College football season will be here soon! If you live in SEC country like I do, you need to be ready. My household, and my dad’s household, have cut cable ties and switched to streaming television. The big thing on everyone’s mind is, “Do we have the SEC Football channel (we do)?” and will it buffer when the quarterback is throwing the football for a touchdown?” I don’t have the answer to that last question yet, but I can help you get off to a great start on football season by showing you how to make an easy, Festive Football Garden Flag from burlap and felt fabric.
Materials:
- burlap flag
- brown felt
- Apple Barrel 20503E White acrylic paint
- textile medium
- 1/4” angle paint brush
- basic sewing supplies (sewing machine, thread, etc.)
- Scotch Guard Fabric Protector
- green grosgrain 1.5” (ribbed) ribbon
- football pattern
- pinking shears
- Sharpie marker
My Garden Flag Series
I made quite a few burlap flags several years ago, and have vowed to make a flag for each holiday/season until I’ve used them all. This Festive Football Garden Flag is the 4th one. So far, I’ve made flags for Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Summer.
Instructions:
The burlap flag began as a 14″ by 20″ piece of material. Fold the burlap over all the way around, making a 1/2″ hem. Be sure to turn the edges under; don’t leave them raw. Fold the top over 2 1/2 inches, leaving a 2″ gap for the flag pole, while turning the burlap under 1/2″. Sew with a straight stitch, or a zig-zag stitch (stitch 9 on a Brother machine).
Fold the top over 2 1/2 inches, leaving a 2″ gap for the flag pole, while turning the burlap under 1/2″. Sew with a straight stitch, or a zig-zag stitch (stitch 9 on a Brother machine).
This time, I did things a little bit differently. First of all I didn’t use Pellon, which is a stabilizer, to back the felt football. I used it with the Valentine and Strawberry Flags, but not with the Easter Flag, and I could really tell the difference. Pellon gives flimsy cotton fabrics body, and makes the project look and feel professionally done. However, the felt football was so thick, Pellon was not needed. I printed a tiny football picture from the internet, and used it as a guide. Then, I cut the football shape from brown felt using pinking shears.
Draw the stripes and laces with a black Sharpie. Then, mix your textile medium and white paint together. Paint the stripes and laces with the white paint mixture and your 1/4” angle brush. Turn the brush upright, using only the thin bottom edge of the bristles, when you paint the laces. It takes felt a good while to dry after it’s been painted. I let mine dry overnight.
The second thing I did differently was the bow. I tied a simple bow from the 1 1/5” green grosgrain ribbon, trimmed the ends into a negative triangle shape with the pinking shears, then hand sewed it onto the flag before I appliquéd the football. In the past, I’ve always sewn the bow on last.
Next, pin the football onto the flag in the desired position. I tilted mine.
Now, it’s time to sew. Place your machine on the appliqué stitch. On my Brother machine, that’s stitch #11. Sew all around the football, removing pins way before you get to them (that will prevent wrinkles in your sewing). Voila! Your flag is nearly done. Trim your threads, and make sure the flag looks good from the back too.
For the last step, take your Festive Football Garden Flag outside, and spray it with the fabric protector. This will protect your flag from the elements, and enable you to use it for many football seasons to come.
Go Gamecocks!
Kristie
This post was featured on: Bloggers Pitstop, Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make
Linking up here
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Hey Kristie, I didn’t see how to email you. (I don’t do social media).
Please visit my site, there’s a surprise for you!
Melissa
PS – GO Gamecocks!
Thanks again for the nomination. I’m still thinking about who I should nominate.
All of your flags are just darling! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.
Thanks, Ann!
Hard to believe it’s already football season! I’m pinning to share and want to let you know that this will be my feature for this coming week’s Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Thanks Roseann, I’ll definitely drop in, and add the Blogger’s Pit Stop button to my football flag post!
Super cute football flag.
Have a great weekend,
Kippi
Thanks, Kippi! You too.
This is super cute. I really enjoy working with felt, but I’ve never tried burlap. I appreciate all the steps and pictures in your tutorial – it’s helping me get the push I need to try it out.
If u try it, let me know!