For those who frequent the beach, it becomes a second home. I know that I often look forward to jumping into the crashing waves even more than crossing the threshold of my house after a long day. By decorating your spot in the sand with your colors you can make it even more special for you and your family!
Required Materials:
- A piece of PVC pipe (found at any hardware store)
- Base fabric for your flag
- Large piece of heavy paper
- The fabric you plan on using to decorate with
- A ruler
- An iron (and ironing board if necessary)
- Scissors
- Something to mark your fabric
- Pins
- A needle and thread (or sewing machine)
Step 1: Figure out how large you want your flag then cut out a patten with raw measurements that are a half inch longer than you want your finished product to be. For example, I want my flag to be 12 x 14 inches so I made my pattern 13 x 25 inches. This allows you to have a 1/2 inch seam allowance when you sew.
Step 2: You are going to need a second piece of fabric to secure the pole to the flag. To find out these measurements, measure the circumference of your flag pole with a soft ruler, divide it in half, and then add a half inch. So, the circumference if my pole is 3 1/2 inches so I made the width 2 1/4 inches. In regard to length, you should determine that based on how long your flag is. Just make sure that you factor in a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Step 2: Pin the flag pattern onto your fabric.
Step 3: Use fabric scissors to cut out the fabric.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other side of the flag.
Step 5: Use the same process to cut out the piece of fabric that you want to anchor your flag to your pole.
Step 6: Face the finished sides of the fabric together and pin them together so they do not shift when you are sewing them.
Step 7: Sew the two pieces together using the half inch seam allowance. Make sure you don’t completely sew all the way around the flag. Leave the short side of the flag unfinished.
Step 8: Fold the un-sewn side of the flag down 1/2 inch (seam allowance). You can iron it to keep it in place if you wish.
Step 9: Turn the flag inside out so the finished side is on the outside.
Step 10: Situate the piece of fabric that will act as an anchor so that it can be sewn to the flag and complete your last side of the flag.
Step 11: Iron the piece of fabric that will be holding down the flag poll so that your seam allowance is folded down.
Step 12: Snip off extra fabric.
Step 13: Situate the anchor fabric and pin it.
Step 14: Sew down the piece of fabric that will hold the flag poll. By doing this you are also sewing the last side of the flag together.
Step 15: Sew a fourth and final seam that will make an opening tight enough to hold the flag in place. This depends on the size of the pole that you use.
Step 16: Enjoy the finished product!
Make your mark this summer with one a personalized flag. You can make sure that everything from your family’s last name to your favorite colors are flying high.
