Halloween Garden Flags.

Here are two Halloween flags you can sew--a pumpkin and a ghost. Use them along the driveway, in a window, or as a centerpiece; or, give them as a gift.

Pumpkin Flag Supplies: 1/4 yd. (23 cm) each black and orange Nylon Flag Fabrics Sulky® or Madeira Embroidery Thread Heavyweight wire Avalon Soluble Stabilizer

1. For each flag cut one 7" x 9" (18 cm x 23 cm) rectangle for base. Clean finish edges by serging or zigzagging.
2. Trace the appliquŽ design onto the flag fabric with Triangle Tailor's Chalk or a Dual Marking Pen. For dark fabrics use a Light Table or trace design by holding it to a window.
    
   • Trace both the outline and inner details.
   • Cut out each section needed for the design.
      
3.  Apply appliqué to the base fabric.
   Position the appliqué on the base fabric and pin.
   Straight stitch appliqué in place using a short stitch length.

4. Turn the flag over, and trim away the black base fabric from the wrong side of the appliqué. (Do not trim away the black fabric from the eyes, nose, and mouth.)
   • Pinch the base section to separate it from the appliqué, and clip a small nip in the base fabric.
   • Carefully trim close to the stitched outline with Appliqué Scissors, taking care not to cut the appliquŽ section.
   • Turn flag right side up, and trim the orange fabric from the eyes, nose, and mouth.

5. Stitch the background leaf and stem sections.
   • Place a piece of Avalon Soluble Stabilizer on the wrong side of the fabric.
   • Use green thread such as Sulky® or Madeira Embroidery Thread in the top and bobbin of the machine.
   • Embroider the leaves and satin stitch the stem lines.
   • Use a medium to wide stitch width and a short stitch length, tapering the stitch width at the corners, if desired.

Notes:

For most appliqué stitching I loosen the top tension to prevent the bobbin thread from showing on top of the fabric. The setup is different for these reversible flags. Use normal tension settings so the stitching looks the same on both sides.