Between Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations, Thanksgiving can get lost in the shuffle.
Though parents proudly display construction-paper turkeys made by tracing little hands, Thanksgiving's focus generally is on the food, not fancy décor.
Making a scalloped fabric bunting to dress up your dining room isn't difficult, however,and you can personalize it by adding small tags describing what each relative or guest is most thankful for.
Make it an annual tradition to add tags so you can recall Thanksgivings past. Don't stop there. With different fabrics, these buntings are perfect for birthdays and other celebrations.
MATERIALS
- Cardstock or thin cardboard, such as a file folder
- Cotton quilting fabric in assorted colors and patterns (amount will depend on length of bunting; 1/4 yard of fabric will make five 81/2-inch-wide scallops)
- Sewing machine
- Pinking shears
- Aluminum foil
- Iron
- Double-fold bias tape
- Paper tags, purchased or homemade
- Hole punch
- Ribbon that coordinates with fabric
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make a pattern by cutting an 81/2-inch circle out of cardstock. Mark a line across the center of the circle.
2. If using a 1/4-yard piece of fabric cut off the bolt, it should measure 9 inches by about 44 inches. Fold it in half widthwise, right sides together, creating a double-layered rectangle measuring 9 by 22 inches.
If using a "fat quarter" of fabric that measures 18 by 22 inches, fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together, creating a double-layered rectangle measuring 9 by 22 inches.
You will be able to get five scallops from each 1/4-yard cut if you lay out the circle pattern carefully. Starting close to one edge, trace the pattern. You should be able to fit two circles and one half circle, using the line drawn in step 1 as a guide for the half circle.
3. Repeat with remaining fabric.
4. Pin in the center of each drawn circle to hold the two layers together.
5. Sew on the drawn lines around each circle, backstitching when you come around to the starting point to secure stitching.
6. Cut around each circle close to stitching line with pinking shears.
7. Cut each circle in half. To find midpoint, either measure with a ruler or just fold the circles in half and press, then cut along the crease.
8. Turn each scallop right-side out to look like half-circle shaped pockets.
9. To get a nice, crisp curve on each scallop, cover the cardstock pattern with aluminum foil, insert it into each scallop and press with a hot iron.
10. Lay out the pressed scallops to figure out the order of fabrics for the bunting.
11. Apply bias tape to connect the scallops. Bias tape usually has one side that is slightly narrower than the other. With the narrow side facing up, fold the tape around the raw edges of the first scallop and sew close to the edge of the tape. When you get close to the end of the scallop, stop sewing and insert the next scallop. Continue until all scallops are connected.
12. Add tags. You can buy tags in the scrapbooking supply section of craft stores or make your own. Punch a hole in each one and use a 6-inch length of ribbon to tie a tag between each scallop.
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