Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to make a simple patriotic wall hanging that lets one bold eagle print do all the talking.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This one is American Freedom #5 Red Eagles from Marshall Dry Goods.
It is 100% cotton. It is 45 inches wide. It is sold by the yard.
The name tells the story here. Red. Eagles. That is a proud, patriotic look.
You do not need tiny piecing for this one. You do not need applique either. Cut it big. Center one eagle. Let that print carry the whole piece. Just like that.
The Project: A Wall Hanging
We are making one finished wall hanging, about 24 inches wide by 32 inches long.
That size works nicely over a desk or a side table. Big enough to notice. Small enough to finish in a weekend.
Why does this fabric suit a wall hanging? Three good reasons.
First, 100% cotton presses beautifully. Crisp edges matter on something flat on a wall. Cotton gives you those clean, flat edges.
Second, the 45-inch width gives you room. You can center your favorite eagle with space around it. No rushing. No squeezing the print into a corner.
Third, a wall hanging is basically one flat display panel. The print stays whole. We are not reinventing the wheel here.
Materials List
- 1 yard of American Freedom #5 Red Eagles for the center panel and borders
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating solid cotton for an inner border, if you want one
- One piece of low-loft batting, about 28 inches by 36 inches
- 3/4 yard of cotton fabric for the backing
- All-purpose thread to blend with the red background
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, or good fabric scissors
- Pins or clips
- Iron and pressing surface
- Sewing machine with a standard presser foot and a walking foot, if you have one
- A small dowel or curtain rod for hanging, plus two small hanging tabs or a sewn sleeve
One yard gives you the center panel plus border strips and a little extra for straightening. Want it bigger? Add a half yard. Completely up to you.
Cutting the Pieces
Cut one center panel at 18 1/2 inches wide by 26 1/2 inches long. Center your favorite eagle in that cut. Take your time lining it up. This part sets the whole look.
Cut two side border strips at 3 1/2 inches by 26 1/2 inches.
Cut two top and bottom border strips at 3 1/2 inches by 24 1/2 inches.
If you add an inner border, cut those strips at 1 1/2 inches wide first, then add the wider border after.
Sewing It Together
Step one: sew the side borders to the center panel. Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seams away from the center.
Step two: sew the top and bottom borders on. Press again. Your top should now measure about 24 1/2 inches by 32 1/2 inches.
Step three: layer the backing face down, the batting on top, and your top face up. Smooth it flat. Pin or clip around the edges.
Step four: quilt it simply. I like stitch in the ditch around the center panel first. Then echo that line once or twice in the border. Slow down at the corners. Rushing corners is where things get wobbly.
A walking foot helps here. Set your stitch length to about 2.5 to 3.0 mm. Nothing fancy. Steady wins.
Step five: trim the edges even. Sew two small hanging tabs, or a 3-inch sleeve, to the top back. Then bind all four edges with double-fold binding, cut at 2 1/2 inches wide.
Practical Tips Before You Hang It
Center the star of the show first. Find the eagle you love most. Build the whole panel around that one. Fussy cutting feels slow. It pays off every time.
Press at every step. Really really press. A wall hanging shows every little ripple because it hangs flat. Five extra minutes at the iron saves you a wavy finish.
Keep the quilting simple. This print is busy and proud already. A few clean echo lines support it. Dense quilting would just fight it.
And here is your permission beat, folks. It does not have to be perfect. If one border lands a tiny bit off, hang it anyway. You are your own worst critic. Your guests will just see a super duper fun patriotic piece on the wall.
If I can do this, y'all can do this. Take your time. It is not a race.
Thanks for sewing along with me, y'all. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the American Freedom #5 Red Eagles 45" wide Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
