Rag-Tied Twinkle Light Garland Tutorial

I don't know about you, but I love going to craft fairs. Especially this time of year. There's always so much to admire and see. And inspiration abounds. Sometimes I buy a few things, but often I leave thinking "I could make that." And then I never seem to. Until now.




These rag-tied twinkle light garlands seemed to be all the rage this weekend as I made my way around the craft fair circuit. I loved the idea and thought they would be so simple to make. And they are! As long as you have patience and time, this is the project for you. Just imagine the possibilities!


You will need:

fabric yardage/scraps (enough to make roughly 270 1.5 in. x 6 in strips)
scissors
measuring tape
one set of 35 twinkle lights (or larger if you prefer)

First, choose your fabrics/scraps.

Then lay out each piece of fabric and make cuts about every 1.5-2 inches.





Next you'll need to rip the fabric into strips and pick off the loose threads.

Then you'll need to cut your rag strips into 5-6 inch lengths. I cut through several longer strips at a time to make this step go a little bit faster. Next time I might make the strips shorter and wider for a slightly different look.





When this step is complete, you'll be all set to get started. Find a comfy chair for this next part. It takes a while.




Test your twinkle lights to make sure they all work. Now you're ready to start tying! Take each strip and tie it tightly to the wires in between the twinkle lights. There's no need to double-knot them so long as they are secure. After you've tied a few, push them together a bit so that there aren't any gaps or wires showing. You can tie them in a specific order to make a pattern or you can be random, whatever your heart desires.




Continue tying until you reach the plug. And that's it, my friends. You can make these for everyday use or you can make them specifically for a certain season or holiday. Enjoy!

And speaking of craft fairs, I'll have to share some Christmastime goodies with you next time. They are from my trip to The Primitive Country Bug in New Gloucester, Maine on Sunday. Birgit opened her home this past weekend as part of a collection of Holiday Open Houses and I am so delighted that my Mom and I had the chance to stop by and shop. I am even more delighted that I finally had the pleasure of meeting Birgit in person. And, yes, she is as sweet, welcoming, and talented as she seems, my friends.

Until next time... Thanks so much for stopping by!