How to make a rag swag garland free tutorial

If you have a large stash of fabric scraps, like I do, then here is a great way to utilize them. I hate throwing scraps away because I feel I might need them for something. A few years ago I discovered a way to salvage them and give them new life by making rag swag garlands. Here is how I make them:








Materials needed: Jute twine and scrap fabrics

















Step 1: Cut your scrap fabrics into 1" x 6-8" strips. I like to use a non-uniform length, so cut them all the same length if you want your garland to look more uniform. Make several piles of the different fabrics in the colors you want in your garland.

Step 2: Cut your jute twine the length you desire and allowing an additional few inches at each end.
Tie a knot in the twine about 4 inches from the end.

Step 3: Grab a strip from the first pile and tie it onto the twine at the knot. Grab a strip from the second pile and do the same next to strip 1. Repeat this until the twine is full of tied strips to the last 4 inches of twine. Tie another knot here to end the garland.

Here are some garlands I have made.

 

Example using multiple fabrics.

 

For an additional spin on the garland try tying the fabric onto Christmas light strands instead of the jute twine.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my free tutorial!

Winter Project #1

I am having a tough time keeping up with this blog....I work too much I guess. Spring is around the corner, so maybe there will be a break in the current events?

 

I have heaping full boxes of scraps from all the rag quilts I have been making. Not to mention from the cutting services I do. And to top it off from all the rag quilt kits I have been putting together. Yeah I need to quit working....just to clean up my mess!

 

This winter I found a weekend to sort through much of my homespun scraps and was able to tie strands of this scrap fabric onto jute twine to make some rag swag garlands. Here are a few to show off, but there are many more.....I made them all that weekend to lessen the stash. HAH right. I have since added to it. I need to hire people now just to keep up. I could seriously run a factory in my basement.... well anyway we won't go there at least for now.

 

Check my Etsy or eBay listings for more rag swag garlands.

 

I am much better at posting and keeping up on my Facebook page. Check that out to see what I am up to from week to week. I need to boost my "Likes" there, so feel free to click "Like" when visiting.

 

Christmas Tree 2011

We decided to put up our small tree this year instead of lugging the big one up from the basement.  I placed it on our dining room table to give it some height, but I have tons of decorations and not enough tree....oh well. The decoupage ornament balls I finished up a few weeks ago look great on the old tree. I also hung a couple of my rag swag garlands over the front branches and it really completed the tree. I have an issue with the tree topper though.....I don't like it. It does not match the rest of the prim decor. My normal tree topper is an angel   but it is stained glass and does not work either. I am going to have to think on this one for a bit.....

DH started the painting behind the tree. I talked him into doing a prim barn star on it and he is working on the pip berries....not sure what is going on the left side, but he will come up with something I hope. It is an old textured abstract painting that he is re-purposing. Gotta love being married to an artist.

Primitive Rag Quilting

Lately I have created things using my favorite fabrics: homespun. You can find them for sale on Etsy.

Primitive Ornie Stars

Primitive Stocking Rug Mugs

Primitive Homespun Coasters

Primitive Homespun Garland

Busy Weekend-Creations #20-24

This weekend has been a busy one. I did quite a bit in a short period of time, but wish I had more time to sew before the weekend is over.

Friday night we had a football game. We lost, but played better than we had been so that was good. We are 1-3 right now going into the 5th week of school....wow 5 already? I am the certified athletic trainer at the school.

Saturday I went to get my hair cut. It needed it bad. I feel much better now that it is freshly cut. Will be getting another spiral perm in October. I liked the one I got last fall so much I am doing it again. Much easier to style for me.

Saturday afternoon I finished clipping a rag quilt, diaper bag, pillow, and 2 burp cloths. Got them washed and dried, but need to work on some finishing touches before I list them online to sell.
















Then last night I worked some on my Americana swag I have sitting by the computer. It is about 2/3 done now.














This morning I went to church alone. DH was suffering from allergies again and did not feel up to going. I wish he had because the sermon was so great. I know it would have helped him, but I guess God wanted just me to hear it by myself.

After church I drove home, dodging all of the construction going on in this town. I will be so happy once the roads are finished. (We have 3 major jobs going on right now.) It is just hard to avoid those spots when traveling anywhere I need to go these days-especially to work.

Driving up the driveway I noticed tomatoes needing picking again in the garden. So I grabbed the harvesting basket and headed out there in my church attire. Picked 3 basketfulls of matos. Add salsa to my "To Do" list this week!! Does anyone have any good salsa recipes???

All afternoon I have been cutting fabric orders and will have to run to the supplier tomorrow to finish a few. Here is a stack of my work.

Do I really have to go to work tomorrow?

What to make with Fabric Scraps? Creation #16 &17

Being a fabric cutter, I accumulate so much scraps that it is getting to be a nuisance in my storage area. Most of the scraps have ultimately hit the garbage can, but here lately I have been collecting them for more craft ideas.

I love homespun fabrics the best, so here is a swag I constructed out of homespun scrap materials.



I just used a 6 foot long piece of jute twine, knotted the ends and left about 8 inches bare on each end. Next I just started single knotting each 6"x1" strip of homespun scrap onto it. Colors used compliment each other. Here are 2 examples:























This one is Christmas colors: