This year for the holidays, there's a lot of buzz about vintage Ralph Lauren inspired Christmas. While, I don't subscribe to the idea of jumping on every trend, especially for the holidays, I do love some Vintage RL, especially with this particular fabric collection, Fairview Avenue! Fairview is a throwback to my 1980s childhood home and fits right in with the Ralph Lauren equestrian look.

 These award ribbons are great for the holidays - maybe displayed on a mantle - and for year round. I love the idea of draping them over a bed or a mirror - or across a bulletin board as I've done here - in a child's bedroom for instance.

Below are directions on exactly how you can make your own! Feel free to play with the ruffle widths and sizes to create exactly the look you are going for. 

I used Fairview Avenue Fabrics. To find stores that carry the line, click here.

You will need:

1 - WOF 5.5”

1 -WOF 4.5”

1- WOF 4”

2 - 12” x 4.5” for hanging ribbons

2 - 4’ scraps for center medallion and back

1 small piece of Sharon Schamber’s secret applique paper or other applique paper

Elmers glue stick

Aileen’s Tacky glue

Optional: Ruffler Foot for sewing machine

Make the ruffled medallions

1. Fold the medallion ruffle pieces in half wrong sides together the long way.

2. Starch and press

3. Ruffle the pieces using your favorite ruffling method. I like using my ruffling attachment on my sewing machine.

4. Cut off 12”, 10” and 8” ruffles for your first award ribbon.

5. Fold the raw short edge of one side of a ruffle in. 

6. At the pressing board, make a circle from the 12” ruffle and press flat.

7. Insert the raw edge of the ribbon into the folded edge.

8. Use Aileen’s tacky glue to permanently glue the raw edge in. Press with a dry iron to dry fully.

9. Repeat steps 5-8 for the other two ruffles.

10. Glue the bottom two pieces on top of the other using Aileens. Set the top, smallest piece, aside for now.
    

Make the applique circle

1. Using something about 3” round, cut a circle from the applique paper.

2. Cover the top of the circle with a piece of fabric also round, about ¼” to ½” bigger all the way around.

3. Turn the applique piece over and put a small amount of glue from the glue stick around the edges of the applique paper.

4. Use the tip of your iron to press the edges of the applique under and glue in place. Leave the applique paper in the circle.

5. Using a tiny zigzag stitch on your sewing machine, sew the circle to the smallest ruffle in the center. 

6. Using Aileen’s, glue the last ruffle to the top of the medallions.

Make the hanging ribbons

1. Fold the fabric you reserved for the hanging ribbons in half the long way, right sides together.

2. Starch and press.

3. Fold the end in half the long way, and cut the bottom of the ribbons from the raw side to the folded side about 1.5” up to create the cute ribbon effect at the bottom.

4. Sew a ¼” seam all the way around the raw edge.

5. Turn the ribbons so the right side faces outward.

6. Glue the ribbons overlapping to the back side of the award medallion.

Finish the ribbons

1. Cut a piece of fabric with your pinking shears large enough to cover the raw edges of everything on the back of the award medallion. 

2. Glue in place using Aileens.