I know it’s not quite Christmas yet, but here is a really easy project to help usher in the New Year! I will show you how to make prairie points- you won’t believe how easy they are, and what a nice touch they add to the edge of your projects. I found some scraps of fabric in my stash with hints of metallic gold, which add a really pretty and festive touch to this banner.

You will need to print out the applique patterns, found here. (There are some extra stars on the sheet, use as many as you would like on your banner.) To be honest, it can be a little tedious with a project like this, tracing all of those letters onto your fusible web. But, instead of tracing all of those letters by hand, you can simply print them out onto the Heat n Bond EZ Print Lite (manufactured by Thermoweb)- that saves you a lot of time! (I now carry it in my online shop!)

You will need:

• *(2) 15 x 17″ pieces of black fabric
• *(3) 3 1/2 x 5″ pieces of black fabric for hanging tabs
• *(5) 3 1/2″ squares of gold fabric of prairie points
• *scraps of gold fabric for applique
• *Heat n Bond EZ Print Lite
• *Black and Gold sewing thread
• *Applique patterns- click here

To make the banner:

Place 2 pieces of black fabric (15 x 17″) right sides together. Sew along the long edges only, to make a tube. Turn tube right sides out; press.

Fold the short edges in toward each other 1/4”; press (do not sew together yet).

Print out the applique patterns onto Heat n Bond EZ Print Lite.

Cut out shapes, leaving about 1/8” border around each shape. Fuse to wrong side of gold fabric, following package instructions. Cut out applique shapes on line.

Arrange the applique shapes on the front of the banner. Iron in place according to package instructions.

Machine applique around the shapes, using gold thread.

Make the hanging tabs: fold 3 1/2 x 5” black fabric pieces in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew along long edge to make a tube. Turn tubes right sides out; press.

Fold the tabs in half. Insert the raw edges into the top of the banner about 3/8″. Pin in place. To close the opening and secure the tabs, use black thread to top stitch about 1/8″ from the edge of the banner.

To make the prairie points: Fold the gold squares in half diagonally, right sides OUT. Press. Fold in half diagonally again, and press. You will now have triangles with 2 folded edges and 1 raw edge.

Insert the raw edges of the prairie points into the opening at the bottom of the banner and pin in place. Top stitch with black thread to secure.

Ta-da! Your banner is finished! Please visit the Thermoweb blog for more fun and creative fabric and paper crafting ideas!