Designing My Own Highchair Garland for My Son’s 1st Birthday
First birthdays are unforgettable. They mark the end of the fastest year of your little one’s life and a big milestone for you as a parent. As first-time parents, we’ve been on a wild ride of ups and downs this past year — and this moment makes you pause, breathe, and adore every little milestone.
For our child’s big day, we embraced our “football family” vibe and went all in with a fall, tailgate-style first birthday. It was so fun (and yes, a bit chaotic) — but perfect. With the birthday falling on a game weekend, we figured: why not bring the game day energy into the celebration?
Among all the party prep, the thing I’m most proud of is the DIY highchair garland we created for his big seat. I didn’t just want decoration — I wanted something personal, meaningful, and budget-friendly. After browsing tons of ideas on Etsy and Pinterest, I decided to roll up my sleeves and make it myself. The end result? Adorable, meaningful, and affordable.
Why a Highchair Garland?
Highchair garland is more than just bunting — it’s a photo-worthy accent that elevates your little one’s spot in the party and adds a personalized touch. You’ll be glad you put in the effort when those pictures of your baby in that chair pop up on Instagram, Facebook and in the family album.
What You’ll Need
Supplies list for your highchair garland DIY:
Fabric in your main colors (I went with browns, greens, yellows)Assorted ribbons (different widths, patterns)Soft yarn (neutral color recommended)Centerpiece item (we picked a wooden football + a “1”)Hot glue gunFishing line and tape (for extra security)Scissors
You don’t need full yards of fabric — ½ yard max will cover the front of a typical highchair and a bit of the sides.Use yarn that’s flexible so you can slide your pieces around and adjust spacing easily.Mix patterns, textures, and widths of ribbon/fabric for a rich, layered look.
Step 1: Choose Your Theme & Grab Your Materials
We decided on a football theme. But instead of going full blast with footballs only, I opted for a more subtle twist: multiple green shades, yellow accents, white ribbon with tiny football prints, gold, and a bit of blue.
I chose four fabric colors and four ribbon colors — variety = texture = interest.Shopping tip: Go to your local craft store (Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann’s) and pick up the fabrics/ribbons during a sale if possible. It keeps the cost low and you still get customized style.
Step 2: Measure & Cut Your Pieces
Set up a workspace with your supplies. Here’s how we did it:The yarn length: long enough to wrap around the chair front and secure on both sides.
Fabric pieces: cut about 20 strips per fabric (~ 1 ft long and ~1 inch wide). We ended up with ~80 pieces in total.Ribbon strips: cut 18 long ribbons (~1 ft each, ~¼ inch wide).
Tip: Don’t stress exact perfection — rustic and handmade = charm. Imperfect cuts are totally fine.
Step 3: Build the Garland
- Let’s tie it all together:Tie a large knot at one end of the yarn so you know your start point.
Alternate fabric and ribbon pieces in a pattern you like (for example: 3 gold ribbons, 2 green fabric, 3 blue ribbons, 2 yellow fabric…). The pattern you pick doesn’t matter — just keep it consistent to start with.
Slide the pieces on the yarn — you can tighten them, bunch them, spread them. Flexibility is key here.
Once you’ve used the pieces, create a gap at the center for your focal item (wooden football + “1” in our case). Use hot glue to secure that centerpiece to the yarn.
- Adjust spacing and fluff while you go — you want it to look full but not overcrowded.
Step 4: Install & Secure
Time to hang the garland on that highchair!
- Use two longer fishing-line pieces for the top of the chair (opposite sides of centerpiece).
- Add two shorter strings on the sides for extra hold.
- Secure the yarn ends around the highchair’s back or legs.
- Tape down the fishing line discreetly so things stay put through cake, confetti, toddler moves, and photo time.
Pro tip: Introduce the garland just before the party for max freshness. It took me about 2 hours from start to finish — totally worth it.
Final Thoughts & Celebration
Walking into the party and seeing that highchair garland made me so glad I spent the time. It wasn’t about perfection, it was about intention.
And the best part? It didn’t cost a fortune. If you invest a couple hours and pick your materials during a sale, you’ll be set.
I hope this inspires you to make something special. Something you’ll remember long after the cake is gone. Comment below if you made your own highchair garland! Would love to hear from you! Subscribe here to get alerts on new posts!
