How to make fabric flags!

DIY: Fabric Flags

They're all over Pinterest… 

you've seen them.. 

fabric flags are the new must have decoration

 for your children's bedroom or festive party decoration! 

I am making these flags for my baby shower celebration.

We are having family and friends write a wish or a prayer on a square of fabric and I will sew them onto the flags I made today!  Similar to the photo below.

This tradition of affirmation flags are common amongst Blessingway ceremonies. 

What you're left with after friends and family write on the flags are beautiful affirmations and prayers for you to read during labor to remind you that you have all the support and love in the world. :) 

Alright so let's get started on how to make these awesome flags!

What you will need:

1 yard of any cotton fabric (45 inches wide) makes about 12 flags

scissors (fabric scissors, sharper the better)

cutting board (to help cut straight & even)

sewing machine

string (any kind I'm using a small/medium sized hemp)

Patience & a little sewing skills ;)

I work best in an organized craft space with some groovy tunes playing in the background. You will be sitting here for the next hour or so, so make it a comfortable, accessible area.

1. First things first!  Cut your fabric into 10" x 10" squares

2. Alright! Next we are going to hem the edges so our fabric won't fray. We are going to hem the bottom and both sides of all the squares, leaving the tops for last. Make sure you have your fabric squares facing the same direction (work smarter not harder), when you hem the edges of the squares you will have the right side facing down.

3.I am folding the fabric over a half inch. Some of you might want to use pins to hold down your fabric while you sew. I just use my left thumb to hold the top straight and use my right thumb to hold the bottom straight.  Make sure to trim the excess thread as you go, make it easier on yourself in the long run.

4. Okay so you've hemmed all of your squares leaving the tops open for last! Great job. It can get pretty tedious sometimes..

5. About 6 squares make 5 feet of flags, so depending on how long you'd like them to be, that is up to you. 

6. I made 16 squares (I used 1 & 1/2 yards of fabric) since I'm sure how many people will write on a prayer flag at our baby shower, the more the merrier!

7. We're almost finished! Next step is to break out the string you'd like to use, I'm using a medium size hemp cord. You could used ribbon, yarn, parachute cord, whatever you'd like and is strong enough to hold some fabric flags up!

8. I am using just enough string to weave through all the flags and have at least 10 inches on either side, so you can string up the flags anywhere you'd like!

9. When you're preparing for sewing the top, keep in mind we are sewing them one after another to avoid a whole step of weaving the string through the top. So keep all of your squares together on the left side of your sewing machine, ready for you to grab the next. We will be folding the top fabric over about an inch over the string.

10. When you sew the very first flag top you have the option of  sewing the string along the side so that the string doesn't slip through causing you to weave allllllll of the flags through again.. Alright with that being said, also make sure to sew closer to the left side of the "fold over" and not right up on the string.

11. Your thumbs are your best friend at this point, I could't have done this project without them! Thank you thumbs I love you! You want to hold the string stable at the top while keeping the bottom of the square straight.

12. When you are finished with your first flag, pull it away from you, snip the thread and start your next top...

13. Fold the top over about an inch and continue through the rest of your flags.

14.When you get to your last flag make sure you sew the side so the string doesn't pull through! 

Voila! You did it!

Remember that you can create whatever size squares you'd like… they don't even have to be squares!Choose any shape, fabric, string… the possibilities are endless!

You can also try a different style and cut triangles instead of squares which is really cute.

Considering the infinite print styles on fabric these days, the options are endless! My next flag creation will be for my nephew's pirate/nautical themed nursery.