I love the flag garland you’ve seen  in magazines, on Pinterest and on other internet sites.   Flag garlands just say ‘celebrate’ when you see them!  I’ve seen them used at birthday parties (young and old), welcome home celebrations, in kids playrooms, kids bedrooms, at weddings, and baby and bridal showers. A few days ago I decided I needed to make my own. Or rather, my grandchildren Shiloh, Mae and Beckett needed to flags for their rooms.

Keeping with my New Year’s Resolution here is my first “How To” for 2012.  I’ve included a few examples and the instructions on how you can create your own. I love this because it is a great idea for using up left over fabric!

FYI:
*Finished size is approximately 7′ 4″ long x 8 1/4″ high.
*I used 3 different fabrics, alternating the colors/print of fabric for each flag. You can use as many or as few as you would like. The instructions are for 3 different fabrics.
*You can make the flags any size you would like, just change the size of your triangle.
*You can make the garland any length you want. Just add more fabric to the binding and more flags.
*If you don’t have a rotary cutter and cutting mat you can measure your strips of fabric and cut with scissors.

Flag Party Garland Instructions

Pictures are placed under the instructions to help illustrate the directions.  I advice you read all instructions before you start.

Supplies:
1/4 yard fabric #1
1/4 yard fabric #2
1/4 yard fabric #3
thread (you can match to fabric, or I used a contrasting color)
ironing board and iron
rotary cutter
cutting mat
metal ruler

Getting Started

1. Make a triangle pattern. Triangle measures 8 1/4″ across the top and 9 1/4″ sides.

2.  Before you start laying out your pattern, press all fabrics.

3.  Cut out a total of 7 flags (front and back = 14 pieces) from all fabrics.  I cut out 2 flags from two different fabrics and 3 flags from the third fabric.

4.  Using a rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat, cut out 2″ wide strips of fabric.  These strips can be as short or as long as you want.  Scrap fabric works great for this.  You can use small pieces of leftover fabric to make strips.  You will just be piecing more  for your binding, but I think this makes the garland look that much cuter!  You’ll need enough to make your binding 7 1/2 feet long.

5.  Now you should have all your fabric cut out.  You are ready to assemble your flag garland!

Assembling the Flags

6.   Place fabric wrong sides together.  Topstitch a 1/4″ seam down the long sides of the triangles, no need to stitch across the top.  I used contrasting thread, but you can use matching thread.  Make sure you pivot (keep your needle down into the fabric, lift up the presser foot and turn fabric) when you  get to the point of the flag.

7.  All 7 flags should have front and back stitched together.  Set aside.

Assembling the Binding

8.  Placing right sides together stitch the short ends of 2″ strips together.  Continue stitching strips together until you have 7 1/2 feet length sewn together.  I alternated fabrics.

When you have all strips stitched together your binding should look like this:

9.  Press all of these little seams open.

10.  Continue pressing.  Starting at one end press under 1/4″ on each long edge.  Folding towards the center of the wrong side.

11.  Once you have pressed both edges of the binding all the way down the 7 1/2′ length, fold both edges together, so the two folded edges are even.  At this point you should not see the wrong side of the fabric.

If needed pin together as you press.

Assembling the Garland 

12.  The garland will have approximately 12″ of sewn binding at both ends before it reaches the flags.  This will be used for hanging the garland up when completed.  Mark the binding at approximately 12″ from the end you will start sewing from.  I use chalk to mark my fabric.

13.  Place the double folded edge of the binding under your presser foot.  You will start by sewing  the binding closed for approximately 12″.  Starting at the end you marked, sew the binding together  close to the double folded edge.

14.  When you get to the 12″ mark you will insert your first flag.  Lay the short end of the flag into the binding.  Make sure you center the flag into the center of the binding.  Continue stitching.  Your stitches should catch both sides of the binding.

 15.  Stitch to the end of the flag.  Measure approximately 2″ from the end of the flag.  This is where you place your next flag into the binding.

16.   Continue stitching.  Add your flag.  Continue the process until all the flags are stitched into the binding.  See pictures below.

17.  Once you have sewn your last flag into the binding continue stitching to the end.  This should be your last 12″ which is the part you use for hanging the garland.

18.  Tie a knot into each end of the binding.  This just gives a finished look to each end of the garland.

19.  Iron your finished garland, we want it neat!

20.  Congratulations!   Now the garland is ready for display!

A Few Other Ideas:

• Spell names or words by adding letters to each flag by using machine embroidery or hand embroidery.
• Tie torn lengths of fabric to each end flag to create a tassel effect.

Follow these links for other ideas on flag garlands.
Paper flags - http://kfddesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-make-tiny-flag-garland.html

Crocheted flags – http://crochethealingandraymond.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/granny-bunting-remix-styles/