
Hanging a pennant on the wall has long been the perfect way to show your school spirit or pledge allegiance to your favorite sports team. Lately, though, pennants have also entered the world of interior design, emblazoned with everything from
cheerful phrases to
fake team names.
We’re jumping on the trend with DIY pennants for three spaces in your home. If you’re a fan of Team Snooze Button or a graduate of your own imagined culinary college, take heart: with a little felt, a sharp pair of scissors, and some thread, you too can add rah-rah flair to your walls.
Step 1: Print Out a Downloadable Template

Each one fits on a regular 8.5”x11” piece of printer paper. There are three templates to choose from:
Step 2: Gather Materials
- Up to five pieces of pre-cut felt from the craft store (approximately 8.5”x11” each): one piece for the main pennant body, two pieces of another color for the slogan and tails, and, depending on the design you choose, more colors for accents
- Scissors
- Tacky craft glue
- Needle and thread
- Pencil or chalk
Step 3: Cut and Trace the Pennant Body

Cut the outline of your pennant from the template and use it as a guideline to cut a large triangle out of felt.
Step 4: Cut and Trace the Slogan, Accents, and Tails

Cut individual letters from the pennant template. Arrange them on felt of another color, and trace around them with pencil or chalk for accuracy. Cut the letters out of the felt and set aside. If your template has accents (the fork and spoon or the moon and stars), cut these out the same way. Repeat for the contrast border and matching tails.
Step 5: Arrange the Parts

Lay what’s left of your template over the felt pennant base, or simply use it for reference. Arrange the letters, accents, contrast border, and tails on top to make sure they fit. Tweak exact letter and accent placement if necessary.
Step 6: Sew On the Border and Tails

Sewing the tails and border is recommended, as three layers of felt (base, tails, and border) won’t hold up as well with only glue to bind them. Sew the tails to the base first. Then lay the contrast border on top and sew along its perimeter.
Step 7: Sew or Glue On the Letters and Accents

Sewing by hand creates an imperfect, old-fashioned look but can be time-consuming. Gluing requires careful placement and generous slathering but can be completed more quickly. The choice is yours.
Step 8: Hang It Up

Once any glued-down pieces have dried completely, hang your new pennant on the wall. We recommend using small thumbtacks or extra-small nails. (We used tape, which was unwise.)
Photos by Andrew Nawrocki, Groupon
Read more DIY stories to learn how to make things like a hanging garden fit for a tiny apartment or a piñata no human can resist bashing to bits.