Wool Blanket Bunting

We've been known to cut up old quilts and tablecloths, saving what can be saved, to create bunting, and coasters, and placemats...well, it's fall, and there were a lot of beautiful, yet not perfect, blankets laying around my house!

Once I knew the pile of blankets was freshly laundered, I cut my rectangles. I wanted this project to be easy and cute. No difficult sewing involved here! I cut my blankets into 12" x 24" rectangles, avoiding the stains and worn areas. I had a few plaid blankets, a green chenille bedspread, and some thick wool blankets. For most of them, I used a pinking shear to get the zigzag edge. It would have been easier to have a rotary cutter with a pinking blade, but I was going for a not-perfect look anyway. The best part is the fact that these fabrics won't fray...easy sewing, indeed!

Once all my rectangles were cut, I decided I wanted to embellish them with fall-themed cute-ness. I grabbed some silk fall leaves I had and peeled off the plastic stem from the back. Once that's off, it's totally flexible, and sew-able!

The plaid blanket with gold and soft pink lines looked the best with the leaves. I used brown thread and machine-sewed where the veins of the leaf were. Do all the embellishing before you sew your rectangle shut!

The green chenille bedspread squares needed some orange, and I wanted to incorporate burlap, also. I cut a simple square of burlap, and sewed it with a zigzag stitch into the bottom right hand corner. I then used some of my embroidery skills, and stitched a pumpkin, with a simple straight stitch, and a satin stitch for the stem.

The bright colored plaid blanket was crying out for some sunflowers. I had some leftover trim, and cut off a few flowers. I hand-stitched them onto the left bottom corner of the plaid squares.

The beautiful aqua blue, beacon blanket didn't need anything, and the pretty salmon-y orange wool blanket had it's satin edge and tag still intact. I also found a brown and rusty plaid blanket with a fringed edge, that I added to my pile of rectangles, and a fun vintage blanket that my mom sent my way, depicting donkeys pulling a cart. I told you I had quite a few laying around!

Once all the embellishing was done, I simply folded the rectangles over, and stitched around the three sides, using a zig-zag stitch, and leaving two inches at the top to thread my rope through. I used different colored thread on each blanket, for an extra artistic touch!

Picked up a package of sisal rope from one of my favorite home-supply stores, wrapped some scotch tape around the end, and wove it through the bunting, leaving about 2-3 inches between. I left 12" to 14" on either end, in order to hang it from wherever I want.

What a fun project! We had these decorating the outside of the store last weekend, and some went home to decorate customer's homes! They look great hanging on the mantle, on the porch, or even from a tree at your next fall party!

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