Share
Congratulations Class of 2025! And speaking of 2025, let's hear it for new Maker Team member Sarah of @happycamper_nyc! Her first tutorial has us cheering - for her and our graduates. Her felt Graduate Pennant is a quick and easy craft that will be the valedictorian of your celebrations. Make it as suggested or swap out the felt colors to match the grad's alma mater. Keep reading to get Sarah's full instructions and perhaps a little school spirit!
Graduation season is upon us! And if you’re looking for a fantastic way to celebrate the grad in your life, this Graduate Felt Pennant is it. This project can be done in an afternoon, and there are two ways to finish it - with fabric glue or stitched on your sewing machine. So no matter your skill level, you’ve got this! Benzie’s pure wool felt is perfect for this project, to give your pennant a more substantial feel.
Skill Level: Kid Friendly, Beginner
Time: 1 - 1 ½ hours
Additional Supplies:
Graduate Pennant Pattern (click to download)
Ruler
Freezer paper - optional
Ecru Sulky Thread - optional
Sewing Maching - optional
Directions:
1. On one short side of Orion felt sheet, find center point. Mark 4 ½” from center, in both directions. Height of the pennant will be 9” at its tallest.
2. On opposite short side, find center point and mark. Length of the pennant will be 18” - the full length of felt sheet.
3. Using a ruler or straight edge, cut felt from tip of pennant to corners, creating triangle shape.
4. Print Graduate Pennant Pattern above. Trace letters onto Ecru felt using a light box or cut out and trace. Cut felt letters.
To use freezer paper in place of tracing in this step, check out this tutorial.
5. Cut two 1” wide strips of Ecru felt, slightly longer than 9". Cut four 6 x ¾” strips for pennant ties.
6. Arrange letters on the pennant, making sure they’re centered. It can take a little fiddling to get them right!
7. Attach letters with tacky glue. If you’re planning to glue only, be sure both edges and center of each letter are well covered, so everything will sit flat. If you’re planning to sew around the letters (Step 10), only add glue to middle of letters to hold while sewing.
8. Glue pennant edges together, with pennant ties sandwiched between them.
9. Once glue is dry, trim edges of pennant for a clean look.
10. If you choose to finish pennant by sewing, use Ecru thread and a sewing maching to sew around each letter and Ecru rectangle at end of pennant.
Now you’re ready to celebrate your grad! This pennant would make a fun graduation gift, be perfect for party decor or make an amazing prop for graduation photos. Congrats to them!
Thanks to Sarah for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @happycamper_nyc and on her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
