Quilted Garland & Ornaments

If you’re a quilter, chances are you have a bunch of fabric scraps or unused fat quarters piling up in your sewing space.  Making your own quilted garland and/or ornaments is a quick and fun project to use up those scraps and also those scrap pieces of quilt batting.  And these make great gifts!  Before getting started, here is a quick list of supplies you will need.  

Supplies:

• Fabric Scraps or Fat Quarters
• Scraps of Quilt Batting
• Twine or String
• Cardstock Paper
• Marking Tool (fabric pen or hera marker)
• Scissors

There are a couple of different ways you can make the quilted garland and ornaments.  There is no right or wrong way to make these and the possibilities are endless.  The methods I will show includes an unfinished edge.  If you would like to have a more finished look, you can stitch a finished edge around the outside using your sewing machine or serger. 

First, you will need to decide what shapes you want to make.  I chose to make stars, trees and bulb ornaments.  Cut out your shapes on cardstock paper to create tracing templates.

Take two fabric scraps and one piece of batting that are large enough to fit your cardstock templates. Make a quilt sandwich by placing one piece of fabric face down, batting in the middle and the other piece of fabric face up. 

Place cardstock template on top of quilt sandwich and trace the shape with your marking tool.  Pin the quilt sandwich together.  

Carefully stitch on the marked line. Get creative with the stitches on your machine, using decorative stitches adds character.  You can quilt inside the stitched lines or leave as is. 

Once done stitching, using fabric scissors, carefully trim close to your stitched line.  I decided to go back and add some more decorative stitches after I trimmed this one.  

Once you are happy with the amount of quilting and stitching, take the twine or string and sew to the back of the ornament.  If making garland, I recommend attaching the string to the top and bottom. 

If making an ornament, create a loop and stitch to the top of the ornament.  Trim any loose threads.  

Another method you can try, is quilting and stitching first and then cut out the shape.  Make a quilt sandwich and quilt on your machine.  Once quilted, place the cardstock template on top of your mini quilt and trace with a marking tool. 

Take the mini quilt back to your machine and stitch along the traced line.  

Once stitching is complete, cut close to your stitched line. Attach string the same way as shown above.  

Here are some other ideas for quilting and finishing your garland or ornaments.

Share what you made with me!  Tag me on Instagram @lindseymakes and use the hashtag #lindseymakesgarland or #lindseymakesornaments.  

All fabrics used in this tutorial are designed by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics.  This blog post is part of Gifting Handmade - A Maker's Showcase.  For more projects featured in the showcase, search on Instagram using the hashtag #giftinghandmadeshowcase.