Salute guests at your next outdoor party with garlands made from ribbon in nautical-themed stripes and solids. We swagged the decorative banners between a lakeside picnic table and umbrella; they can also festoon porch posts or deck railings. Enhance maritime table settings with seashells and sea stars in place of traditional floral centerpieces. We also fashioned napkin rings from lengths of cotton rope tied into a knot.

Flag Raising How-To
Cut pieces of 1/8-inchwide cotton cord 10 inches longer than the length of desired garlands. Trim 1- to 2-inch-wide solid and striped ribbon into 5-inch-long strips. Make a fishtail cut in one end of each piece. Fold a 1/2-inch flap into straight end, and press with iron. Cut 1/4-inch fusible tape the same width as ribbon. Place tape in flap, and lay string in fold next to tape. Iron flap to secure. Repeat with remaining ribbons, spacing them every 2 inches.