The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative and bring some handmade charm into your home. One of the most versatile and fun ways to decorate for Christmas is by creating your own felt garland. Whether you drape it along your mantel, wrap it around your tree, or hang it across a window or doorway, felt garlands are the ultimate DIY holiday decor project. They’re easy to make, affordable, and fully customizable, so you can match them to any color scheme or theme you choose.
If you’re ready to add a touch of whimsical, homemade charm to your holiday decorations, read on for a step-by-step guide on how to make your very own felt garland.
1. Why Make a Felt Garland?
Before diving into the steps, let’s talk about why felt garlands are such a great choice for holiday decor. These soft, colorful garlands are not only budget-friendly but also reusable, making them a sustainable option for years to come.
Benefits of Felt Garlands:
- Customizable: You can choose any colors, shapes, or themes to suit your holiday style—traditional red and green, modern neutral tones, or even bold, colorful palettes.
- Kid-Friendly: Felt is soft and safe, making this a great project for families with kids. Let the little ones help with cutting shapes or stringing pieces together.
- Versatile: Felt garlands can be used in so many ways—on your Christmas tree, across your mantel, along a staircase railing, or even as table decor.
- Budget-Friendly: Felt sheets and craft supplies are inexpensive and easy to find at most craft stores or online.
2. What You’ll Need
Before you start creating your garland, gather the necessary supplies. Most of these materials are affordable and may already be in your crafting stash.
Materials:
- Felt Sheets: Available in a variety of colors, felt sheets are the foundation of your garland. Choose traditional holiday colors like red, green, and white, or go for a unique theme like pastels or jewel tones.
- Scissors: Sharp scissors are essential for cutting clean shapes.
- Needle and Thread: A basic sewing needle and sturdy thread (or embroidery floss) for stringing the felt pieces together.
- Twine or String: If you prefer not to sew, you can use twine or string to assemble your garland.
- Glue Gun (Optional): For no-sew assembly, a hot glue gun can help secure pieces together.
- Templates: If you’re cutting specific shapes like stars or trees, print or draw templates on paper to guide your cutting.
- Beads or Pom-Poms (Optional): Add texture and dimension to your garland by incorporating beads, pom-poms, or other embellishments.
3. Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Felt Garland
Follow these simple steps to create your felt garland. This project is beginner-friendly and doesn’t require any special crafting skills.
Step 1: Choose a Theme
Decide on the overall look and feel of your garland. Do you want it to feature Christmas shapes like trees, snowflakes, and stars? Or would you prefer a simpler design using circles or geometric shapes? Pick a color palette that matches your holiday decor.
Step 2: Cut Out Your Shapes
- Use scissors to cut your felt into the shapes you’ve chosen. For consistent results, trace your shapes onto the felt with a fabric pencil or marker first.
- Ideas for Shapes:
- Circles (classic and easy to cut)
- Stars
- Christmas trees
- Hearts
- Snowflakes
- Stockings or mittens
- Candy canes
- Abstract geometric shapes (like triangles or hexagons for a modern look)
If you’re making a garland with pom-poms or beads, you can simply cut out small felt circles or skip this step altogether.
Step 3: Arrange Your Pieces
Lay out your cut felt pieces in the order you want them to appear on the garland. Mix and match colors or alternate shapes for a balanced look. If you’re adding pom-poms or beads, place them between the felt pieces.
Step 4: Assemble Your Garland
There are two main ways to string your felt pieces together:
Option 1: Sew Your Garland
- Thread your needle with embroidery floss or strong thread.
- Poke the needle through the top of each felt shape, stringing them together in your desired order.
- If you’re adding beads or pom-poms, thread these onto the string between your felt pieces for extra flair.
- Tie knots at both ends of the garland to keep everything secure.
Option 2: No-Sew Garland
- Use a hole punch to make small holes at the top of each felt piece, and then string them onto twine or ribbon.
