Shabby Chic Fabric Flag Banner!

So I've decided to do an overhaul concerning the content of my blog and what better way than to start off with this awesome diy decorative piece!!! These flag banners are all the rage (via pinterest) and it's not hard to see why. They add personality and style to any blah wall. They can be made in with an array of fabrics, colors, and in different shapes, with words, or without. Seriously...the possibilities are endless. The fact that I spent almost an hour at Joanns only further proves my point. If you've got a sewing machine, an iron, and some extra cash, this project is a piece o' cake to pull off and extremely affordable! I've chosen to make two banners for my daughters play room, "play" and "imagine". 

Supplies:
Fabric
Scissors
Letter Stencils
Sewing machine
Card stock
Straight edge
Pins

While I reccomend a sewing machine...this look can also be pulled off with an iron and iron-on adhesive strips.
If you'd like to add letters I'd also reccomend some more iron-on adhesive.
As far as the rest of the list...just get creative ;)


1. So first you will need to cut out a stencil pattern for whatever shape you wish your banner to be. I chose triangle. Now I only used a straight edge ruler. I didn't break out a projector or anything to check my angles or sides so they're probably not equal or straight but it looked good enough to me...and I don't expect my company to examine to banner down to a degree or two so I think it's safe to say that that's just fine. However, if the idea of this in-equality stresses you out, then you breakout that projector and be proud :)

2. Lay out your fabric, maybe get an idea of how you'd like to arrange your flags. Im also choosing to use a plain canvas like fabric to back the flags with. 

2. Once you're ready, cut out how ever many triangles you'd like to use, and make sure you have double the amount to account for the back side of the flag. 

3. Flip your triangle flag over and align it with the back piece. It should appear as if it is inside out. Once the pieces are properly aligned. You're ready to sew 2 edges. Leaving the top edge open. 

4. After sewing the two sides, trim up the sides to remove access fabric. Then flip it right side out. Once you have all the triangles sewn and flipped, we're ready to iron them flat.

5. Put iron on a medium heat setting, depending on fabric you may need to adjust. Iron each flag flat and if you are choosing to add letters (fabric letters) this would be the time to cut them out and place them on each flag up using the adhesive iron on tape.

I've chosen to make two seperate banners and cut letters using coordinating fabric. Very patiently I arranged them and cut pieces of the adhesive strips to adhere them to the flags. 

6. Now there are a number of ways to hang these. You can add twine, ribbon, or just sew the whole thing together. I'm choosing to do an overlapping technique by sewing a few stitches in each corner.

Before pinning the triangles in place, we have to sew up the top. Then trim to clean up the edge.

Sew a tiny cross stitch to secure the top layer corner of each flag to the previous one. 

This will give it some flexibility when you hang it. It will add a nice fluid curve. 

7. Once you've sewn all pieces of the banner together it's ready to hang!!