Connecting the pieces to complete a reversible quilted banner

It’s beginning to look a bit more festive around here. I might just leave my decorations out! In yesterday’s post we finished quilting all of the stocking squares. Today we’ll complete the reversible holiday stocking banner using the PFAFF performance icon.

Making the stocking pennants

Match up each stocking square with a backing fabric square – the cream ones go with cream, and each red one matches up with a blue print.

Put the backing square on top of its matching stocking square, right sides together. Sew around the square leaving the top edge open and reverse-stitch at the beginning and end to secure the stitching. I used the ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT system which has red guide marks at the front to accurately stop ¼” at the corner and turn. The three sets of guide marks are spaced ¼” apart.

Trim off the corner seam allowance excess, then turn the square right side out. Push out the bottom corners to make them square. Using the ivory thread, sew a topstitch ¼“ around the three sewn sides leaving the top edge open.

Sewing the binding to the reverse side

You might have to make your binding strip if you didn’t make it already. I fold and press a ¼” on one edge of the binding – this is the edge I sew from the front. Read through these next few steps to make sure you see how the binding works – you’ll be stitching on the binding that ‘floats’ between the squares to secure the raw edges and make the string part of the banner.

First, space out the squares if you can; at minimum the length of your cutting mat will help you to space the squares evenly along the binding strip. I left about 4” of strip at the beginning and end of the row. Pin the binding to the reverse side of the squares leaving 3” between them.

Bring the pinned banner to your machine. The bright LED lights of the PFAFF performance icon make it easy for me to see while I sew the binding on.

I used the ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System to sew the binding on.

Binding to the front

Bring the banner back to the cutting mat or flat surface and put it quilted stocking side up. Now you need to fold and bring the binding to the front. Pin it in place, including in the space between the squares. In the photo below you can see how the folded edge means there is no raw edge exposed.

Before starting to sew the binding to the front, fold in the ends of the binding to sew closed the exposed edges. The PFAFF performance icon can sew over this bulky seam with some gentle pulling. Start sewing from the short end, then sew the binding to the front using a ⅛“ seam. I follow the inside groove of the ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System to keep this seam even.

Adding topstitching

When I got to the opposite end of the banner, I folded in the ends of the binding strip and sewed over them. Then I went back down the opposite edge of the binding, topstitching ⅛“ away from the top fold. This gives the binding some strength as it acts as the banner’s string to support the weight of the squares when hanging.

The banner is finished! The front looks charming with its alternating red and cream stockings.

The back looks good too – blue and cream can be enjoyed all winter long.

The holiday stocking banner is complete. This banner can be made with different appliques or be a quick make with some favorite novelty fabrics. I’m starting to feel a bit more festive now that I finished the holiday stocking banner. The PFAFF performance icon made it an enjoyable make from start to finish.

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 4: Choosing a machine quilting stitch to complement background fabric