It's the most wonderful time of the year...FREE alphabet PDF for a Christmas banner!

Cute, right? I know, I really love it! This weekend my goal is to have my house somewhat decorated for Christmas. You can download the PDF for the alphabet here. It is reversed and ready to go (you're welcome). I made a banner, but honestly, the possibilities are endless.
So here goes with the tut....

You need:

• Felt I had a piece that was about a yard, it was oodles. Depending on what word or phrase you use will determine your quantity needed.
• Fabric for the applique. I used 1/3 yd., but again you might need more or less.
• Fabric for the thingamadingy at the top (can't for the life of me think of what it is really called...must be late). I bought enough to cut the strips on the bias. Bias tape would work also.
  
• Heat-N-Bond Heavy. I used this because I was lazy and didn't want to stitch around my letters, but you certainly can if you want :o)
• Ric rac, ribbon, pompoms and any other doodad you wanna put on these beauties.
• Jingle bells, I bought the big ones, because my banner is quite large.
• The PDF.
• Basic sewing supplies.
  

Trace your letters onto the Heat-N-Bond. We reversed everything already (your welcome yet again).

Iron the pieces to the WRONG side of your fabric.

Cut it out and peel off the back. Iron the letters to the pennants. Make sure you use the acrylic setting, felt melts, unless you are using real wool or bamboo felt. I hit mine with a little steam.

Now this is how I cut out my pennant, listen and read carefully. (Sorry the image isn't rotated). If you are not going to change the size of the letters then do what I did. If you do change it, good for you and good luck figuring out how big to make your pennant. I took a 10" strip of the felt, found the center and measured and marked down 17". I took my ruler and lined it up at the top of the 10" strip and the mark, then I cut it and repeated it for the other side. Then I used that triangle to make the other six I needed. Was that awesome geometry or what?!?! Hey, it worked. Mr. Anderson would be so proud...not.

Line up your pennants right next to each other. Cut your thingamadingy strips 2.5" inches wide, piece them together if needed. Iron the strips in half with wrong sides together, like binding for a quilt. Yes, you are looking at another banner, this is my bratty little sister's (nah, she's sweet).

Lay the thingamadingy strip on the right side of the pennants with the raw edge lining up with the top of the pennants. Pin well. Sew with 1/4" seam. Iron the strip up and away from the pennant. Topstitch, you can see my gorgeous topstitching below, I love to topstitch, weird huh?

Cut your trims to the right length and attach them. I chose to put mine all right under the fabulously top stitched thingamadingy. Then for the finishing touch, stitch your jingle bells on the ends and hang that baby up! Your done, it's purdy isn't it? I love it and so did Jack :o)

Merry Almost Christmas (36 days left)!!!

XOXO,
Shasta :0)

Tell us what's on your sewing to do list this next week and we'll randomly pick someone for a free pattern bundle of all our bags!!!