Name Pennant Garland

I searched everywhere on the internet to find a pattern for a pennant garland that is sturdy enough to survive years of use.  There are many patterns for disposable garlands and several patterns that need to be purchased for sturdier garlands with square flags, but none of these were acceptable to me.  I made up my own plan.  Should you want to make a garland for your dumpling, here it is:

The curtains in Amelie's room are from IKEA and had to be hemmed up 14 inches to work in our nursery.  This gave me a lot of extra fabric to use as the backing of the pennants.  I used fabric remnants for the letters.  You'll also need fusible interfacing, double sided adhesive interfacing (like Steam-a-Seam) and bias tape for the rope part of the garland.

Draw a pattern for the triangles.  I made mine 7 inches wide and 10 inches long, which included space for the hems.  Cut twice as many triangles as you will want in your finished garland. Pair up the triangles into front and back pieces.  I ironed fusible interfacing onto the front half of each triangle. 

To make the letters use a word processing program and print your kiddo's name in a font you like.  Formatting the font so that it prints just the outline will save you ink.  I used Microsoft Word Cooper Black in some huge size like 350.  Your life will be much easier if you iron double sided adhesive interfacing onto the fabric you're going to use for the letters. Cut out the letters and iron them onto the front panel of your triangles.  I sewed around the letters using a zigzag stitch. 

After all your letters are adhered and outlined in stitching, sew the 2 faces of each pennant together along the long edges, leaving the top open. Turn the triangles right side out, poke out the point and iron the whole deal to make it flat and properly shaped.  Trim the top edge if there are a bunch of strings and such hanging out.  Open up the bias tape and pin each triangle in place.  Sew along the bias tape using a straight stitch to hold the triangles in place.  I went back and zigzagged the length as well, for purely cosmetic reasons. 

Tah dah!  You're done.  Nice garland.

To Start.

All babies look stunning in a bonnet. Really, the first 4 or 5 years of life are the only times that a person can wear a bonnet and not look ridiculous or like a member of some conservative religious sect.  I made Squeakerton this bonnet using the Prudent Baby Reversible Bonnet Tutorial.  I did have to cut the pattern down about an inch all the way around so that it would fit my dovecake's head.  Tonight, when it stops feeling like a sauna outside we are going to the fabric store to get snaps for the snap gun so that she can have a tidy Girl-scout-esque tie underneath her sweet chin. Precious.

Behind Amelie's head in the bonnet picture you can see a burp cloth, which is flannel and terrycloth and the greatest, most absorptive option available to us.  The cloths are totally easy to make and well worth your time.  They're the perfect size.  Again, Prudent Baby.  I'm addicted.

I also made this nursing cover, using the Prudent Baby tutorial.  I had the lovely vintage fabric in my stash.  Now I need to practice using the cover...

My Squeakerton.

This person made her grand entrance 3 weeks ago.  She was a tiny speck of girl. My world was rocked.  She's perfect.  I've been filling in time between breastfeeding and company with various crafty endeavors and HBO series.  Sewing helps me feel like I'm creating something, even as I'm trapped in the house, imprisoned by heat, humidity and a 2.5 hour feeding cycle. 

This photo is by Robin Dodd.