We’re celebrating Back to School and Maker Team member Kristie of @felt_like_being_crafty is leading our pep rally with this School Days Pennant tutorial. With its reversable design, this pencil themed pennant is perfect for those school pictures on the first and last day! This project is geared toward everyone who wants to get in on the excitement, as parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors or friends. School days are here again!
It seems long now, but the school year will go by in a flash. Capture the excitement at the beginning and end with this fun felt pennant that will last year after year.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 4 - 6 Hours
Additional Supplies:
Iron
Die Cut Machine
Ruler
Directions:
1. Draw 11 x 20” pennant shape onto matte side of freezer paper.
2. With iron on low heat, press freezer paper (shiny side down) onto sheet of Golden felt. Cut and peel away freezer paper.
3. Pin pennant to second sheet of Golden felt to use as a template and cut out.
4. Sketch ‘School’ on freezer paper sized approximately 10 ½ x 5”. Alternatively, select desired font and print ‘School’ from computer. Iron freezer paper to Black felt. Cut and peel away freezer paper.
Repeat Step 4 to create a second ‘School.’ Freezer paper can be reused and ironed onto felt again.
5. Using Stitchable Alphabet Die and die cut machine, cut out letters for ‘FIRST DAY OF’ and ‘LAST DAY OF’ from Cherry Red felt.
6. Cut two pencil lead from Black felt using end of banner as a template. Cut slightly larger than banner so no Golden felt is visible.
7. Cut two 1 x 12” strips of Pewter felt for pencil ferrule.
8. Trim Blush felt to 6 ½ x 12”. Fold in half and press with iron to crease. This will be the eraser portion.
9. Cut remaining portion of Blush felt in half to create two 2 ½ x 6” pieces. Fold felt in half lengthwise and then widthwise to create a 1 ¼ x 3” piece of folded felt.
10. With folds on the left and bottom, use Frixion pen to draw two lines as shown below.
11. Cut along lines to make two pennant flags (2 ½ x 6.) They will look like large Xs when opened. They do not need to be perfect - they are supposed to flap around!
12. Lay out one Golden pennant and arrange ‘FIRST DAY OF’ and ‘School’ in desired position and pin. Leave 2” of space on straight end for ferrule and eraser overlap. Leave space on tip for pencil lead.
13. Repeat Step 12 for second banner with ‘LAST DAY OF’ text. Both sides can be arranged in the same direction since you will only see one side of the banner at a time.
14. Attach ‘School’ with two strands of DMC 310. Attach Cherry Red die cut letters with three strands of DMC 817.
15. Pin felt ferrule onto one pennant 1” from straight end. Use two strands of DMC 168 to whip stitch along side closest to text. Other side will be covered with eraser.
16. Place second ferrule in same manner on second pennant. Lay along first pennant to make sure ferrule ends are aligned. Stitch along side closest to text.
17. Place both pennants together, embellished sides facing out. Blanket stitch along Golden edges (from top of ferrule to bottom) with three strands of DMC 972.
18. Arrange and pin pencil leads to front and back making sure they match. Blanket stitch along all three sides with three strands of DMC 310
19. Place felt eraser with fold at the end and both open sides slightly overlapping ferrule on either side of pennant. Pin in place. Use one strand of DMC 224 to stitch along eraser edge through both sides of pennant.
20. Use Frixion pen and a ruler to extend angled lines of pennant along raw edges of ferrule and eraser. Cut away excess felt to create triangular pennant shape.
21. Blanket stitch along remaining raw edges of ferrule and eraser using three strands of coordinating floss.
22. Pin pennant flags onto straight end, 1” from top and bottom. Open and lay inward. Use two strands of DMC 224 to tack inner fold of flags to folded eraser edge.
This pennant has so many options… just PENCIL out what you want to make! Add the name of a child or sports team or school. The possibilities are endless. Happy Back to School!
Thanks to Kristie for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @felt_like_being_crafty. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
