This no-sew project is simple and fun. Try something new and enjoy the fun of creating your own winter flower garden - no weeding necessary!

In Alaska at least, the growing season is long past, and the outdoor palette is a mix of white, brown, and gray. It seems a bit early to start planning for next spring, but you can create your own special garden inside with just a few materials and an afternoon. By using fabric shapes, fusible web bonding material, and an iron, you can quickly create a colorful wall hanging for any room. This is a simple project for the kids (you do the ironing), and they do make nice home-made gifts too. Here's how to do it:


Basic materials for this project include muslin, fabric prints, fusible web (in a large roll and in 3/8" width), and some type of hanging rod. Cut some muslin or broadcloth for the background of your wall hanging. You decide the size, based on where you'd like to hang it, but be sure to add a few inches extra at the top where you'll need to fold it over and insert a hanging rod.

Be creative when you consider your materials: Use a small- to medium-sized branch for your hanger, add new dimension by gluing seeds or other natural materials to the fabric. Use embroidery floss, buttons or other store-bought embellishments. If you're a sewer, you could satin stitch around your shapes in different color threads.

Choose some colorful fabric prints that complement each other - calicos and batik work well. Iron the fabric to the rough side of some paper-backed fusible web (medium weight is fine). Then peel off the paper backing and start cutting shapes.



You do want to think about the design you'd like. What are your favorite flowers? How are their petals shaped? Do you want one large flower or several smaller ones? What will the background look like -- the side of a house or blue sky? Or would you "arrange flowers" in a fabric vase set against a white background? But don't get too caught up in measuring or drawing out a picture. Once you've made some basic choices, just start snipping shapes and arranging them on your muslin canvas, without ironing them on yet.


Arrange shapes to your liking. Experiment before you iron them to the muslin.

In this example, I've chosen to cut strips for a sky and petals for a large flower. The foreground will be overlapping layers of green and another print that will represent fields of flowers in the distance. I also "fringe" each of my shapes by pulling at the edges to create loose threads. I like this look over a more finished effect.

Once you've arranged the shapes to your liking, you can iron them to the muslin. Iron in sections to make it easier to add new elements.



Optional: If you want the background of the muslin to be "colored in," you can add fabric paints along the way. Here I have used Jacquard Lumiere fabric paints since they are easily mixed with water, which gives flexibility in the richness of the color (less water = darker color). This paint dries quickly and provides an additional dimension of color to your work.



Iron a strip of 3/8" fusible-web on the back of the top of your wall hanging. Remove the paper backing. Turn the design over so it is facing you. Now, turn the top margin down an inch or so to create a pocket for your hanging rod. Iron in place and you're done! (In this example, I've added extra blue fabric at the top using fusible web, folded it over to create the pocket and attached it to the muslin on back with another strip of fusible web.)



If you have questions, post them here, and please comment back if you try this project and have additional suggestions.