quilting

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!

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

Take two of the strips and sew one strip to each side of the colored block.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.)

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

Here it is with the fusible fleece added — you just can’t see the fusible but it’s underneath there!

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

Clip the corners to reduce bulk. Just don’t clip through the stitching!

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

Turn the block, and use a chopstick or another tool to push out the corners.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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.

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

All done and ready to hang with a cute mini clothespin!

Mini Garland Tutorial - piecefulthoughts.com

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

 

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