My eldest daughter is going to be celebrating her First Eucharist this May, and she needed to have a banner. I remember and still have my banner from 27 years ago. My mother made it for me. The church had kits available for the kids to make their own, no doubt with the help of a parent, but me being me, just couldn’t have my daughters looking like everyone else’s. Don’t get me wrong, the kits are a fabulous idea for parents who do not have the time or creativity to create one for their child, it just wasn’t for my family.
My daughter and I struggled to make a decision about what material the banner should be. Should it be made of felt like the rest of the banners? OR should we stick to what we know and quilt one? My daughter liked the idea of a quilted banner and picked out “suitable” fabric for the banner. She wanted Pokémon, but I felt that wasn’t a good idea for Mass. Kittens on the other hand….
We used an image we found in her workbook and drew it on to the back of some HeatnBond Lite by Thermoweb. I printed her name (in reverse) and traced it onto the fusible. Next, I cut everything out and fused it to the front fabric piece. We sandwiched everything together using SpraynBond basting spray and began quilting. Once quilted, the banner was trimmed and measured for binding.
I had to figure out a way to hang the banner on a dowel rod. I first thought of using my corner hanger process but that idea wouldn’t work with the dowel rod end caps. I then remembered how one of my swap gifts had a hanger in the middle of the quilted piece. It worked perfectly!
To make your own hanger like this, make prairie points and stitch them into the binding. Finish by hand stitching the point to the back of the quilt.
She makes her First Eucharist on May 1st, 2022. She will be wearing my dress from 27 years ago! Check back in May to see the transformation I did to the dress. 1995 was a year of poofs and frills and I needed to change that for 2022! Below is me from May 13, 1995.
Continue to bloom by choosing JOY ~ Julia
How wonderful! My grandson will be confirmed in May. I’ve been struggling with an idea for him.
What a unique and precious banner. Congrats to your daughter.
Oh, how wonderful. First, I am so impressed that you have photos of yourself from your first communion and even have the dress. And then, you even have your banner. How very, very special an occasion it had been. Then I really admire the process you shared with your daughter to make such an individual and special banner for her. The design and colorful fabric are outstanding and will definitely set hers apart. I know it will be a wonderful celebration for you both with so many memories intertwined into her day.