If you've been scrolling through Pinterest or wandering around boutique home stores and wondering how to make felt pennants that actually look professional, you're in the right place. These classic, triangular flags have a way of making a room feel instantly cozy and a little nostalgic, whether you're decorating a nursery, a dorm room, or just a corner of your home office that needs some life. The best part is that you don't need a degree in textile arts or a fancy workshop to pull this off.
Felt pennants are one of those rare DIY projects where the barrier to entry is super low, but the results look like something you'd pay thirty or forty bucks for at a trendy shop. Honestly, once you get the hang of it, you'll probably start making them for everyone's birthday and every minor holiday. Let's break down the process so you can get started.
Getting your materials together
Before we dive into the "how-to" part, we need to talk about felt. Not all felt is created equal, and this is where a lot of people go wrong. If you buy those super thin, flimsy acrylic sheets from the bottom shelf of a craft store, your pennant is going to be floppy and sad. It'll curl up at the edges and just won't have that "heirloom" feel.
Instead, try to find a wool-blend felt. It's a bit more expensive, but it's thicker, it holds its shape, and it has a much nicer texture. If you can't find a wool blend, look for a "stiffened" felt.
Aside from the felt, you'll need: * A rotary cutter and a self-healing mat (or really sharp fabric scissors) * A long ruler or a straight edge * Fabric glue or a hot glue gun (if you aren't sewing) * HeatnBond or freezer paper (this is the secret trick for letters) * An iron * Optional: A sewing machine or some embroidery floss
Designing your pennant
Most classic pennants follow a pretty standard shape: a long, skinny triangle. A common size is about 9 inches tall by 24 inches long, but you can definitely go smaller if you're making a little "mini" pennant for a desk.
I usually recommend sketching your design on a piece of paper first. Are you going for a single word like "ADVENTURE" or "HOME," or do you want a little graphic? Keep in mind that the more complex the letters, the harder they'll be to cut out of felt. Thick, blocky fonts are your best friend here.
Once you have your dimensions, use your ruler to mark the center point on one side of your felt and the two corners on the opposite side. Connect the dots, and you've got your triangle.
The secret to perfect letters
The hardest part of learning how to make felt pennants is definitely the lettering. If you try to freehand cut letters out of felt, you're going to end up with wonky lines and a lot of frustration.
The "pro" way to do this is using freezer paper or HeatnBond. If you use freezer paper, you can print your letters (mirrored!) onto the paper, iron the paper onto your felt, and then cut through both the paper and the felt at the same time. The paper stabilizes the felt so it doesn't stretch or shift while you're cutting. When you're done, the paper just peels right off.
If you use HeatnBond, it's even easier because it turns your letters into stickers. You iron the HeatnBond to the back of your letter felt, cut out your letters, peel the backing off, and iron them directly onto your main pennant triangle. It creates a really clean, flat bond that looks amazing.
Putting it all together
Once you have your main triangle and your letters cut out, it's time for the assembly. This is where you decide if you're a "glue person" or a "sewing person."
If you're using glue, less is more. If you glob it on, it might soak through the felt and leave a dark spot. Use a thin layer of tacky glue or a fabric-specific adhesive. If you're using a hot glue gun, work in small sections because that stuff dries fast and can be bulky if you aren't careful.
If you want that authentic vintage look, sewing is the way to go. You can do a simple straight stitch around the edges of the letters. It takes a bit more time, but the texture of the thread adds so much character. Don't worry if your stitches aren't perfectly straight—that's part of the handmade charm.
Adding the "tails" and the border
A pennant doesn't really look finished until it has that vertical strip on the wide end and a couple of little ties. Grab a contrasting color of felt and cut a strip about an inch wide and as tall as the back end of your pennant.
Fold this strip over the edge of the triangle and glue or sew it down. This hides the raw edge and makes the whole thing look more structural.
For the ties (those little bits of felt that look like you could tie them to a pole), just cut four small strips of felt—maybe 1/2 inch wide and 4 inches long. Attach them to the top and bottom of your border strip. Now it actually looks like something you'd see at an old-school baseball game.
Finishing touches and variations
Now that you know the basics of how to make felt pennants, you can start getting creative. You don't have to stick to one layer of felt for the letters. You can layer a smaller letter on top of a slightly larger one to create a "shadow" effect. This looks incredible with high-contrast colors like cream and forest green or orange and navy.
Another fun trick is to add "fringe" to the end of the pennant instead of just a point. Or, if you're feeling really fancy, you can use a dowel rod. Just fold the wide end of the pennant over a wooden dowel, glue it in place, and tie a piece of twine to the ends of the dowel for hanging.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even though this is a pretty straightforward project, there are a few things that can trip you up.
First, watch your spacing. It's really easy to start gluing letters and realize halfway through that you've run out of room. Always lay everything out on the triangle before you commit with glue or thread. I like to start with the middle letter and work my way out to the edges to keep things centered.
Second, be careful with the iron. If you're using synthetic felt, a hot iron will melt it instantly. Always use a pressing cloth (like a clean pillowcase or a scrap of cotton fabric) between the iron and the felt just to be safe.
Lastly, don't overthink the "perfection" aspect. The beauty of a felt pennant is that it feels tactile and human. If a letter is a tiny bit crooked or a stitch is a little long, it just adds to the vibe.
Why this makes a great gift
If you're looking for a personalized gift that doesn't cost a lot of money, this is it. You can make a pennant with someone's last name, their favorite city, or even an inside joke. It's a custom piece of art that shows you actually put thought and time into it.
Because felt is so light, these are also really easy to mail in a flat envelope, making them a perfect "just because" surprise for a friend who lives far away.
Once you've mastered how to make felt pennants, you'll realize it's a bit of an addictive hobby. You'll start seeing phrases everywhere and thinking, "That would look great on a flag." Whether you're making a giant one to go over a bed or a tiny one to tuck into a gallery wall, you're going to love the way they bring a bit of vintage soul into your space. So, grab some felt, sharpen your scissors, and see what you can come up with!