felt garland tutorial

After I'd cut out all the pretty green and red pieces from my holey woollen picnic blanket - I was left with lots of other little pieces. I didn't want to waste them (no surprises there huh?). I wasn't really sure what to do with them. Working around all the holes I was only left with small pieces. I started cutting circles - not sure what I was going to do with them. A garland came to mind. It's hardly a tutorial at all really, just a few easy steps. The same idea could be used with any felt, or stiff material for that matter. I've seen acrylic/felt blends at Spotlight that have a glittery finish, might be perfect solution for those who like a bit more "bling" in their Christmas decorations!

Cut lots of circles from your chosen fabric - My circles were 7cm in diameter.

Fold one circle in half and place under your sewing machine foot. Have a second one, also folded in half butted up against it. The two folded pieces should form a complete circle. Sew along the middle of the circles.

Have another circle ready to follow on from the first two. It should be folded in half and in the opposite direction to the last circle. Carry on folding and adding circles and sewing till you've run out of circles or you've reached the length that you want.

I wanted to add some strings on each end so I could tie them on to things. I cut a slightly smaller circle and stitched it on, with a folded length of red string underneath. Easy.

Possibilities are endless, you could have large and small circles, have a colour pattern of circles, you could sew smaller circles in the middle of each larger circle group........ A great way to use up little scraps.