DIY: How to Make Simple Burlap Pennants for Less Than $20

Happy Valentine’s Day! I know that this is the year of 52 Projects in 52 Weeks for Less than $52 but I want to give you more. I will still share advice, tips and tricks for creating your ideal family home as well as quick projects like this darling banner that would work for any holiday – just change the fabric. Or what about spelling out your child’s name or “happy birthday?” You can use this idea to create any number of options that work in your home.

This could easily be a “no sew” project if you omit the rosettes, but I couldn’t resist them. I found a bunch of old red buttons in a vintage store and I knew they were calling my name, yearning to be made into something adorable.

The Materials

1 yard – burlap fabric, any color, any pattern you desire. You could use another fabric but I think the rustic rope and clothes pins look best with a burlap.

12-15 feet of rope

20 clothes pins

Pinking shears (if you have them)

For optional rosettes:

Buttons – to coordinate with your fabric

A needle and thread

The Process

My fabric had a large print pattern so I decided my pennants needed to be large enough to show it off. I cut a shield shape with an extra 1-1/2″ at the top to fold over the rope. I used pinking shears to help prevent the burlap from unraveling.

Then I  folded it over and used the clothes pins to attach it on both sides. You can use any pennant shape or style you enjoy.

Here are a few other shapes you might try.

Source

Next I made the rosettes. I cut a strip approximately 3″ wide and 18″ long. No need to measure here, these are cutest when each one is a little different. I used my pinking shears again.

Then I pleated the fabric approximately every inch and put a couple of stitches through the fabric until I. I folded my pleats on a slight angle so I was making a circle rather than a straight line. When I had the pleats in I stitched the circle together. My stitches were not pretty or perfect they were just there to hold the fabric together.
I then cut a second strip about 1 – 1/2″ wide by 18″ long and pleated that. I laid it in the center and stitched the whole thing together. I finished each rosette off with a red button in the middle. Each rosette took about 7 – 10 minutes to make.
When the whole rosette was stitched securely I trimmed both the inside and outside piece to make a more perfect circle.
I placed the rosettes in between each of the pennants. You could stitch them to the rope or I just attached them with a safety pin from the back so I can change the fabric out for St. Patrick’s Day!
The Outcome

Pennants make me happy. They are charming and celebratory. Hanging them over this white desk creates the perfect spot for my daughter to work on her Valentine’s. And as a note about the candy jars, don’t tell my children, but I go to the bulk food store and stock up on the least expensive candy in a color that works for the occasion but that my kid’s don’t like to eat. It looks festive and saves on dentist’s bills. Win, win.

Be sure to tell all your Valentine’s how much you love them, that’s the most vital part of any family celebration, pennants or no pennants.

This project is a bonus! Our week 6 project will be up tomorrow: we will be adding a new video to our YES Spaces DIY page every week for the next 47 weeks! And based on your input we will have directions and when needed measurements and plans here every week as well. So be sure to subscribe here and over on YouTube so you don’t miss anything! I am currently cooking up all the projects and simultaneously pulling together our MESS to YES makeover schedule for the year so if you have projects or spaces you are struggling with and would like some inspiration let me know and I will try to tackle as many as I can here this year.

  If you want a stylish, family-friendly home contact YES Spaces today! I would love to talk to you about your family and your space! Visit our YES Spaces DIY channel to see videos of other family friendly projects! Connect with us on Facebook for the “How To” behind some of today’s most popular design ideas! View our Pinterest Boards for my curated design inspiration! Watch our MESS to YES Home Makeover!