I’m not one for disposable birthday decorations. You end up spending a ton of money and they all go in the garbage – just wasteful. So this year, I’m making my own decorations, that will be great to display at my children’s birthday party, but that we can take home and hang up in their rooms. Here’s the first one: Birthday Banners! I made two banners, so you don’t need everything I have pictured – make sure you read the list. Also, the yards of fabric are dependent upon the number of letters in your child’s name.
Birthday Banner
Materials:
- Several pieces of different colored/pattern fabric
- 1 – 2 yards of muslin
- Several pieces of felt
- 1 package of double-wide bias tape (3 yards)
- thread
Directions:
- Begin by cutting the felt into 4″ x 6″ rectangles. You will need as many pieces as your child’s name.
- Cut the letters out of the fabric. They don’t have to be perfect – it’s okay for them to look handmade.
- Cut your different fabrics into triangles that are 10.5″ across the top and 12″ long. To cut them evenly, measure 5.25″ along the bottom to find the midpoint and connect the top corners of the triangle to that midpoint at the bottom. Have fun arranging your pieces in a fun pattern.
- Next, pin the felt letters to the front of the triangles. Sew to attach letters.
- Here’s what it looks like when all the letters are sewn.
- Cut muslin triangles the same size/shape as the patterned fabrics. I actually cut them slightly longer to compensate for any slight variations in cutting the original triangles.
- Pin the muslin triangles to the front side of the lettered triangles, along the two sides.
- Sew along the two sides, leaving the top open. After sewing, trim up the edges of the muslin to make them neat.
- Turn your triangles right-side out.
- Press the triangles with an iron to straighten/flatten the sides. Be sure to iron on the muslin side to avoid burning/melting the felt.
- Sew a top stitch along the two sides of the triangles. This step isn’t necessary, but I think it adds a nice touch to the banner.
- You’re almost there! Pin the triangles to the bias tape. Be sure to leave a long piece at the beginning so that you can attach the banner to the wall. I left 10 inches and then began pinning.
- Sew along the bias tape to complete the project. These are my two birthday banners!
Any Comments?