My youngest just turned one and for her birthday I really wanted to make something that could be reused every year and that she would remember having throughout her entire childhood. Yearly traditions are big in our household, especially ones that revolve around birthdays. I’ve seen many mass produced versions of this in stores, and thought it’d be really special to sew an heirloom one using scrap fabrics and remnants from my vintage fabric collection. I decided to make my own bias tape so that I could customize all of the fabric, but you can certainly use a ribbon or premade bias tape. You can also download a hand drawn template that I made for both the flags and letters below under the material list!

Materials:

– fabric
– felt for the letters (I’m using this wool felt in natural)
– ribbon (or fabric to make your own bias tape)

Tools:

– sewing machine
– rotary fabric cutter
– iron (I have this one)
– bias tape maker (optional)

Instructions to sew a birthday banner

Step 1: How to cut your fabric

Draw a template for your banner flags or download the printable template above to use as a guide. Print at 100% scale when printing. The banner flags can also be adjusted to any size if desired— as is, my finished flags measure roughly 5.5 x 8” sewn with a 1/8″ seam allowance. If you’d like to adjust the size, simply change the % scale when printing. I used vintage scrap fabrics from my collection for the front pieces and a plain medium weight cotton muslin for the back.

Step 2: Cut out your letters and sew them to the flags

Draw a template for your letters or use the printable template above as a guide. Cut the letters out of felt and pin the letters into place on each flag. Sew along the edges of the letters using a sewing machine to attach them.

Step 3: How to sew your flags

Assemble the front and back pieces of fabric together with the right side of the fabric facing inwards. Pin the pieces of fabric together. Sew along the edges of both sides and the bottom (I’m using a 1/4″ seam allowance. I recommend doing a double stitch seam so that the stitching is secure. Turn the flag right side out and iron the edges flat. I find that a chopstick is very helpful for pushing the points out. Repeat for each flag.

Step 4: Create your own bias tape (optional)

I decided to make my own double fold bias tape for this banner but you can also use a ribbon or use ready-made bias tape. To make a double fold bias tape, you’ll create a single fold bias tape before folding that in half. Start by cutting fabric strips that are four times the desired final width. To make 3/8″ double fold bias tape, I cut my fabric strips to 1.5″ wide. Next, you’ll fold both raw edges inward towards the center lengthwise and press with an iron. After making your single fold bias tape, you’ll simply fold again in half and iron flat.

Tips:
A bias tape maker is a really handy tool and can make this process really quick and easy. To figure out how much length you need, I recommend laying your flags out with your desired spacing and measuring the width, then adding length on each end for hanging the banner up.

Step 5: Sewing your banner

Arrange your letters in order and use sewing pins to secure the flags to the bias tape (or ribbon). I left about 12″ on each end and added a little bit of space in between each letter. Sew along the edge of the bias tape from one end to the other. Repeat for the other banner.

Time to hang your banner up! You can tie each end up on opposite sides using small hooks, or paper tape also works well since the banner is light. The best part is that this can be reused for generations, and stored flat so it doesn’t take up much space at all.

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making a fabric birthday banner for my daughter’s first birthday✨ Yearly traditions are big in our household, especially ones that revolve around birthdays. For my daughter’s first, I really wanted to make something that could be reused every year and that she will remember having throughout her entire childhood. I’ve seen a bunch of mass-produced versions of these and thought it’d be special to sew an heirloom piece using scrap fabrics and remnants from my vintage fabric collection. I made my own bias tape but you can certainly use a ribbon or premade bias tape. FREE TEMPLATE and full instructions on my blog! The flags can be adjusted to any size if desired— as is, my finished flags measure roughly 5.5 x 8” sewn with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Link in my profile. #DIY #firstbirthday #birthdaydecoration #sewing #sewingprojects #birthdaybanner #cottagecore

♬ original sound – will paquin