Fabric Rag Garland How-To
These simple fabric rag garlands make up quick and easy and I love that the fabric choices available are pretty much endless, making this garland a perfect choice for any holiday or occasion. They are adorable in children’s rooms with matching decor colors, and they are a great way to brighten up a teacher’s classroom. And what about baby or bridal showers, birthday parties, and every holiday out there… oh, the possibilities! Check out the photos below to see up close pics of a few other fabric rag garlands I have made. I used flannel strips on the Christmas garland to add a warm and cozy touch to my holiday decor.
Since Halloween is just around the corner I chose to do a Vintage Halloween fabric rag garland for this How-To with throw-back colors in orange, black and white/cream. There are so many more color choices for this holiday these days, and I love them all, but I thought I would go with something different and give this vintage garland a try. I love it!
Add Your Heading Text Here
MATERIALS
FABRIC
1/2 yard each – 5 different fabric choices (6 or 7 choices work well too)
Find a great supply of fabrics at joanns.com
FABRIC NOTES
- I almost always choose my fabric by going straight to whatever’s on sale and choosing by colors and generic prints rather than the really cute holiday or occasion prints because once the fabric is cut the print will be a little lost, especially larger print. I’d prefer to save a little expense and go for the sale fabric – it all comes out great!
- For this How-To garland I chose 5 different fabrics per garland, but I have gone with 6 or even 7 choices before. You can choose as many or as few fabric choices as you like. Again, it all looks great!
- For me I like the length of my strips cut at 18″ long, which will then be folded in half when stringing. 1/2 yard of fabric measures approximately 18″ x 44″ which is perfect for the length I want.
With a 1/2 yard of fabric each, you will have a bit of fabric left, but I don’t mind because I can then make shorter length garlands in different sizes to display around the house and porch. Or, use the extra fabric for another project all together. I chose to make these very quick and adorable pumpkins with my fabric leftovers! (Check out Pinterest for instructions by searching ‘toilet paper pumpkins’).
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Jute Twine
Ruler/Pen
Scissors
Find jute twine at joanns.com
MEASUREMENTS
Hanging string (jute twine) measures 80″L – or 5′ of fabric strip space with 10 extra inches on each side for hanging.
Each strip measures 1 3/8″W x 18″L
NOTE: I use the width of my ruler to determine the width of each fabric strip, which is 1 3/8″W. HOWEVER, some rulers measure 1 6/8″W so whatever the width of your ruler is will work just find for the width of your strips.
INSTRUCTIONS
I like to iron each fabric piece first before I start cutting to avoid creases and wrinkles showing on my finished piece.
CUTTING FABRIC
5 fabric choices – cut 18 strips per fabric choice x 5 = 90 strips total
6 fabric choices – cut 15 strips per fabric choice x 6 = 90 strips total
7 fabric choices – cut 13 strips per fabric choice x 7 = 91 strips total
Take your first (ironed) fabric piece and lay it out 18″L and 44″W in front of you. Cut off the lefthand side edging and discard it, see photo below.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Next, line your ruler up with left edge of your fabric, and on the right side of your ruler draw a line from top to bottom with your pen. Move the ruler over lining the left side up with the line you just drew and, again, draw a line down the right side of the ruler. Move your ruler over and repeat across the fabric until you have marked 18, 15 or 13 strips (depending on how many fabric choices are being used). See photos below to see the ruler width markings.
Add Your Heading Text Here
TYING FABRIC STRIPS TO TWINE
Lay your strips out in the order you want to tie them to the twine. See the photo above to see how I ordered my strips.
Cut your twine 80″L, then come in about 10″ from the left side and tie your first strip there, see photos below for a visual on how to tie the strips.
Once the first fabric strip is secure on the twine, move on to the next strip and tie it to the twine, then scoot it over next to the first tied strip. Continue to tie strips until all 5, 6 or 7 fabric choices are on the twine. Repeat this sequence until all 90 or 91 strips have been tied to the twine, see photos below.
NOTE: If you ruler is 1 3/8″ wide you can tie you fabric strips with slight space between each strip to fit the 5′ of fabric strip space.
However, if your ruler is 1 6/8″ wide scoot your fabric strips right up next to each other in order to fit the 5′ of fabric strip space.
Add Your Heading Text Here
FABRIC STRIP CLEAN UP
When I am done tying all the fabric strips to the twine, I like to go through and give the garland a quick clean up. As you can see from the photo below, you will have lot’s of stray threads. I go through and pull and cut off as many visible threads as I can so my garland has a cleaner look.
TIP – Use a steamer to keep your garland looking new season after season. It’s an easy way to get rid of unwanted wrinkles and creases!
Add Your Heading Text Here
TA-DA!
Your fabric rag garland is now complete and I bet it looks great! Be warned though – these garlands are addicting and you may find yourself wanting to make one for every occasion!!
Happy Creating!
Check It Out!
For more Halloween decor check out this cute, easy and free CROCHET CANDY CORN BUNTING pattern here
Add Your Heading Text Here
Contact
I would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave me a comment below, use the ‘Contact Me’ section on the top menu bar and leave a comment there, or email me directly at mypassionatesoul123@gmail.com.
Subscribe
All subscribers welcome! If you would like to stay current and receive email updates with the latest My Passionate Soul news, alerts to new FREE patterns, exciting giveaway info and more, you can sign-up at the ‘Subscribe’ section of the sidebar menu. I promise you will never receive any spam, just yarn news and other crafty stuff!
***I put a lot of labor, love and time into the design of my patterns and create them for personal use only. Please do not sell my patterns and claim them as your own. Feel free to make and sell items you’ve made from my patterns, but if you do I ask that you link directly back to my post or blog and provide the link. You may also share my patterns on social media as long as you, again, link directly back to my post or blog and provide the link. Please do not copy and paste my patterns and claim them as your own. If selling items made from my patterns I ask that you use your own photos and do not re-publish any photos related to my patterns as your own. Thank you for your understanding.***
Elaine
May 6, 2021 at 6:12 pmLove this thanks for the help!
Lynnette
May 10, 2021 at 10:49 amElaine –
Thanks so much for your response. I’m glad you like the Fabric Rag Garland How-To. If you have a finished one I would love to see a photo!
Lynnette 😊