Fabric Christmas Countdown Chain

Christmas is on its way! Who doesn’t love a countdown?  My kids LOVE countdowns! Normally we cut strips of construction paper and glue them together to form a chain.  This year I thought it would be so fun to make a chain out of fabric that we will be able to use year after year!

–Supplies–

Layer Cake
Thread
Iron
Velcro
Hot Glue Gun (Optional)

Have you ever used a Layer Cake?  Layer Cakes have 42 10″x10″ squares of coordinating fabric.  The Fabric is 100% cotton and just beautiful!
For this project I used 12 squares from my Jovial Layer Cake.  The best part is I still have 30 squares to craft with!  I will definitely be showing you more ways to use a Layer Cake!

You will need 24 strips of fabric that measure 5″x10″.   If you use a layer cake all you have to do is cut the square in half!  Easy and FAST!

After all your strips are cut take them to the ironing board.  Fold the edges into the center and iron down.  I used spray starch so they would be nice and crisp.

Fold the fabric again matching the edges up.   Iron in place.

After you have all the strips folded and ironed sew a top stitch on all four sides.  Make sure to backstitch at start and finish.

Layer Cakes are pre-cut with pinking shears so they will not fray very much.  Because of this I didn’t tuck in the ends.

After you have the top stitch done.  Cut a piece of Velcro about 1/4″ smaller than the fabric strip.  Sew the Velcro on by sewing around the four sides of the Velcro.  Don’t forget to backstitch.

This picture is hard to see, but I have sewn on the Velcro.

Make sure you sew the other piece of Velcro to the opposite end AND on the other side of the fabric strip.  You can see in the picture (if you look REALLY close) the thread outline of where the other piece of Velcro was sewn on.

If you want to save time you could also glue the Velcro on using a Hot Glue Gun.

I’m not exactly sure where I will hang this countdown chain permanently, but there are SO many places it could go!

You can also make countdowns for many different special occasions.   Birthday’s, Wedding’s, Birth of a new baby, Days until summer vacation.  Anything you are anticipating!

If you want an even QUICKER project why not use Ribbon?  Just cut the Ribbon to 10″, seal the ends, add Velcro and you have a countdown to your special occasion!