How to Make Simple Wall Hangings
Add color and texture to your home by decorating with fabric wall hangings as well as standard wall art. Any fabric works well for a wall hanging if it complements the other decor in the room, although heavier fabrics are less prone to wrinkling and hang straighter. Use plain fabric or choose a fabric with a design, depending on how ornate you want your wall hanging to be. Upholstery fabric works especially well because of its weight and durability. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Determine the desired size of the wall hanging. Add 4 inches onto the length measurement and 2 inches onto the width. Cut the fabric to this measurement.
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2
Fold the sides of the fabric in 1 inch, making the fold toward the wrong side of the fabric, and leave the top and bottom unfolded. Pin the fold in place.
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3
Sew up the folded sides of the fabric, using a straight stitch on your machine, to hem the wall hanging. Backtack at the beginning and end of each hem by sewing forward and then backward for 1 inch. Backtacking prevents the threads from pulling loose.
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4
Fold the bottom of the wall hanging up 2 inches, toward the wrong side of the fabric, and pin it in place. Fold the top down 2 inches toward the wrong side of the fabric and pin it.
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5
Sew a straight stitch along the top and bottom fold. Stitch within 1/4 inch of the raw fabric edge on the fold to create a pocket.
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6
Cut two 1/2-inch diameter wooden dowels so they are 1- to 2-inches wider than the wall hanging. Drill a 1/4-inch hole, 1/2-inch in from each end of one of the dowels.
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Slide the dowel with no holes into the bottom pocket of the wall hanging to help the wall hanging stay straight. Insert the dowel with holes into the top pocket.
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8
Cut a length of fabric ribbon twice as long as the dowel. Insert the ends of the ribbon through the holes in either end of the dowel. Knot the ribbon ends to secure them. Hang the wall hanging by the ribbon.
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Tips & Warnings
Simplify the wall hanging further by making it from a small quilt, such as a baby quilt. Sew the top pocket and insert the dowel and hanging ribbon. Heavy quilts typically hang straight without a bottom dowel.
Use iron-on appliques to further decorate your wall hanging.
