DIM, Did It Myself: Summer Garland

Hello my crafty, creative friends!

Welcome to another addition of “DIM, Did it Myself”.  Sharing the how-to’s for a summer garland I created out of the unlikely combination of torn fabric, tulle and twine.  It’s hanging from my mantel. And the ceiling fan is making the fabric dance ever-so-slightly.  Almost making the garland a mobile instead!

Really had hoped to get this made for spring.  But with Easter coming late this year, and working full time all spring, I wound up leaving my Easter garland up longer than I should have.   I did start work on it in the spring, at least!  But didn’t get it finished until last week.  Let’s take a look.

Summer Garland Supplies

Fabric garlands only require three supplies.

They were simple and few but not exactly inexpensive.  I probably could find cheaper fabric at a true fabric store but bought mine at Walmart and $Hobby Lobby$.  Started with 1 1/2 yards of two different lightweight cotton prints and 1 1/2 yards of tulle (which was too much).  I needed approximately 6 feet of twine.  This spool supplied that and a little more.

Once I got started working, I realized I would need more fabric if I wanted my garland to be full.  So, I bought 1 1/2 yards of two other patterns at Walmart.  Here’s Purrsimmony posing with one of those.

So, all together, here’s what I wound up buying:

• 1 1/2 yards each of 4 different cotton prints
• 1 1/2 yards of tulle
• spool of twine

Step One

Determine the width you want for your fabric strips.  Then roughly measure out where to cut your strips on each piece of fabric.  I started measuring with a ruler.  But soon used the width of three of my fingers for each strip.  That was faster and easier!

In others’ garlands, I have seen the garland strips carefully cut and not-so-carefully torn.  Guess which method I went with?

Yup, I tore those babies.  Definitely faster and probably made my strips straighter, too.  You can see that there is some variance in the width of my strips.  Depending on whether my fingers were having a fat or skinny day when I measured the strips to tear.  Purrsnickitty inspected my work.

I found directions for making this garland in a blue million places on Pinterest.  Imagine that.  Some gals made short fabric strips, some made long strips.  There was some debate about whether the garland should be full or sparse.  Whether the strips should be the same length or varying lengths.  I went with “full” and “varying lengths”.

Then I folded each strip ‘exactly’ in half length-wise.

Step Two

Arrange yours strips on the garland twine.  Decide on the pattern or arrangement of your strips.  I used the same pattern all the way through.  Light yellow, zig-zag, floral, green print.  Light yellow, zig-zag, floral, green print.  I laid out all of my strips in order on the kitchen table to be sure I had the pattern sorted correctly before I began adding the fabric to the twine.

Step Three

Measure out your twine.  I knew I would be hanging this on my mantel so I measured off enough twine to go from one end of my mantel to the other.  Then I added an extra foot or so for tying a bow on each end of the garland.  And I added a little wiggle room because I wanted my garland to hang down rather than taut across the edge of the mantel.  Figured my fabric would weigh the garland down, too. My mantel is about 60″ inches wide but I cut my twine closer to 6 1/2 feet+.

Step Four

Begin adding your strips to one end of the twine.  This step is easier to do than it is to explain.  Take a strip (folded in half), and lay it behind the twine. Pull the bottom or tails of the strip up and over the twine.  Pull the strip through itself at the loop created where the fabric is folded.  Clear as mud? Yeah, see what I mean?  Hard to explain.  But take a look at this diagram.  Apparently we are tying the strips using a lark’s head knot.

[source]

Tied a few strips on very tightly so I could see how they were going to look.

Then I added some more.  Once I had two or three sets of the four strips, I began adding the strips more loosely, just to get them onto the twine and off my kitchen table.

Went back and tightened each strip on the twine after I got them all ‘loaded’ onto it.  And then it was tulle time!

Step Five

Measure and cut your tulle into strips.  Then add a strip of tulle between the end of one set and the beginning of another set of fabric strips.

I like the pop of color this pretty blue added to the garland.

Step Six

Hang it up!  It was finally time to hang my garland.  I tied knots in the twine before the first strip and after the last strip to keep them from shifting too much.  Then tied bows in the ends of the twine on both sides.  Used heavy-duty packaging tape to hang the garland from our mantel.

Here is my cross-seasonal garland.  Began in spring and finished in summer.

So, what do you think about the different lengths I chose for the strips?  Would it look better if the strips were all measured and cut the same length?  Just to clarify, all of the strips in one pattern (zig-zag or green print, etc.) are the same length.

Because I tore my strips of fabric, they are unraveled at the edges which gives the garland more of a homemade look.  Once I had it hanging, I went over each strip removing little unraveled strings and cleaning the edges up.

I kind of like it.  Still wonder if I should even the strips up in length.  But if so, that will happen later.  I still have two months of summer to decide!

More Inspiration

In my research for this project, I pinned a number of darling fabric garlands to my “DIYs, DIMs and Honey-Dos”.  Check out all of those great ideas, here.  Would be tickled to have you follow me on Pinterest, too!

Your Turn

First of all, did you know this knot was called a lark’s head?  You did?  I’m impressed. Guess I dropped out of Girl Scouts too early.

Have you created a fabric garland like this?  Would this be something you would like to try?  I am thinking I could make one for each of my granddaughters’ birthdays?  Or for my daughters for Christmas maybe?  Better get started NOW!  A lighter version of this garland would be super cute on my banister for the holidays.  Or draped around the Christmas tree?  Oh, my!  I am going to have to give up my day job to get these made!

Creative Corner

I am joining up with all of the creative souls for Carrie’s “Creative Corner“.  Happen to know that Carrie is off enjoying a romantic, child-free vacay with her honey this week.  She is so amazingly organized, though, I am sure she had something put together weeks ago for today’s post.  Here I am struggling to get my post written before the day is out.  Keep hoping she’ll rub off on me.

Happy Holidays

Both Canada and America are celebrating their Independence Days these first days of July.  Happy Canada Day and happy Fourth of July.  Enjoy your holiday and come back on the 4th for a delicious pork loin recipe to cook on the grill.  Run out to buy your pork loin now – you’ll also need chipotle chile powder, onion powder, garlic powder and brown sugar – then meet me back here Tuesday.

And that’s a post!  Whew, got ‘er written before the day is done.  Heading over to Carrie’s to see what the gals there have created, won’t you join me?  Thanks for stopping by, gals.

Hugs and kisses,