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November 6, 2011

Simple Thanksgiving Felt Garland


I love Thanksgiving--it is such a simple season of gratitude--and life may be hard at times for many of us, but I think it's important to remember the ways we are blessed. I always think it's a shame that this holiday often gets overlooked by the rushed Christmas season ahead.

This year, I decided to celebrate a little early and decorate with a simple reminder to "be thankful". I have been loving all the machine sewn together felt garland I've seen around different blogs and on Pinterest.

Since I don't have a sewing machine yet,  I decided to put an old-fashioned spin on designing my own by hand stitching the garland.  I was excited to find some recycled felt made from Eco-Fi-made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles by the brand Creatology. Plastic bottles never felt so soft!

Follow along with my tutorial if you'd like to make this project! This is so simple I would consider it a kid-friendly craft. Here's what you'll need:


  1. Yarn needle
  2. Felt in various colors
  3. Fabric scissors
  4. Yarn-I used two types of textures, but used the smooth kind for the lettering
  5. Glue gun or tacky glue
  6. Small circular containers in different sizes to trace-try a spice jar or medicine cup.
  7. Pen or pencil 
First, I traced my circles around the containers-I alternated between two different sizes.


Then, I cut out each circle until I had enough to spell out my words. I used 11 circles.



Next, I threaded my yarn needle with the wavy yarn and stitched loosely through the center of the first circle.

I repeated the process, leaving about an inch between circles, until I ended up with a long chain of circles, like this:

To make the words, "be thankful" I cut small pieces of straight orange yarn and just looped and connected the pieces to form each letter. I then glued each letter to the center of the circle.

keep in mind that I formed the letters first before trying to glue them!

forming the letters while one of my sons curiously watches


Are you ready to see the finished product? Here it is!

a shot from below, the garland is held in place by the gourds.
a side shot

I love how this garland adds playful charm and an old-fashioned homemade feel to my mantle! And, of course that it reminds me to "be thankful".

Linking up with these parties: The Girl Creative, Life Made Lovely, C.R.A.F.T, and I Heart Nap Time), Skip To My Lou, Todays Creative Bloghttp://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com//Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger... House of Hepworth's, and these.
Visit thecsiproject.com

37 comments:

  1. I love the color combination that you used. It really looks great on your mantle. Cute use of the pumpkins too.

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  2. I think this is sos cute!

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  3. This is so cute! I made a Give Thanks banner a few weeks ago, but I think I will do this one with my kids!

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  4. Thank you everyone for your kind comments! @ Amy-yes, I think is really easy to do with kids-even my 3 year old helped a little :)

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  5. This is so cute. Maybe I will make a Christmas one. Thanks for sharing!
    Stopping by from Live Made Lovely...

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  6. love this! I don't have a sewing machine so thank you for sharing a different way to do it.

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  7. this is so darling I love how simple it is. Thanks for sharing! (found you on the girl creative)

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  8. this turned out so cute!!
    i love projects that i can get my kids involved in.
    thanks for linking up!!

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  9. What a fun idea - yarn & felt!!! I'd love it if you would come link up to our Harvest Party going on through November. Any and all Thanksgiving and fall projects are welcome!

    http://lifeinthemotherhood.blogspot.com/2011/11/harvest-party-link-up.html

    Thanks!

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  10. So cute! I love this idea-- simple, yet beautiful!

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  11. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. You put together such a lovely garland! Thank you for sharing this idea and also for your thoughts on Thanksgiving and a season of gratitude - indeed!

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  13. That is so adorable!! I love the colors you used!

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  14. I love this! The yarn letters are so fun and are a nice mix with the felt. I am a new follower from Just Something I Whipped Up. Vicky from Mess For Less

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  15. What an awesome project! It's super cute and a great reminder, I'm right there with you on Thanksgiving getting overlooked. An attitude of Thankfulness is vital, and so important!

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  16. Thanks again for taking the time to write your kind comments, everyone! I appreciate you stopping by today!

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  17. What a darling craft! I love the way it turned out!!
    www.smithpeas.com

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  18. How cute! What a great project to share with the kids.

    Love for you to join my Linky Party - JAQS "Made by ME" at http://www.jaqsstudio.com/2011/11/made-by-me-6-linky-party-and-features.html

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  19. I love this!! You did such a great job

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  20. Love how simple this garland is! Thanks for sharing!
    http://makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com

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  21. Super cute! I love the colors you used! I'm a new follower. :)

    www.thelittlegiggler.blogspot.com

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  22. This is so cute! Great job. I love the look of the homespun yarn!

    http://thefullplatecrochet.blogspot.com

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  23. Love what you did... I so want to do this with my girls who are very into sewing and felt projects lately. THANKS!
    Meredith From A Mother Seeking Come find me on my blog, A Mother Seeking...

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  24. Thanks Meredith-I just discovered felt projects and love their look-and easy to do with kids! Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. LOVE this. It is perfect and my kids are going to love it as much as I do! I would love for you to link it up with us today at our linky party! Hope to see you over there ;)
    Britney
    www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

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  26. This is so adorable. I love how it looks. Great Job !!

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  27. So cute. I' love you ro add it to my party at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com

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  28. This is such a cute idea!

    I hope you will link this post to my Thanksgiving Traditions link up!

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  29. I love how it says Be Thankful. So much cutting but so worth it! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing it at www.thetshirtdiaries.com

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  30. I featured this on my blog tonight! Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday. Come check it out and grab a button! :)http://mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/2011/11/your-whims-wednesday-34-and-features.html

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