- Alternatively, use a hot glue gun to attach the felt shapes to the twine. Simply add a dot of glue to the back of each piece and press it onto the string.
4. Creative Variations for Your Felt Garland
Once you’ve mastered the basic steps, you can get creative with your felt garland design. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Add Glitter: Brush the edges of your felt shapes with glue and sprinkle on glitter for a sparkly finish.
- Layered Shapes: Stack smaller felt shapes on top of larger ones (e.g., a small star on a large circle) and sew or glue them together for a dimensional look.
- Patterned Felt: Use pre-printed felt sheets with holiday patterns like snowflakes, stripes, or polka dots to add extra detail to your garland.
- Embroidered Details: Use embroidery floss to add stitched designs to your felt pieces, such as snowflake patterns or initials.
- Mix Textures: Combine felt pieces with other materials like burlap, wooden beads, or fabric ribbons for a more rustic or eclectic look.
5. Where to Display Your Felt Garland
Once your garland is complete, the fun part begins—deciding where to display it! Felt garlands are incredibly versatile and can be used in countless ways throughout your home.
- On the Christmas Tree: Wrap your garland around the tree for a handmade, rustic look.
- Over the Mantel: Drape the garland across your fireplace mantel, paired with stockings, candles, or greenery.
- Along a Staircase: Weave your garland through the banister or railing to add holiday cheer to your staircase.
- On a Window or Doorway: Hang your garland across a window frame or above a doorway for a festive touch.
- Table Decor: Use your garland as a centerpiece for your holiday table. Simply lay it along the middle of the table and pair it with candles or greenery.
6. Tips for Success
To ensure your felt garland turns out perfectly, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose Quality Felt: Higher-quality felt is thicker and easier to work with, ensuring your shapes hold their form.
- Be Precise: Take your time cutting shapes to ensure clean, smooth edges.
- Measure Your String: Before you start assembling, measure the length of string or twine you’ll need for your chosen display area.
- Have Fun: Don’t worry about perfection—part of the charm of handmade decorations is their uniqueness and character!
FAQs
1. What kind of felt should I use for my garland?
Use craft felt sheets that are firm but easy to cut. Wool felt is thicker and more durable, while synthetic felt is more budget-friendly.
2. Can I make a no-sew felt garland?
Yes! Use a glue gun to attach felt shapes to twine or string. You can also punch holes in the shapes and thread them onto ribbon or string for a quick no-sew option.
3. How long should my garland be?
The length depends on where you plan to hang it. Measure the area first (e.g., the mantel, tree, or doorway) and add a few extra inches to ensure it drapes nicely.
4. Can I involve my kids in this project?
Absolutely! Kids can help cut shapes, string pieces, or even decorate with glitter and paint. It’s a fun and safe craft for the whole family.
5. What other materials can I pair with felt?
Pair felt with pom-poms, wooden beads, dried orange slices, or ribbons to add variety and texture to your garland.
6. How can I store my garland after the holidays?
Roll the garland carefully and store it in a small box or bag to prevent tangling. Keep it in a cool, dry place to ensure it lasts for years.
7. How long does it take to make a felt garland?
Depending on the complexity of your design, it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. Simple circle garlands are the quickest to make.
8. Can I make a themed felt garland?
Absolutely! Create a garland with holiday shapes like Christmas trees and stars, or choose a theme like snowflakes, candy canes, or even characters like Santa and reindeer.
9. What colors work best for a felt garland?
Classic red, green, and white are perfect for Christmas. For a modern look, try pastels or metallics. You can also mix neutral tones for a minimalist style.
10. Can I use my garland outdoors?
Felt garlands are best kept indoors, as felt can absorb moisture. If you want an outdoor option, use weatherproof materials like plastic or vinyl instead of felt.
Now that you know how to make your own felt garland, it’s time to gather your materials, let your creativity flow, and start crafting. Happy holidays and happy decorating!