A Scrappy Garland

My weekend was spent trying to figure out decorations for a 7 ft tall tree with the not a whole lot of stuff that I have from previous years of decorating much teenier trees.  The garland had me stumped, and to be honest I was having a hard time committing to one enough to actually make it or (Gasp!) buy it.  We were on the verge of having a paper chain or some such other disposableness when it dawned on me that I have a huge bucket-o-scraps and some less than loved yarn to work with.  So, off to the scrap bucket with me...

It should now be obvious to y'all that I am a pack rat of the worst sort.  I mean do you see the tiny bits of fabric that I just can't part with?  Because, you know, I really might need them some day...like yesterday!  So, I dove in and chopped up anything that wasn't already small enough.  If your kids are hanging around they would have fun with this part too...

Then I cut a length of yarn.  (Keep the length manageable.  You can always make multiples.)  I plopped down my first scrap and started stitching.  If you're interested in the more exacts...the widest zig-zag setting was used to ensure that I caught my yarn.  I placed the scraps at random along the yarn leaving gaps in between and made sure to keep my yarn heading towards the center of my sewing foot.  I also back stitched a few times on the first and last scrap to secure.

This was seriously easy peasy lemon squeezy kind of stuff.

And I love the results.

As I was stitching these I played with overlapping scraps which produces a fun layered look.  And, if you've got metallic thread lying around, that would make a pretty addition.  However, I just used white thread and was super pleased.

If all goes as planned today, we'll be sipping hot chocolate, listening to Christmas carols, and decorating the tree!  Can't wait! 

Does your family have any favorite Christmas tunes?