Featuring: Henry Glass Fabrics Butterflies and Blooms by Gail Pan
Pattern Design by: Meredith Daniel
Sewn by: Meredith Daniel

I love sewing for the holidays, and some of my favorite decor items are banners and pictures. Today, I’m showing you how to use simple appliqué to make a text banner to hang on the wall. This one even includes grommets for easy hanging, but you can forego them if you prefer another method of hanging. I’m using a collection of fabrics that features butterflies and florals, but choosing the simpler leafy motifs in the collection has allowed me to use this fabric in an unexpected way during the holiday season, so don’t feel like you must use a festive fabric to create great holiday decor!

Skills Learned: basic sewing, appliqué
Skill Level: Beginner
Finished Size: 11 x 14”

Fabric Requirements:
Fat quarter (45.72 cm x 53.34cm) for background. I used:
• 3147-34 Taupe Lazy Daisy Toss || Butterflies and Bloom
1/2 yard (.46m) fabric for lettering and backing. I used:
• 3147-77 Dk. Blue Lazy Daisy Toss || Butterflies and Bloom
1/2 yard (.46m) interfacing such as Pellon SF101
1/4 yard (.23m) double-sided fusible adhesive such as Pellon Wonder-Under®

Additional Supplies Needed:
2 grommets plus tool for setting
Let it snow template (DOWNLOAD HERE)

Additional Recommendations:
Acrylic ruler, coordinating thread

Cutting:
Cut (1) 11.5 x 14.5” rectangle from background fabric, lettering fabric, and interfacing
Cut (1) 8.5 x 11” rectangle from lettering fabric, interfacing, and wonder under

Instructions:
Print your template, which will be backward lettering. This is on purpose! Trace out the “let it snow” template onto the smooth side of the Wonder Under adhesive paper using a pencil. If you haven’t used this for appliqué before, this may seem strange, but I promise things will be right side out and forward when we are finished!

Next, fuse your interfacing to the wrong side of your lettering fabric. Then, fuse the Wonder-Under template to the back of the interfacing using your iron, pressing carefully over each section for about 5-8 seconds. DO NOT REMOVE THE PAPER BACKING YET.

You should have three layers: fabric > interfacing > Wonder-Under

When you are certain they are well fused together, cut the lettering along the lines you marked out in pencil. Do not remove the paper from the lettered fabric yet. Set aside.

Next, fuse the remaining piece of interfacing to the wrong side of your background fabric to give it some stability.

Finally, remove the paper backing from your letters, and place them onto the background fabric as desired. Fuse in place for several seconds.

Using your machine’s appliqué foot, which for me is labeled “F”, select an appliqué stitch to adhere the lettering to either the felt or the background. You will want to use a thread that coordinates with the lettering, and line the right edge of the lettering along the slit in the presser foot.

Sew slowly and carefully, lifting the foot and pivoting as often as needed. This step will take some time, so settle in and enjoy the process.

Don’t forget to appliqué inside the letters like the “s” and “o”.

When you are finished with the appliqué, switch back to your regular sewing machine foot. Place your appliquéd panel and the backing right sides together, and using a 1/4” seam allowance, stitch all the way around the panel, pivoting at the corners, and leave an opening for turning (about 4” should be sufficient).

Clip the corners without cutting into the stitching.

Turn the banner right side out and press well all the way around, doing your best to fold in the unsewn section of the banner evenly with the sewn section. We will close it up in the next step.

Finally, using a 1/8” seam allowance, edgestitch all the way around the banner, pivoting at the corners. This stitching will also close up the hole that you used for turning.

It's time to install the grommets. If you are using the included tool with a mallet for your installation, please follow the directions on the packaging. If you are using grommet pliers, make sure that the flat part of the rubber is engaged. See photo.

Choose where you want the grommet to go, and use the pliers to cut a hole in your fabric.

Insert the grommet piece that has the lengthen hole through the front of your banner so the center pokes through the back of the banner. Place the flat grommet piece over it in the back.

Engage the rubber part of the pliers that has the circular shape.

The rubber side should be touching the front part of the grommet, and the metal section should be in the back. Clamp down to finish installing your grommet. Repeat this process for the other top corner.

I hope you have enjoyed this project as much as I have! Sewing can be used in so many areas of life, and it's great to see your work right on the wall next to other treasured decor during this festive season. Happy sewing!

Fabric Details:
To view the complete Henry Glass Fabrics Butterflies and Blooms by Gail Pan, click here.
To find a retailer near you click here.

Connect with Meredith!
www.oliviajanehandcrafted.com
Facebook: facebook.com/oliviajanehandcrafted
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefooshe/

Learn more about Meredith here.