Thankful Embroidered Banner

Last year I actually created this jaunty little fabric banner.  I had used my Accuquilt cutter with the triangle die to cut the pennant shapes in some scrap fall-like fabric.  Then I created a stitch file and a letter for each pennant, and saved them as machine embroidery files.

I was just sort of playing.  I stitched and turned and ironed each, then decided to make my own binding to create something to add the pennants to.  Next time I won’t make the binding so wide.  Live and learn!  That is why I was experimenting!

It felt so nice to open my “Fall and Thanksgiving” bin  to find this banner waiting for me!  Finally, some instant gratification, without having to create decor from scratch!

I think it warms up the white stone of the fireplace.  Don’t worry. I made sure the flames have NO chance of reaching my banner.  That would warm up the place a tad TOO much!

 

 

I ordered some FAB pumpkin stems from a gal on Etsy.  (She is all out for the rest of this year…)  Then I found some gorgeous silk velvet, also on Etsy.  You could use regular velvet, or any other fabric of your choice, too.

I cut out circles, using a dinner plate and a salad plate.  Then, grabbing some thick thread that I had, I used a running basting stitch all around the circle edge, about a half inch in from the edge.  I used a double strand for extra strength.  You could even use unwaxed dental floss if you wanted to!  The color doesn’t really matter.  Draw it together partly.  Now to add the ingredients!

Since I had them on hand, I tossed in a  few handfuls of dried Cherry Pits!  Gives the pumpkin a nice weight.  You can add dried beans or the little doll plastic pellets that are sold at most hobby stores.

For fun, and because I love the scent and I had some on hand, I added about a half cup of dried lavender.  I drew the rest of the circle up as close as I could, evening out the gathers.  Be sure to stitch it closed, going back and forth from side to side, to really secure the closed opening.

Get the glue gun going.  Put a generous dab of hot glue onto the bottom of the stem, and press and hold the stem down onto the stitched area.  (I admit that I now use gardening gloves while handling the hot glue gun. I’m still recovering from some nasty burns received from the last time I used that glue gun!)

If I run out of stems, I have some sort of thick twigs (branches) that I have trimmed to be about 3″ long.  They would not cover your stitches as well, but you could always hot glue a few “near-real” leaves!

It’s fun to grab one of the pumpkins as I walk by, and give it a little squeeze!  The the warmer months I like to take time to smell the roses, but in the cooler months it’s a treat to sniff a whiff of lavender, hiding inside my soft velvet pumpkins!