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Step-by-step direction to make two very simple DIY no sew Christmas garlands. Both are budget-friendly and fun craft projects to do for the holidays!
I have great news…no sewing skills are required to make these two no sew Christmas garland projects because they are completely no sew, and easy as can be! First up is a grain sack garland made from an antique grain sack, but you can use any fabric you have on hand. Burlap, drop cloth, felt, fat quarters. If you don’t have any fabric, you can use scrapbook paper or book pages. Seriously…anything at all will work.
Grain Sack Garland Supplies Needed
- Grain sack or fabric of your choice
- One piece of 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock or paper
- Pencil for tracing
- Scissors
- Twine
- Fabric glue
Making The Pattern
- Fold a piece of cardstock in half, and cut along the fold line. You will have two pieces that measure 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
- Fold one half-sheet in half.
- Then fold that in half again. You should have a little folded up piece of paper.
- Cut the corner off at an angle.
- Unfold it and you will actually have two templates.
- Cut them apart and you are ready to trace.
Garland Assembly
- Since I used a grain sack, I wanted the stripe to run along the middle of each garland piece. So I lined up the template along the stripe. (Pictured above.) If you are using burlap or some other fabric with no pattern, just randomly trace your template onto the fabric.
- Decide how long you want your garland, and then figure out how many pieces you need. Trace and cut out the pieces, making sure to cut inside the trace line. (I only had a small piece of this grain sack, so my garland had just 7 sections.)
- Press the straight end of each piece over about 1/2 inch. Lay the pieces out on a flat surface, and run a piece of twine under the fold of each section.
- Glue the folds down making sure not to glue the twine. I used hot glue, but you could also use any kind of fabric glue.
- Since my garland was a little short to wrap around the tabletop tree, I cut the twine, and made 2 banners. It was easy to just criss-cross them on the front of my tree.
- TIP: if your fabric is flimsy, or could fray, cover the wrong side of your fabric with Wonder Under. Do this before you trace and cut out.
DIY Christmas Mitten Garland
I am almost embarrassed to include this mitten garland as a tutorial, because there really isn’t much to it! I simply hung mittens on a piece of twine with clothespins. I added fresh pine to the opening of each mitten, and tied on a couple of pinecones with ribbon. That’s it!
I ordered the mittens from an Etsy shop called The Knitty Gritty Shop, and they are so cute. You can make this garland with mittens you already have, or get some at any discount store. I even recently saw mittens at Kroger. I think it would be so meaningful to use mittens that belonged to your children or grandchildren. My kids probably had 25 pairs of mittens between them as they were growing up, and I didn’t save one single pair. Keep that in mind the next time you clean out your coat closet! You can also make this garland with socks, gloves, or small stockings.
Christmas
Ornaments + Garlands
- How to Make Dried Orange Slices
- Handmade Wool Felt Star Garland
- Wool Felt Ball Christmas Tree Garland
- Stairway Garland Ideas
- Countdown To Christmas Advent Paper Chain
- How to Sew Heart Ornaments
- Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas Tree Ornaments
- DIY Air Dry Clay Ornaments
- Fabric Rag Ball Christmas Ornaments
Wrapped With A Bow
Unlock the art of beautiful gift wrapping with this free guide,
and turn every present into a magical moment this Christmas!
Thanks for the ideas for small trees. That is what I have had to go to as well and love these cute ornaments and banners! Well done!!🎄🎄
I love the mitten banner … would you mind if I use the photo ? You always have easy DIY ! Thanks Ann!
Ann, I just recently started following your blog, and I love everything about it! I like to scrapbook and make banners and garlands, etc. All of these crafts can easily be made with scrapbook paper, but I especially love the mitten banner using real mittens! I’m going to make it this week! Merry Christmas!
Hi Pam…welcome to On Sutton Place! I’m glad you are following along. Happy Holidays!
I love this cute little tree..and the mitten banner is adorable!
Ha! I love crafts that you are almost embarrassed to tell us about because they are so easy, because if they are adorable then who cares. I think the mittens are so sweet. Why did it never occur to me to put evergreen sprigs in knit mitts? I could have done that years ago. Wouldn’t it be cute with all the single mitts you are left with through the years when the kids lose one mitt and you are left with the other one.
Hi Grace…the idea of single mittens is adorable. I so wish I had kept some of my kids’ mittens. Thanks for stopping by!
Sooooo cute. Ordered me some mittens! Thanks for sharing.
Dear Ann – Thanks so much for including the white mitten and twine and clothespin banner tutorial. Never feel embarrassed to include something simple for the likes of ME, LOL!! Not only does it look easy and simple to assemble but it’s also darling and nostalgic. I love it! It looks great against your antique brown chest. By the way, I’ve been enjoying your blog and look forward to more editions! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I am so in love with the mittens! Wonderful idea!!
Love these banners! I love mittens and collect them when I am at thrift stores and yard sales to use in my Christmas decorating too.