right above that flower. Continue making knots and threading flowers, adding flower centers every few flowers or as desired.  Don’t worry about measuring every 2”; it doesn’t have to be perfect, so you can just eyeball it.

Step 5)    Add the last flower and knot about 4” away from the other end of the yarn.  Voila! You have a beautiful flowery garland!

Step 6)  Adorn your abode with your beautiful creation or give it as a gift to someone special!

Thanks again to Kayte for this wonderful project!  Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

P.S.  Thank you all for your warm birthday wishes!  Each one means so much to me!

Reader Comments (27)

This is gorgeous ,I love it so! I have a thing for garlands! Have so much fun making this hun and what a great idea!xoMelis
December 5, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa Brown
I should try this next week whith my little one, it´s gonna be lots of fun making these gorgeous flowers,thank you for sharing this great idea!!!!
December 5, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMina Nakamura
Dear Ez, I discovered this a little too late, but: happy birthday!! Hope you had an absolutely lovely day! 30 is cool - I personally have found the 30'es a lot better than the 20'es, and hopefully you'll experience the same thing. Keep celebrating for a long time!

Love,Trudi
December 5, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterThe Deco Detective
Oh love pretty! I *LOVE* it! I'll be linking.
December 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRachel
the garland is so cute!
December 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTandsm
so charming...colors makes me want to smile... Have a lovely weekend dear!
December 6, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterlenorenevermore
wonderful!
December 6, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermelanie
Oh love pretty! I *LOVE* it! I'll be linking.
December 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLanding Page Templates
holy guacamole, now This is a blog! it's soooo good! i just found you from tifanie at noddyboom. i'm loving it. what a great resource. thanks!
December 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermaya
oh excellent tutorial! i love it!
December 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteraprintaday
Beautiful garland !
December 7, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterBessie Nguyen
Oh my gosh...I love your birthday tradition. I might have to "borrow" this and start a new tradition with my little December bambina.

P.S. love the garland and the tutorial.
December 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commenters.HOPtalk
very cute. I put it in my mornings blog posts :)
December 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterlisa brawner
This fabric garland is adorable! It reminds me of when I made paper garland when I was a kid where I folded strips of colorful paper into loops and create a beautiful paper chain!
December 8, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSuzanne
This is GORGEOUS!I posted both you and Kaytes Links on my gaga for garlands blog!!Thanks for sharing. I am off to get lost in your fab archives....xo
December 15, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTamy Ottomeyer
oops forgot to put my link if you would like to see it!let me know if you would like me to remove..www.simplymein.typepad.com/gagaforgarlands
December 15, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTamy Ottomeyer
Late for this but Happy Birthday & thank you for the goregous garland tutorial.
December 17, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterginger(lovestodream)
Nice stuff its very creative using a fabric flower garland was really amazing,keep up the good work.

by:ford
December 18, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterflowers in the philippines
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I posted my version of this garland here http://francineclouden.typepad.com/tuesday_todo/2008/12/my-new-garland.html
December 18, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterFrancineC
Merci c'est très joli
January 4, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterl'arbre à bobines
This information is very helpful. Keep posting

-Grace
Hi, i loved your blog, is beautiful,kiss
January 6, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTita Carré
This is great idea.You are creative dear.Keep it up.Thanks for the tips.

-Ava
January 28, 2009 | Unregistered Commentergift Philippine
oh! those cute garland really nice. I will also tyr to do it on my self and I will follow your tips. Nice post.



-krisha-
February 26, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterphilippines flower shops
Hey, this is pretty good stuff! i love your blogs! very much,, such a cool design of the garland very colorful and attractive! i will try it at home, keep it up!

-ashliana-
March 2, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBirthday flowers

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