“I try to be true to myself in any holiday decorating. Keeping my personality even in the face of Christmas glitter. I fell in love with a banner at Anthropologie. But did not fall in love with the price tag! Every year I feel like I have to decorate before I start on my other Christmas projects. So this year I did this one for myself before anything. A treat to me for all the hard work I’m about to embark on to pull off Christmas once again. It has been the perfect touch at our front entry and I love walking past it everyday! Merry Christmas to me! You can give yourself this gift too! Here is what you need.” – Liz

Supplies Needed:
-15 Sheets of Felt various colour ( you might want to buy a couple extra to allow for matching options)
-Cross stitch Thread ( I bought this huge pack at Walmart for $10 ‘craft thread’)
-Yarn 3 colors
-Needle
-Printed Letters I used Arial in Bold and outline size 160
-Sewing machine
-Mat and Cutter
-Safety Pin
-Elastic band

Make your cuts. You should be able to get 2-3triangles out of each sheet with salvage
You will need 2 triangles per letter in the banner.

Save your salvages. If you only need 2 out of the color, stop cutting. The Salvage will be used for your letters and circle details.

Next print your letters, cut and trace them onto the felt salvages. Then cut out. Use any extra felt to cut out free hand circles of various sizes.

Line up 2 triangles of the same color. Sew ¼’ seam around all edges. Center and pin letter of contrasting color and sew as close to edge as you can.

Use your floss (craft thread) and needle to do a blanket stitch around the triangle. I doubled my thread for a thicker detail. Pick a thread of a contrasting color yet again for this look. Repeat on your circles as well. This part is what takes the most time, but the look is so worth it!!

For the braids use your colored yarn. I chose a variegated to save on money and still get a variety of color. Cut your full length of both Merry and Christmas and enough to hang, about 4.5 m. I used 2 length per section of the braid for a total of 6 strands. Tie ends in a knot and put a safety pin through the knot. Attach to carpet or somewhere you can anchor it.

Before braiding wrap up each section and put a rubber band around to make it easy to manage and easy to pull more length as you braid. Braid, braid, braid! Then repeat with second color way.

Voila!!

Now your ready to string your banner. Take your cream Yarn on a tapestry Needle and pull through the top portion of each triangle. This is also the time to randomly string your circles on between letters. To attach the braided portion you will need to cut small slits at the bottom portion of the triangles through only the back layer and feed through. If you use the safety pin at one end, it’s easier to pull through.

Once you have everything spaced how you like on the strands of yarn, pull your top and bottom strands together at the swag you are happy with. Do a simple slip knot to attach the strands, as well as create a loop to hang it from. You can either trim or let the ends dangle like I did. YOU DID IT It’s beautiful! Hang it and feel the Christmas spirit! Of course you could spell anything for any occasion in any color way and it’s sure to light up your day!

At the end of it you have this incredibly festive banner to love for years to come! Enjoy and Merry Christmas to you all!

In addition to the sweet as can be baby quilt, you can win a pattern from Tanya Whelan herself. Don’t miss out on this terrific Team-Up! Get cozy with your Lizzy Anne Original – Good Luck everyone!

** To VIEW our new Video Interview – click the “watch the show” button” or subscribe to us in iTunes! Thanks everyone.

We loved the Live Feed option so much that we’re going to do another one tomorrow morning (Sunday) as well. Tune in LIVE to www.ustream.tv/channel/boutique-cafe-live between 11:00am (texas time) with Myrinda of Fabric Hound and Designer Melissa Averinos.(**if you sign up for a free account on ustream, you’ll be able to post questions directly to our guests).

**GIVEAWAY: Lizzy Anne is teaming up with Boutique Cafe to offer her very popular Spring UP! Quilt pattern for a lucky viewer. Simply comment under this post to enter. We’ll draw the winner on Nov. 1st!!). Click here to view the quilt pattern that made a great splash at Market!, the pattern could be yours too!! (*long arm quilting on Spring Up display quilt by Black Bear Quilting)

Don’t forget to contact us if your company is interested in sponsoring an episode of Boutique Cafe!

**If you’d like to read my blog post about our 1st day at Market, Fabric 2.0 Party and Sample Spree Click Here.

Here are the ways you can enter to win:

1. Leave a Comment on Lizzie Anne’s Blog HERE
2. Receive 5 extra entries by blogging about this giveaway on your own blog (you must let her know about it by sharing the url in comments as well).
3. Receive an additional 5 entries by sharing her banner in your sidebar (code is available to copy & paste).

The winner will be drawn on Friday, Oct. 17th so prepare to get all wrapped up in wonderful!