project // felt pineapple welcome banner

The pineapple has been used as a symbol of hospitality for some time. So although this tropical fruit is enjoying an extended trend these days, it's important to keep around as we welcome people into our lives and homes.

Hospitality is defined as "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers." This act of love changes lives, and I'd like to think that just having a welcome banner that we see everyday will remind us to be welcoming and hospitable. Even if it isn't within our homes (though that's a beautiful thing), we can welcome guests, visitors, and strangers into our lives.

To make your own felt welcome banner (with a kawaii pineapple, because that's my thing!), it's easy and fairly quick. Grab your supplies (I used Benzie wool blend felt), and start making and welcoming!

Supplies:
Pineapple - 8x10in each of two shades of yellow
Letters - about 10x2.5in
Pineapple top - 6x6in of green
Backing felt - 12x18in
Embroidery floss
Crochet thread for hanging
12in Skewer

Tools:
Freezer Paper
Pen or Pencil
Iron
Scissors
Craft/Fabric glue
Needle with a large eye
Rotary cutter, mat & ruler (optional, but helpful)
Hole punch

DOWNLOAD THE PINEAPPLE WELCOME BANNER PDF



Print out the pattern pages and trace the main pineapple shape onto freezer paper. From a darker shade of yellow felt, cut out the oval shape. Iron the freezer paper pattern to the lighter yellow felt.



Cut out the around the pineapple and cut through all of the lines, keeping the layout intact. This becomes a bit like a puzzle with very similar pieces, and while you can move some of them around, it's just as easy to set them out in order.

Place the pieces on the solid, darker pineapple piece, leaving a small gap between them. Start at the center and work out. You'll find that there are a few small pieces around the edge that aren't needed and a few pieces that overlap the edge.



Peel off the freezer paper. Use a few dots of glue at the points of the diamond shapes to hold them down on the pineapple shape. Let the glue dry.



Using all six strands of floss, embroider the face with french knots and back stitch. Stitch and X in the middle of each diamond shape, adjusting the size and placement as needed for the smaller edge pieces.

All of this stitching will be going through both layers of felt, so make sure that your Xs stay within the solid pineapple shape. The stitches are both decorative and functional to help hold the layers together.



Flip the pineapple over and trim away the extra pieces that are overlapping the edge.



Fold the 12x18in piece of backing felt in half the long way. Use a ruler and angle it from the outside corner to 3 inches from the edge on the folded side. Cut with a rotary cutter to form the shaped bottom of the banner. You can also mark this and cut it with scissors.



Use a hole punch to make six evenly spaced holes along the top edge of the banner. The outer holes should be about 1 inch in from the sides. My holes are a little too close to the edges, so DON'T make yours look exactly the same as mine!



Trace the letters onto freezer paper, iron it to felt, cut out the letter shapes, and peel away the freezer paper. I left the center in my O, but you can cut that out if you wish.

Trace two of the pineapple tops onto freezer paper, iron them to green felt, cut out the shapes, and peel away the freezer paper.



Lay all of the elements out on the banner backing. The green tops will overlap each other and go behind the pineapple. You can curve the line of letters or place them on a straight line.

This is more so you know where all of the pieces will go. Pull them all off, except for the green tops.



Stitch the pineapple tops down with long straight stitches.



Put the main part of the pineapple back in place. You can add a few dots of glue or use pins to hold it while you stitch it down. Use three strands and running stitch around the edge.



Place the letters on the banner again and stitch them down with running stitch down the center of the letters. You can use matching or contrasting thread for this.



Trim the end off of the wooden skewer and slide it through the holes at the top of the banner. Tie a loop of string around the skewer so it's ready to hang.



Hang your new banner on your front door or near the entrance to your home to welcome visitors!

Happy Crafting!