Holiday Projects with Style and Function

What's New, Nov/Dec 2001 by Brandt, Susan

The holiday season is a great time of year that centers on celebrations, creating memories, following old traditions and beginning new ones. Grafting can be an integral part of making the season special. After all, there's no better way to unleash your festive spirit than by making something yourself.

The following Menorah Hanging, Heritage Table Runner and Old-Fashioned Trims projects honor Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas while teaching essential sewing skills.

HANUKKAH

Menorah Hanging

The significance of the Menorah is two-fold. First, the Hanukkah Menorah symbolizes the candelabra in the ancient Temple that remained lit for eight days. The following menorah hanging is easy to make and perfect for kids to "light."

Materials:

Scissors

White glue

Yellow, dark blue, white felt

1 1/2 × 1-foot blue rectangle of felt

Hole punch

Velcro

2 foot piece of cord

Marker

Instructions:

1. Make candles - Cut nine 3-1/4 × 1-1/4-inch candles from white felt

2. Make flames - Cut nine flames from the yellow felt.

3. Make candleholders - From the dark blue felt, cut eight 2-inch squares and one 3-by-2-inch rectangle for the bottom of the candles.

4. Assemble menorah - Take the flat blue banner and place on a flat surface. Glue or stitch the dark blue candleholders along the lower edge by spacing them equally apart and placing the larger candleholder in the middle for the Shames candle, which is used to light all the other candles.

5. Attach candles - Glue or stitch a white candle above each candleholder.

6. Attach Velcro - Cut nine small Velcro strips and glue one side above each candle. Glue the matching Velcro strip to the back of each flame.

7. Attach hanging cord. Punch two holes at the top of the banner. Tie the ends of a cord through the holes and the menorah is ready to hang.

KWANZAA

Heritage Table Runner

Kwanzaa is a Swahili term that signifies "first fruits of the harvest" and is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st. To set the mood, homes are decorated with African accents as well as the Kwanzaa colors of red, green, and black. The following is a special addition to any Kwanzaa gathering.

Materials:

2 yards (enough to fit your table)

Afrocentric or seasonal fabric

2 buttons

2 large tassels

Fabric glue or sewing machine

Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut fabric to 12-1/2 inches wide by 2 yards long. Lay fabric wrong side up on a flat surface.

2. Finish edges. Turn back 1/4-inch on each side of fabric. Glue or stitch down.

3. Shape ends. At each end fold fabric back to form a V. Glue down.

4. Attach buttons. Leaving fabric wrong side up, measure 1 inch from pointed tip of each end of runner. Mark lightly with chalk or pencil. Sew one button at mark on each end of runner to attach tassel.

5. Add tassels. Put loop of tassel around the button. Tassel will hang down from each point.

CHRISTMAS

Old Fashion Trims

Everyone enjoys the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree. Hang these homemade holiday ereations as ornaments or string together for a charming country garland on the mantel or banister.

Materials:

Tracing or typing paper

Pencil

Scissors

Pins

Felt in desired colors

Fabric glue

Embroidery floss in a color to contrast felt colors

Needle

Assorted holiday buttons and charms, including 2 star buttons

8-inch-long piece of 1/4-inch ribbon

Fiberfill

Instructions:

1. Draw a heart, stocking, or Christmas tree pattern on tracing or typing paper.

2. Cut out the pattern pieces. Pin the patterns to the desired colors of felt. Cut out 2 pieces of felt in each shape, for the back and the background. (For exam- pie, in the photos, the background shape is cut from white felt.) Then cut out the crazy quilt shapes from other colors off felt.

3. Arrange the crazy pieces on top of one background piece with no space between pieces. Glue the crazy pieces in place.

4. Using embroidery floss, stitch over the seams using a herring- bone stitch. Stitch around the edges with a running stitch. Use a floss color that contrasts with the felt color.

5. Sew on buttons and charms. Do not sew on the star buttons yet.

6. Pin the crazy quilt unit on top off the remaining background! piece. Fold each ribbon piece in half. Put the ends between the two background pieces. Center the ribbon for the tree and heart and put it in the right corner for the stocking.

7. Stitch the edges of the ivory pieces together using the blan- ket stitch, stopping 2 inches from the beginning stitch. Stuff the ornaments with fiberfill, then continue with the blanket stitch.

8. Add star buttons. Sew 1 star button to the top of the tree and 1 to the top right corner of the stocking.

ALL-PURPOSE CRAFT RETAILERS

Looking for the perfect craft tool or notion? The following retailers sell a wide variety of craft supplies on the web and by catalog.

* Michaels Stores

Michael's has thousands of arts and crafts products for sale on their website, as well as where to find a Michael's store in your area. Their site's "Creative Connection" features craft tips, trends and techniques.

800/642-4235

www.michaels.com

* Jo-Ann Stores

In addition to thousands of crafts products, Jo-Ann's website has great project ideas and advice to cr afters.