Bl. Pope John Paul II

On Sunday, Pope John Paul II will be beatified.  It is also Divine Mercy Sunday.  What a fitting day for the beatification! 

We will be reading Lolek, The Boy Who Became Pope John Paul II.  We also have a movie here that we will watch as well. Over the past few months, I've been making some wall banners.  I've tried to tie it to a saint or other theme for the month.  Since Sunday is the day for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, I thought it would be a fitting tribute to make this wall banner for May.

Pope John Paull II
Wall Hanging

Lacy, from Catholic Icing, had a link to here, for a stained glass pattern that I used.  To make this banner, you will need the following materials:

2 patterns (one on cardstock and one on regular paper)
Pen
Sharpie
Heat 'n Bond
small pieces of fabric (about 4 inches x8 inches) in the following colors:

P1 - light peach (or skintone)
P2 - dark peach (or skintone)
2 different white patterns (W-1 and W-2)
B1 - background blue
B2 - blue for eyes (you only need a very small piece)
G - Gold
GR -Grey

2 - black fat quarters or pieces of fabric and batting (one will be the backing to the wall hanging and the other will be your background fabric. 

Black thread
Sewing Machine

Step 1: Label your pattern pieces for each color on both the card stock and the paper pattern. You can look on the original stained glass to see what color goes where.

Step 2:  Prepare the fabric by ironing heat 'n bond on back (cut to size - - heat 'n bond can ruin a perfectly good ironing board cover!). 

Step 3:  Trace pattern pieces onto backside of fabric (you will need to turn the pieces over so that it will be in the right direction when you put the pieces together).   I cut out some of the pieces, traced them and then cut out more - - usually one color at a time.  You can also work your way down from top to bottom and assemble as you go.  Please note that some pieces may require some trimming. 

Step 4:  Press from top to bottom during assembly.  Press by bringing the iron down on the fabric.  Try to avoid moving the iron back and forth as it may causes piece to shift.

Step 5:  Add decorative accents (like the corner pieces, "Totus Tuus", etc.

Step 6:  Layer your batting and top piece.  Trim if necessary.  Place it on to the backing and finish.  There are many ways to finish a small quiltig project. I turned the backing up an folded it over. 

A few notes - you want black lines to show, so that it has that stained glass effect.  You may need to trim some pieces as you work out the pattern on the fabric.  Be sure to clear any clippings before you iron (otherwise, you may inadvertently iron the clippings on).  Also I cut by color, but could just as easily cut a section, lay it out, iron and then continue that way.   I would try to iron as I worked so that I didn't lose small pieces and the pattern didn't shift.

Anyways, there it is and thanks to Chantel for a neat pattern that I was able to adapt for fabric use!  I hope to also get a wooden saint doll completed for our saints collection.

God Bless,
Jennifer

PS - - I was just thinking that the patterns for stained glass would make wonderful wooden puzzles - - the tray kind.  You could combine some of the features so the pieces wouldn't be quite so small and then hand paint them.  Chantel has a pattern for Pope Benedict - - quite larger than the one for Pope John Paul II.  I was also thinking that this could be done with scrapbooking papers and then mounted and framed.  Lots of neat things you can do in place of stained glass.