DIY Painted Cotton Banner

I wanted to make this banner as a piece of fan art for the Minecraft MMO called Avalon Online. I looked on this website for any instructions for making banners or flags, but there was not one. So, I resolved to create an Instructable that people can follow and use, especially if they want to make some decor for home or create some props for a play, roleplay, playtime, play area or something else entirely.

Materials:

• Cotton Fabric
• Fabric Paint
• Thread
• Paper (Tissue Paper is Optional)
• Glue (Optional)
• Chalk (Optional)
• Cardstock/Cardboard
• Dowel (Step 6 Option)
• Twine (Step 6 Option)

Tools:

• Scissors/X-acto Knife
• Cutting Mat
• Rotary Cutter
• Ruler/Tape Measure
• Paint Brushes
• Marker (Sharpie)
• Pencil
• Seam Ripper (if need be)
• Sewing Needles
• Sewing Machine
• Fabric Marker

The first step is by thinking about how you want your banner to look. You can start by taking out some paper or putting up a computer document and dump your thoughts on it. Question yourself: "what do you want it to look like? Are there any defining features that make it stand out? Is it simple or difficult? What are the colors and style of the banner? How big is it going to be?"

As you fill the page(s) with however many ideas you have for the banner, sift through the information and sort out your ideas by drawing different designs of your banner. Mind you, my banner will be used as an example in the process of creating your own.

( A quick tip: There is a difference between flags and banners. Flags have a single layer and wave with the wind on a vertical pole. Banners have two layers and hang down from a horizontal pole.)

Now that you've chosen your overall banner pattern, you need to create a template of your design to transfer to the fabric of your choosing. I used a 17" x 20" (43.2cm x 50.8cm) Easel and Floor Pad sheet of paper as my template for the whole banner. It could be as long as you want it, you just need to choose a style for the bottom half like shown. Add a 1/2 inch space to the edges of the banner pattern so you can sew it together later. Now cut out the paper pattern for your banner.

Some applications of pattern/template transfers are a little different from one another. There are at least two ways to transfer it onto cotton fabric, depending on its color.

If the cotton is Light-colored, you can slip the template under one of the layers, making it see-through, to trace the design on.

If the cotton is Dark-colored, you will need to create a stencil (A flat plate or sheet with a cut-out image of a certain design and scale/size) to trace on top of the fabric. A stencil can be made by making connecting adjustments to your design and cutting them out on paper or cardstock with an x-acto knife or scissors.

These ways can also work if the fabric is neither Light- nor Dark-colored and just a solid, bright color like yellow, blue, or red.

You must feel confident with the design you created, but before you trace your pattern on the fabric, you need to wash the fabric first, as it needs to be clean and prepared before it could be painted on.

Once dry, you need to use an iron and an ironing board to smoothen the wrinkles. (Warning: the iron will be hot! Seek assistance or parent supervision if you need help.) Let it cool before you draw out your banner pattern with a fabric marker to the cotton. Place the fabric on a cutting mat and use a rotary cutter (or scissors) and cut out the pattern.

Be sure to read the instructions on the paint your are using first. If it requires to be inside-out and washed, you need to temporarily sew the sides with a running stitch. You can use a seam ripper to remove it later.

Now use your template to transfer your design onto the cotton as described in Step 2. Place cardboard or cardstock under the side and part of the banner you want to paint, as the paint could leak through the cotton and stain the other side.

Grab a paint pallet, some paint brushes, the colors of paint you want, and a container of water. IF you don't have a pallet, then cardstock, cardboard, extra paper, or paper plate works as well.

In this step... well... you paint your design! Some tips about painting more intricate designs. A small, round, and narrow brush helps with outlines and details, a wider brush helps fill in the gaps of empty space. There are many other kinds of brushes but Consider these options carefully if you want a clean piece of art on your banner.

Once you are done, follow the drying instructions of the paint you have used, as each one can differ from the other. The fabric paint I used (Thrift Flip Upcycling Fabric Paint) requires that I leave it to dry for 48-72 hours (2-3 days) before I turn it inside out and put in the washing machine on gentle tumble and low heat.

If you need to, after washing and it wrinkles, use an ironing board and and iron to smooth the cotton out.

With the paint dry, it's safe to handle the cotton and turn it into a proper banner. Turn the fabric inside out so the design is also inside out. Place pins along the edges and bottom of the banner. Do not pin the top of the banner while it is inside out (unless you are doing an inverted sleeve).

You can choose to use hand-stitching or a sewing machine for this next step. For hand sewing, you can do either a running stitch or a back stitch along 90% of the banner. There needs to be a gap big enough that you can pull the inside out again so the design is outside.

You will need to use your scissors and clip the corners and wedges shorter so it does not gather when you turn it right-side out. Before you reverse the sides, use an iron and press the edges inward as shown in Picture 6. Turn the banner inside out and press it again. You then need to sew the gap closed with a slipstitch or an inseam stitch.

Now shift your focus to the top part of the banner. Fold in the edge and pin in place, then sew it with a backstitch. You can choose to be fancy with a decorative stitch, like with Picture 10 in my case. Do the same for the other side.

Congratulations!

Your banner is now done. There is an optional step for adding a dowel and twine to hang the banner by itself. Otherwise, feel free to do anything else you want to do with your banner. Put some glitter on it, embroider some art, stick some dots here and there, at this point, do whatever You want to do.

This is the step for making the sleeve and decorating the hanger for the banner. Slide the dowel through the open pocket and use a fabric marker (or chalk) to draw along the bottom of the dowel. Then take the dowel out. This marks where you can sew the pocket closed. I chose to use a gold-colored thread and utilize a spiral stitch to simulate rope. Then slide the dowel back in.

If the dowel is too long, be sure to measure its length to the width of the banner, then add about 1-2 inches on each side. You may need some extra help or tools to cutting it to the appropriate length. The quickest way to cut it is with a Miter Saw (It's very Loud, sharp and risky, so ask for assistance if you Do Not Know how to use it!). Another way is to clamp it on a vise and cut it with a hand saw. You then need to sand it down to a smooth surface to reduce the risk of splinters.

The twine is the last thing you need to complete this project, unless there's more you want to do, but that's your choice.

Take the end of the twine stretch it to about 3 inches from the hem of the banner sleeve, then wrap the rest of it around one end of the dowel, from far to near, till it covers the part visible from the banner. Tie a knot with the loose end before tightening. Pull the twine across the width of the banner to the other side. Hold the twine that's touching the other side loosely and pull up the middle of the length to about 4-6 inches from the banner. Keep holding the twine on the end and repeat the first step. Then tie a knot at the base of the wrap and cut the remainder off (While having enough when you need to tighten it later).

And now you're done! You can hang your new banner wherever you like.