How To Make A Felt Garland
Ever find yourself staring at a blank wall or empty party space and wondering how to add a little life to it? Store-bought decorations can be expensive or just not personal enough, right?
That’s where making your own felt garland comes in. It’s affordable, customizable, and super easy to make—plus, you get to decide the colors, shapes and the message.
Whether you’re decorating for a party or Christmas or just want to brighten up a room, this DIY felt garland will add a personal, creative touch without breaking the bank. Let’s dive in and get started!
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Table of Contents
What You’ll Need:
- Colored felt sheets
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Rope or thick string
- Wooden beads (optional)
- Fabric marker or chalk
- Sewing machine (optional)
- All-purpose polyester thread (if using a sewing machine)
Step 1: Get Your Supplies Ready
Start by picking out some felt sheets in whatever colors match your theme or vibe. You’ll also need scissors, a ruler, some embroidery thread, and a needle – if you’re sewing by hand. And if you want to dress things up, grab some beads and thick string for extra detail.
If you have a sewing machine you can use that too, in which case you’ll need some all-purpose polyester thread in colors that match your felt.
Step 2: Cut Your Felt Pieces
If you made the pennant template, place that on your felt and trace out the number of pennants you want for your garland (this time I made 7 for my “Happy” garland).
If you don’t want to make the pattern, you can use your ruler and fabric marker to draw the shapes you want on your felt.
The classic shape for garlands is a pennant (like I’ve done in this tutorial), but don’t be afraid to mix it up with stars, circles, or whatever design you like.
Once you’ve got your shapes traced, carefully cut them out. Keep those edges clean so everything looks neat!
If you want some extra guidance on cutting felt you can read my full guide.
Step 3: Add Some Personal Touches
Now’s the time to get creative! You can embroider letters, shapes, or even draw on your felt pieces (that’s what I’ve done in this tutorial).
before I started embroidering I drafted the letters onto the pennants to help keep my letters neat. I have a full guide on embroidering felt if you need more information.
If you’re making a garland for a birthday or special event, you could embroider words like “Happy Birthday” or “Congratulations.”
Not into embroidery? No worries—fabric glue or paint markers work great too.
Embroidering my letters on the pennants
Step 4: Sew It All Together
After decorating your pennants, fold each one in half to create two identical sides. Sew along the edges (about a 1/4 inch depending on how big or small yours are), leaving enough space to create a channel along the top. This will allow you to thread the rope through later while giving your pennants a sturdy, double-layered look.
Just do one piece first to make sure that you can thread the rope through the top channel then proceed with the remaining pennants (or whichever shape you’re making).
You can do this step with a sewing machine or by hand. Be creative with your stitches if you like. Here I have done a plain straight stitch but you could try a zig zag stitch or a more decorative one if you’re using your sewing machine.
If sewing by hand, you could also try a straight stitch or back stitch if you’re a beginner. If you’re more advanced you could try a blanket stitch or chain stitch. Or if you’re feeling really daring the feather stitch.
Here is a post about 12 different types of stitches for felt to give you some inspiration.
Step 5: Thread the Pennants Onto the Rope
Now that your pennants are sewn, thread your rope through the top channels of each pennant.
If you want to make your garland stand out even more, you can add wooden beads between each felt piece. Or you could sew on little shapes, pom-poms, or other cute decorations. This is where you can really make it your own!
Adding the final touches after threading the pennants onto the rope.
Step 6: Hang It Up and Enjoy!
Now that your felt garland is finished, it’s time to show it off! Use hooks or just tie it onto something like a bed frame or wall hooks. Adjust everything so it hangs nicely and you’re all set!
Tips for Sewing with Kids
- Pre-cut the felt: If younger kids are helping, cut out the felt shapes beforehand to avoid accidents with scissors.
- Use kid-friendly tools: Give them a larger plastic needle so it’s easier (and safer) for their little hands to sew.
- Keep it simple: Stick to basic stitches like the running stitch, which is super easy to learn.
Alternative Embellishments
- Pom-poms: Add pom-poms for a playful touch between your felt pieces.
- Fabric paint: Use glitter or fabric paint to draw extra designs or add sparkle.
- Buttons: Sew on buttons for a fun, old-fashioned look.
Wrap Up
And there you have it—a simple, creative way to add some personality to any room or event! Whether you’re decorating for a special occasion or just sprucing up your kid’s room, making your own felt garland is a fun project that you can totally customize.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding different embellishments or experiment with new shapes and colors to really make it your own. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect—those little imperfections are what make your garland unique!
Let me know in the comments if you tried this tutorial or if you have any questions. And if you make your own felt garland, I’d love to see it! Share your creations with the hashtag #sewistslab, and I’ll feature them on my Instagram.
Happy crafting and don’t forget to pin this tutorial so you can find it later!