What You Need to Make a Pennant Banner

A pennant banner is a string of fabric triangles sewn to a long cord or ribbon. You sew two triangular pieces of fabric together, turn them right-side out, press them flat, and then attach them to a backing strip. The whole project takes two to four hours depending on how many pennants you want and whether you use a machine or hand-sew.

Start with fabric scraps or yardage in cotton, linen, or quilting cotton — anything that holds a crease and doesn't fray excessively. You will also need thread that matches or contrasts with your fabric, a needle or sewing machine, scissors, a ruler, pins, and a length of ribbon, twill tape, or bias tape to hold the pennants. A seam ripper is useful if you make mistakes, and an iron makes pressing the finished pennants much faster.

The simplest design uses one fabric for all pennants, but you can mix prints, solids, and patterns. Pennants are usually 4 to 6 inches tall and 3 to 4 inches wide at the base, though you can make them larger or smaller depending on your space and how much time you want to spend.

Key Takeaways

  • Cut two identical triangles for each pennant, pin them together with right sides facing, and sew three sides, leaving the top open.
  • Turn each pennant right-side out through the open top, press it flat with an iron, and fold the raw edges inward at the top.
  • Lay all finished pennants along a length of ribbon or twill tape, spacing them evenly, and sew them to the backing strip with a straight stitch.
  • A sewing machine is faster, but hand-sewing with a needle and thread works just as well and requires no special equipment.
  • Finished pennant banners can hang from a rod, string, or thumbtacks, and they last for years if stored flat or rolled loosely.

Cut Your Fabric Pieces to Size

Decide how many pennants you want and how large each one should be. A typical banner uses 10 to 20 pennants, but you can make as few as 5 or as many as 30. Write down the height and base width you want — 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide is a good starting size.

Cut a paper or cardboard template in the shape of a triangle with your chosen dimensions. Lay the template on your fabric and trace around it with a pencil or chalk. Cut out two triangles for each pennant. If you are using a patterned fabric, pay attention to which way the pattern runs so all your pennants face the same direction.

Stack your cut triangles in pairs and pin each pair together. You should have one pin per pair, placed away from the edges so it does not get in your way when you sew.

Sew the Triangles Together

Place the first pair of triangles with the right sides (the pretty sides) facing each other and the wrong sides (the back) facing out. If you are using a sewing machine, set it to a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.0 to 2.5 millimeters. If you are hand-sewing, use a running stitch or backstitch and aim for stitches about one-quarter inch apart.

Sew along three sides of the triangle, leaving the top edge (the longest side) open. Start at one bottom corner, sew down one side, across the bottom point, and up the other side. Stop about one-quarter inch from the top edge. Backstitch or tie off your thread to find it. Repeat for every pair of triangles.

Trim the seams at the bottom point of each triangle to reduce bulk — cut away a small triangle of fabric about one-quarter inch from your stitching line. This makes the point less lumpy when you turn it right-side out.

Turn and Press Each Pennant

Turn each pennant right-side out by pulling it through the open top edge. Use a blunt tool like a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to gently push the bottom point out from the inside. Press each pennant flat with an iron on a medium heat setting, paying special attention to the edges and the point.

Fold the raw edges of the open top inward by about one-quarter inch and press them flat. You can pin the fold in place if it helps you keep it even. At this stage, each pennant is a finished triangle with clean edges all around.

Attach Pennants to the Backing Strip

Cut a length of ribbon, twill tape, or bias tape long enough to hold all your pennants with a few inches left over on each end for hanging. Lay the backing strip flat on a table and arrange your finished pennants along it, spacing them evenly. The open top of each pennant should sit on top of the backing strip, with the folded edges facing up.

Pin each pennant to the backing strip, then sew them on with a straight stitch. Sew along the top edge of the backing strip, catching all the folded edges of the pennants as you go. If you are hand-sewing, use a whip stitch or running stitch. If you are using a machine, sew slowly and carefully so the needle does not hit any pins.

Once all pennants are sewn on, remove the pins and press the banner lightly with an iron to set the stitches.

Hang and Care for Your Banner

Pennant banners can hang from a curtain rod, a length of string or twine, or even thumbtacks pushed through the backing strip. The backing strip is strong enough to hold the weight of the pennants, so you do not need to reinforce it unless you are making a very large banner with heavy fabric.

Store your banner flat in a drawer or closet, or roll it loosely around a paper towel tube to prevent creasing. If you need to remove wrinkles, press it lightly with an iron on a low heat setting, or hang it in a steamy bathroom for an hour.

Pennant banners made from cotton or linen can be hand-washed in cool water with mild soap if they get dusty or stained. Lay them flat to dry and press them lightly once they are dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a pennant banner without a sewing machine?

Yes. Hand-sewing takes longer — usually twice as long as machine-sewing — but the result is just as strong. Use a needle, thread, and a running stitch or backstitch. Aim for stitches about one-quarter inch apart and pull the thread snug after each stitch.

What fabric works best for pennant banners?

Cotton, linen, and quilting cotton are the easiest to work with because they hold a crease, do not fray much, and press flat. Avoid stretchy fabrics like knits or jersey unless you back them with interfacing. Felt and fleece work but do not press as crisply.

How do I keep the pennants from looking crooked?

Use a ruler and pencil to mark your cutting lines before you cut, and cut slowly and carefully. When you sew, keep your stitching line straight and even. Press each pennant flat after turning it right-side out, and space them evenly along the backing strip before you sew them on.

Can I add decorations like beads or embroidery to the pennants?

Yes, but add them before you sew the two triangles together. Embroider or glue beads to one triangle while it is still flat, then sew it to the other triangle as usual. This keeps the decorations from getting caught in the seams.

How long does a pennant banner last?

A well-made banner from cotton or linen lasts for years. The backing strip and seams are the strongest parts. If a pennant tears or a seam comes loose, you can cut it off and sew the remaining pennants back onto the backing strip, or sew a new pennant in its place.