Like most moms, I love all the holidays I get to celebrate with my little pea, but if I can help it, I'd like to restrict the amount of seasonal junk I have to store in our house. Thinking a nice set of letter garland might be versatile and take up little space, I began hunting down a good pattern with cute colorful results. Sadly, the amount I would have to put in making just one seasonal sentiment made all motivation fizzle. Bias tape and embroidery? Ugh. I wanted enough letters to make "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Whatever", not a 6 month project. Then I eventually got the gears turning and came up with this less exhausting but still cute result from a little tinkering on my part. I will even include templates for all the letters needed to spell any occasion.
Here is what you will need:
Any kind of flat felt in your favorite colors
Scraps of fabrics 3 inches by 3 inches or more
Double sided webbing (I used Pellon #805 Wonder-Under)
Iron and board
paper scissors
fabric scissors
pins
sewing machine (only basic stitches will be used)
invisible thread
Cotton string to hang your letters
tapestry needle or safety pin to string letters together
A word about measurements
Here is a guide to help you if you decide to follow my plan exactly
3 by 3 inch scrap fabric
3 by 3 inch webbing
4 1/2 (length) by 3 inch felt pieces
First, download and print out the letters here.
I calculated I would need to make about 37 letters to make most of the yearly holidays. Below is how I broke them down. Call me traditional but I had to make sure I used Christmas colors (red, green and white) for the Merry Christmas garland.
I've included those letters with an asterisk if you would like to do the same.
A 2 (1*)
B 1
C 1*
D 1
E 2 (1*)
F 1
G 2
H 2 (1*)
I 2 (1*)
K 1
L 2
M 2*
N 2
O 1
P 2
R 3*
S 2*
T 2 (1*)
V 1
W 1
Y 2 (1*)
Next, cut out letters and choose the fabrics you would use for each letter. I recommend cutting along the outer edge.
Once you have your template letters cut and fabrics chosen, cut out your double sided webbing. If you cut each 3 inches by 3 inches, you will have enough of space for each letter. Cut your scraps using the same measurement or larger. Heat your iron to a medium to hot setting. Place the fabric wrong side up and put the shiny textured part of the webbing down so that the paper side is facing you. Iron for 3 to 5 seconds or until the webbing is fully secure. Next, turn the fabric so it is facing you and pin the chosen letter to the fabric.
Cut out the letter. Next peel off the paper from the letter and place it closer to the bottom part of your piece of felt. Iron for about 5-10 seconds. Start with 5 seconds especially if you are using cheap felt.
Repeat all these steps until you have all the letters your heart desires.
Your next step involves your sewing machine. When I first began pondering how to go about choosing thread, I was overcome with dread of how I wanted to color coordinate but only saw the endless task of bobbin threading in front of me. Then I had an idea. A while back I had purchased some transparent thread for a different craft project. Would that work? Yes, and perfectly too, I might add. You can't see it and there's no need to change your bobbin. Fold down the top of your felt half an inch and pin. Then sew and reverse to secure both ends. You can continue adding more letters so it becomes one long string of letters. Trim where needed.
For your last step, cut a piece of string long enough to fit in the space you would like to use for your letters. I like using cotton string because the felt won't slip around. Thread the letters you want through the string using a tapestry needle or a little safety pin. Then tie loops in both ends of the string. Hang using tacks, nails, fixtures, whatever would work best for your home. I have two IKEA wall lights with screws on the outside that my string could fit snugly into. You can then easily move the letters to be better spaced. Stand back and enjoy!!!!
A word about storage
Once you have made enough or your first celebrated holiday is over, it may be time to take down your letters until the next special day approaches. Since one of my goals this year is to be more organized, I found a kid's sized shoe box was especially helpful to store my letters in alphabetical order.
Hopefully if you do this project, your garland will keep the mood festive anytime of year!
