Designer Jennie Jones has come up with a cunning way to recapture the pleasure of making paper chains, without having lots of messy paper and glue to clear up afterwards.
This is such a simple project it could even be sewn by hand, making it an ideal holiday project for the kids. But what’s best is that they’ll last for years to come!
Designer Jennie says: “Using OHP paper for these cute little paper chains means they can be reused time and time again. They hold their shape and can be bent into different shapes. But if you prefer you can easily use card, paper, interfacing or wadding instead.”
If you use OHP paper, a thin, transparent flexible material often made from acetate, then the chains can be hung outside without risking damage from wind, rain or snow. Read on to learn how to make fabric paper chains to decorate your home this Christmas!
Looking for more Christmas sewing inspiration? We've put together some festive articles to help you get ready for December! If you're looking for last-minute gift ideas, take a look at our 25 quick gifts to sew when you're short of time. You could also learn how to make a Christmas stocking or follow our tutorial and find out how to sew your own Advent calendar stockings.
You will need
- Two fat quarters – we used festive fabrics from Purple Stitches
- Velcro: 2cm (3⁄4in) width, see instructions for details
- Card or OHP paper
- Basic sewing kit
How to make fabric paper chains
Step one: Cut your fabric into 23x7.5cm (9x3in) strips and your OHP paper or card into 20x3cm (8x11⁄4in) strips, making as many as you like.
Step two: Pin a 3cm (11⁄4in) velcro piece to the opposite corners of your fabric strip (hook one end and loop the other), 5mm (1⁄4in) from the edges on the right side (RS). Sew the velcro into place.
Step three: Fold the strip in half lengthways, RS facing, and pin all edges.
Step four: Sew along the edges using a 1.5cm (5⁄8in) seam allowance, leaving one of the short ends open. Turn RS out and press, then press the open end under.
Step five: Feed in the strip of OHP to the end of the fabric tube.
For more festive makes to hang alongside your paper chains check out these posts:
Step six: Sew the end of the strip closed.
Step seven: Repeat to make as many times as desired, then arrange in chains by sticking together with the velcro then looping through each other. Alternate fabrics for your paper chains and hang throughout your home.
If you make Jennie's festive paper chains then tag us in a picture on Instagram using #gatheredmakers.
