Go Crazy with Your Bandanna!!

Cowboys are not the only ones wearing bandannas these days. Aside     from the traditional deep blues and reds, bandannas now come in      lavender, yellow, pale blue and pink, paisley bandanas, as well as with photo images and various print patterns. There’s the option of sticking with one design and color or mixing several up.

Bandannas here will be used with the points facing left and right, and up and down. They’ll be shaped like a diamond. Follow these steps to create beautiful curtains and valances.

1. Fold bandannas into triangles, measuring across their widest point. Window width, length plus seam allowances will tell you the number of bandannas required. Measure bandanna from one point to the center fold. Creating straight edges is accomplished with half-bandannas for the sides and top.

2. All bandannas must be folded into triangles then pressed. Cut a few in half for the valance or curtain top and sides based on measurements.

3. Upper right and left halves of the full bandannas will have half-bandannas sewn in just enough to fit the width. Every piece includes one half-triangle (a full bandanna’s bottom part) on the bottom and three half-triangles on top. Pieces are sewn together, making sure to fit the half-triangles at the upper portion.

4. In the next row, one half-triangle is sewn in the first bandanna’s left bottom half. A full bandanna is sewn to the right bottom half. Add full bandannas this way until the end is reached then put in a half-bandanna.

5. Repeat step 4 as often as necessary to reach desired length. Full bandannas will comprise the bottom halves of the last row, for a pointy edging.

6. Create a rod header and pocket by sewing contrasting or matching six-inch-wide fabric to the topmost part, with right sides connected. Turn, press in half, press again less than a half-inch on raw edge and sew to the top of the cloth following the seamline that was made earlier. For the rod pocket, stitch a seam between 1 ½ and 1 ¾ inches, creating a header.

How about making a quilt out of bandannas? Below are the steps to do this.

1. Form two big triangles by folding the bandanna in half or refolding it to make four triangles that are smaller. Cut along the folds of the fabric. The triangles can be used in a star, flying geese or other patterns that utilize triangular shapes. Fold bandanna in squares then cut alongside the folds using any square-shaped patterns.

2. A dresden-looking quilt requires blue bandannas on white background. For redwork quilts, you need purely red bandannas. Flower or garden quilts call for pastel bandannas that have been cut in mixed blocks. Picture-print bandannas result in themed quilts.

Bandannas can be used as covers for tables. The steps to do this are written below.

1. You can applique bandannas one-by-one onto existing tablecloths or make one out of bandannas sewn together. There are quilting templates available for cutting shapes from bandannas, but cookie cutters or magazine picture and coloring book patterns will also do.

2. For tablecloths for little girls’ parties, cut pastel bandannas into doll, tiara, ballet slipper and purse shapes. Neckerchief and cowboy hat shapes are suitable for boys’ parties. Some bandannas come already printed with images. You can buy these and simply cut out the pictures and attach with fusible interfacing or applique using threads that match or contrast.

Use bandannas the old-fashioned way or create home decor pieces out of the hardy squares. It’s all up to you.