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!

Garden Work Saturday!

Oh my goodness!! I spent the entire day outside working in the yard. I cut the lawn, used the trimmer around everything, swept up old leaves from the front sidewalk, and prepped the garden area for tilling. My dad and stepmom came over to roll the yard and do the tilling. I knew a couple of weeks ago that it was going to need rolling because I just about sprained an ankle cutting the lawn for the first one of the spring. After rolling it today I was amazed at how much better it felt under my feet as I walked across it. I did get some aerator sandals to use on it next.

My husband and dad took turns at running the tiller. We are working up some new ground making our garden larger and it was really tough to till. I am going to have to continue hoeing it this week to get it ready for planting soon.

This picture here is from 2010 (3 years ago) and we expanded the garden area today.




This is showing how we expanded.

We are taking out a lot of grass and going to put in pavers to walk on due to being so close to the house on that side. I wish we could expand into the neighbors yard ( to the right) haha!

I made some X's to show I messed up. It is actually lower than where the picture shows. I will take some new pictures soon to show the actual expansion.

After all we did today, my lower back is killing me. I cannot get up from a seated position without pain that causes me to freeze in motion and hold my breath. Stupid herniated discs I have had for years now. It sucks getting old!

Traditional Quilt Blues and Whites

Creation #47
Inspired by the "Heavenly Blues" By Yolanda V. Fundora
in the Holiday Issue 2010 of The Quilter Magazine

Shhhhh! This is actually for my MIL!

This fall I have been skimming through several quilt magazines looking for ideas for gift giving. My MIL's kitchen is decked out in the blue/white dishes and decor, so when I came across this picture in the magazine my thoughts instantly went to her!

Knowing this was what I was going to make for her, I have been collecting remnants in blues/whites lately. Just enough to complete this as a wall hanging.

Last night I cut all the squares and today did all the sewing.

I used 4.5" squares for this.

Once I had the four corner blocks sewn I decided to change the overall pattern from the magazine a bit. I added in the white cross in the middle as an afterthought. I am not good at doing appliqued pieces, so this was a way out of it!

I follow a blog on free-motion quilting, The Free Motion Quilting Project, and was very tempted to use a cross pattern she had blogged about. So I did.....

Lets just say the 35" x 35" wall hanging was a success. I finished the free-motion quilting tonight. Yay! Another finish all the way through! Except for the binding, which I will do later this week.

This was hard on my back and shoulders moving the quilt around, so I think the next free motion pattern I use will be a bigger pattern!

Thread is out too, so I must replenish before I can sew again! :(

Anyhoo this was fun and different from my usual rag quilting projects.

Happy sewing!

Busy weekend, leaves, and rag quilting Creations 39-41

Leaves to the left, leaves to the right.....

All raked now and ready to be swept away by the city sweepers!

Goodbye leaves---see you next spring!

(I am sure I will have to rake more in a week or so- out 2 trees are loaded still.)

Over the weekend I spent most of the time sewing. It has been several months since I have been able to sew and create like this:
I did finish a couple of purses : Snowflake Dazzle and Prim Santa Noel

and


a twin size rag quilt that still needs clipped.

as well as a UFO that has been sitting on the shelf for a long time! These are rag quilted burp cloths for the football lover!