How to Make an Outdoor Seasonal Flag
Welcome guests--or the holidays--with a festive seasonal flag. Whether it's hanging from your mailbox, home, or on a branch of a tree, a seasonal flag is an attractive and friendly way to mark special occasions and times of the year. For marking the change of the seasons, rooting for a favorite team, or celebrating a child's birthday, an outdoor flag adds some flair to your yard and garden. These flags make wonderful gifts, and require only basic sewing skills and some creativity.
Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- 15-by-20 inch or 20-by-30 inch rectangle of fabric
- Fabric paints
- Seasonal stencil
Instructions
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How to Make an Outdoor Seasonal Flag
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1
Choose an appropriate fabric; it will need to maintain its durability and color in rain, wind, and sun without fraying if it will remain outdoors. Woven polyester bunting is a good choice, as is lightweight nylon or heavy canvas.
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2
Plan for a 15-by-20 inch small flag or a 20-by-30 inch large flag. Mark the cut lines with chalk, or, for a smoother line, use a thin bar of soap.
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3
Cut the fabric along the grain. Crooked cuts on the fabric will cause the flag to have wavy seams and it will not lie flat.
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4
Leave a 1/2 inch seam allowance along three sides of the flag using a narrow, straight-stitched hem. Leave a 2 inch seam allowance at the top, and a 1 inch rod pocket space.
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5
Use fabric paints to stencil your design onto the flag. Let the paint dry for at least an hour before hanging the flag.
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Tips & Warnings
Use bar soap to mark lines for cutting the fabric. It creates a smoother line than chalk, and it will disappear when the flag is ironed or when it's rubbed off.
Print a holiday or seasonal design onto Mylar from your home printer to use as a stencil for your flag.
Make sure you use outdoor, treated fabric if you plan to leave your flag exposed to the elements.
