How to Make a Parade Banner
Making a banner for a parade takes a little more planning and preparation than you might think, but it's possible to make a great banner yourself without spending a lot of money. If you don't want to pay for a custom-made banner, think about the size of the banner you want, how durable it needs to be, and if you plan to use the banner for future events. This article describes how to make a long banner to be carried by at least two people.
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Things You'll Need
- Heavy paper, such as butcher paper
- Old sheet
- Vinyl cloth
- Nylon cloth
- Felt
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Stapler
- Duct tape
- Thumbtacks
- Overhead projector
- Acetate paper
- Pencil
- Paint
- Large dowels
Instructions
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Think about how you want to use the banner. For a one-time event, a banner painted onto heavy butcher paper or an old sheet may be enough. If you plan to roll up the banner and use it again, consider using a more durable material like felt, vinyl or nylon.
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Consider what the weather is likely to be like on parade day. Even a slight rain will quickly destroy a paper banner, but a material like felt can become very heavy if it gets wet.
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Remember to make the banner an appropriate height for the people who will carry it. A four-foot-high banner is fine for most adults, but a banner that children will carry must be shorter. A banner is usually carried at chest height so it's not touching the ground.
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Plan the design of the banner before you start working. Decide if you will use pictures or logos, and decide what the banner will say. For large banners, a few very large words have the most impact. If the banner is for an organization, check if they have any rules or specifications. Also be sure to check with the parade committee if there are size, length or content restrictions.
Make the Banner
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Cut your material to the desired size. Be sure to leave extra space at the top of the banner so you have enough material to attach the dowel. The diameter of the dowel will depend on the weight of the material you're using, but you need to leave enough room to make a loop the dowel can slide into. Consider planning for a dowel at the bottom to help weigh it down in the wind.
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Make loops for the dowels. The length of the dowels will vary depending on the size of the banner, but there must be enough dowel sticking out of either side at the top for someone to hold the ends. Make folds at the edges of the banner where the dowels will go. Depending on the type of fabric you're using, you can sew, staple or tape the edges of the folds to the back of the banner to make loops the dowels can slide into.
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Use an overhead projector to help you put the words and pictures on the banner. Use thumbtacks to hang the banner on a wall. For the letters, you can print the desired size onto acetate and project the image directly onto the banner to trace it. An overhead projector makes it easier to draw your pictures or logos onto the banner, especially if you're not a very good artist.
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Center your lettering by starting in the middle of the words and working to the sides, rather than starting on the left and working right. Find the middle character or space in each line and put those first, in the center of the banner.
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Paint the letters and pictures once they're all traced into the banner. Acrylic paint works on most materials, and it resists water.
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Sew felt letters and pictures onto a felt background to make the longest-lasting type of banner.
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Slide the dowels into the loops after the paint has dried.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
