Once you learn how to make your own applique banner you'll never purchase a banner again.
(Ok, so you might for the rare occasion, but it's truly so simple). The design is endlessly customizable — pair it with a frame, a monogram, a full name, or a birthday design for a high chair. It's simple to make and a real show-stopper for customers or gifts. I can’t wait to see what you’ll make with this!
Materials needed:
- Embroidery Design: Here's the two fabric banner design
- Fabric for the front and back of the banner, with Heat and Bond Lite ironed onto the underside. Small patterns or solids work best. A complementary but different fabric on the back adds a nice touch.
- Fabric for the accent layer (if you're using the single fabric applique banner design, you don't need this!)
- Sheet of white craft foam OR white stiff craft felt – your choice here, I lean towards felt on this one for the sturdiness/bulk) but it’s up to you!
- If you're going to float this project, something to float it on - sulky sticky is my favorite product.
- Sharp scissors (applique scissors, fabric scissors, rotary blade, and exacto knife)
- Iron
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Spray adhesive
*note: there are so many methods for doing projects like this, so disclaimer - there is no one perfect method! You'll find your own favorites as you go. Play around and see what you like best - there is no wrong way to do this! Treat these steps as a starting framework as you find your own preferred method.
Let's get started!
- Float or hoop the felt: If I float, then I clamp it within an inch of it’s life! If you’ve got magnetic hoops, or prefer a traditional hoop - then this project just got easier, directly hoop the felt/foam and pop it on the machine!
- Run the placement stitch around the project.
- Attach the background fabric: Lightly spray your fabric lightly with adhesive spray, and then place your fabric (Heat and Bond Lite side down) on top of your felt/foam. Clamp these layers together!
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Run the tack-down stitch.
note - if you're just stitching the plain single fabric banner, skip to step 8! - Run the placement stitch for the accent fabric. This will be the smaller banner shape!
- Attach the accent fabric. Place your fabric (Heat and Bond Lite side down) on the banner and clamp/pin/sewtite the layers together.
- Run the tack-down stitch for the accent fabric.
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Personalize: Now is the time to personalize! Add a name or phrase or design or Bible verse here! The bean stitch for the accent fabric runs at this point — wait to trim the accent fabric until after the bean stitch outline has completed. If you're stitching a banner with a design on it (cross, school house, etc) those steps will also run now.
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Attach the backing fabric (the tricky part): Grab your background fabric again and slide it (Heat and Bond Lite side UP!) between your hoop and the bed/arm of your embroidery machine. I like to take my hoop off the machine first and spray the fabric lightly with adhesive spray and stick it to the back side of my project to help keep the backing fabric from sliding around. You can also add binder clips, fabric clips, or sew tites to help hold it in place! Run the last applique step.
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Stitch the final outline. Run your the bean stitch outline around the whole project! The design is programmed to add the button holes here for your ribbon or string, and it’s important that they run now so they can go through both the top fabric, the bottom fabric, and the felt/foam.
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Remove and trim. Pop your whole project out of the frame and trim the edges! I use a quilting ruler with a ¼ inch line and a rotary cutter to make sharp, clean sides on this project.
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Add the ribbon and finish! Use an exacto blade to open the buttonholes, thread the ribbon through, and tie a bow. Done!
There are so many ways to make this unique, custom, and fun!
I love that you can customize the fabric to match your customer's vision (or yours!). There are a few tips that I think make this even more fun:
- Use one color for a fast, clean stitch out - my favorite machine to do this on is my single needle, and even when I use my multi-needle I change all of the thread colors to the same thread so it will stitch quickly.
- Don't skimp on ironing with this project. I try to make sure my fabric is as crisp as possible before I put the heat and bond lite on the back, and then I press it before I use the rotary cutter and after I finish cutting!
- Get creative with your finishes. You can hang this with a bow on each side or a single bow in the middle! Play around with this (multiple ribbons, ribbons with tails, etc) until you find a style that's all you!
Hope this helps!
Beth