How To: Appliqué Banner

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

So. The reason why I made (*cough* needed) the chocolate cake? It won't be over until the 18th. In the meantime, I've resorted to mindless handicrafts to convince my brain not to freak the heck out.

Let's ignore the fact that one of these appliqué banners is subconsciously inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Sometimes we all just need a reminder. Or two.



Step 0: Gather Materials

Materials for the Letters: assorted scraps of quilting cotton fabric, words/letters to transfer

Materials for Transferring: WonderUnder, iron, damp cloth, scissors, embroidery needle, embroidery thread, small embroidery hoop

Materials for the Banner: banner fabric (I used some Osnaburg), grommets/eyelets + kit, bamboo skewer, string to hang the banner with.


Step 1: Cut Wonder Under to Size of Paper Letters

Cut the WonderUnder and paper letters to the same size rectangles.


Step 2: Cut Fabric to Size of Wonder Under

Cut your assorted fabrics to the size of the Wonder Under rectangles.


Step 3: Iron the Rough-side of Wonder Under to Wrong-side of Fabric

Following the directions of the Wonder Under, iron the rough-side of the Wonder Under to the wrong-side of the fabric rectangles.


Step 4: Finish Banner Fabric

You have several options here, with what to do with the back banner fabric.

For this project I did #1, but the second banner ("breathe") was done with #2. I think the second method works well for a banner you don't plan on moving often.

1. You can sew a 1-inch double-folded hem around all four edges. (You'll need grommets/eyelets)
2. You can sew a double-folded hem around three edges, and then sew a bamboo skewer into a casing along the top edge. (If the skewer doesn't extend beyond the banner, you're going to need grommets/eyelets).
3. Attach the letters as directed in the instructions, leaving the banner unfinished, but before adding eyelets sew a second piece of banner fabric to the front of the embroidered banner. Leave a hole so you can flip the sewn banner right-side out. This method will hide the embroidered backing.
   

Don't put the bamboo skewer in the top casing until after embroidering!

Step 5: Attach Letters to Banner Fabric

Peel off the paper from the letters, according to the WonderUnder instructions and use a damp cloth and iron to attach the letters firmly to the banner.

Step 6: Embroider Letters to Banner Fabric

Using the embroidery hoop, sew the letters to the banner fabric with the emboridery thread. You can use a running stitch, applique stitch, or backstitch, but I used a satin stitch here. It takes a long time.

Step 7: Attach Eyelets According to Directions

Once you're done sewing the letters to the fabric, you can attach the eyelets if you've chosen to do so. Your eyelet kit should come with directions, just follow those. I find that holding the fray threads out from the hole gives the eyelet a more professional look.

Step 8: Done!

Once the embroidering is done, the skewer is secured in the top of the banner, and any optional eyelets are installed, you can tie the string to the eyelets (or the skewer) and place it on the wall. You're done!