Felt name banners.

Lately, it seems like name banners (or any type of decorative banners) are the latest trend in nurseries or kids' spaces. When I browse the internet for inspiration and ideas, I see them hanging everywhere! From a shelf, across the crib, on a wall, within a reading nook or play tent... and this is one trend I really love. There's no better way to personalize a space than with a cute name banner!

So when on vacation visiting my parents for a couple of weeks, I sure was glad I brought along my sewing machine and a few supplies. I decided to treat all my little cousins and kids of a couple close friends to their very own customized name banner... and that's how I got on a bit of a name banner production frenzy!

First off, I created one for a good friend's new baby daughter. To match the pink and grey nursery colours, I selected those as the primary colours on the banner too. I cut the flags out of light grey and pink felt. For the letters, I went with a darker pink so that the name popped.

There really wasn't a theme in the baby's room so I decided to add a couple of cute unicorns on either end. I figured since they are feminine, pretty, and on trend, they'd be a safe choice. A few small flowers in other light colours and some shiny sequins add a sweet touch.

I used embroidery thread to add small details; simple stitching on the perimeter of the white circles around each letter, same stitching throughout the unicorns' hair, and a few stars located randomly on each flag complete the look.

Overall, I love how this flag turned out. Perfect for a little Princess Vivian.

The next flag I worked on was for a male teenager. Because of the older age, I decided to stay away from any themes (sports and the like) and simply work with colours to make the banner suitable for his age. His bedroom colours, I was advised, were charcoal and "honeydew; like the heart of a romaine lettuce". I wandered what I'd do for the honeydew colour, because my local fabric store carries only standard colours of felt, so when I saw woven cotton in the perfect shade, I grabbed it right up. The cotton was the perfect background accent colour on the charcoal flags.

The letters were sewn out of white felt and stuffed to give a very cool 3D effect. 

The white letters were looking a bit lonely so I added light grey letters in behind the white stuffed letters and some tribal-looking arrows on top of each flag to spruce things up a little. Stitched details on each arrow using white embroidery thread add some detailing.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the way this banner turned out. The honeydew green, grey, and charcoal are a great colour combination and the simple design, with no particular theme, suits a teenager perfectly. 

Next on the list was a banner for my cousin, a 10 year old girl. The colours I was instructed to work with were light grey and pale pink. This time I decided to switch things up and instead of making flags, I made large stuffed felt letters. I made them all out of light grey so that the whole banner had a more classic, grown up look, and she can use the banner not only immediately, but hopefully for many more years to come.

Instead of decorating it with any kind of theme, I decided to do bundles of pretty flowers and cascading leaves throughout.

I just adore these flowers! A few large white or pink peonies here and there paired with various other smaller buds, the flowery bundles look very pretty, girly, a bit dainty, but still grown up. 

By using a neutral colour for the letters and accenting with light pink, white, and dark grey flowers and leaves, this name banner is very classic. Although it is made out of very feminine colours, it's appropriate for a girl of any age; it goes perfectly in Santanah's pink and grey bedroom now but will surely be perfect in her dorm room when she goes off to college in a good few years too!

The next banner was for my cousin's 5 year old daughter. It seems like pink and grey is currently everyone's favourite colour combination because this banner was to be in those colours too! After some brainstorming with my cousin's wife, we had come up with a plan for her daughter's banner; large stuffed letters made out of white and grey chevron patterned felt, accented with grey, pink, and white flowers.

Because I did not have instant access to chevron patterned felt (can you even buy this???) I had to make the pattern by hand. I started by making the stuffed white letters, then I cut the zig zag strips out of grey felt and glued them onto the letters using hot glue to create the chevron pattern. Yes, it was a bit time consuming, but I love working on intricate details and luckily, with only four letters, the name is short and the chevron was completed in no time. 

Just as the previous banner, I added bunches of light pink, white, and grey flowers with pink cascading leaves. 

Soft and feminine, this banner is the perfect accent for Kaia's room now and hopefully for many more years to come.

The final banner was for a very special little girl - the daughter of my very good friend from university. For this banner, I went back to the original flag design that I started off with. 

Light grey flags with mint and light pink backgrounds, and dark pink letters, this banner is perfect for a sweet little girl. I love the floral end flags the most; large light and dark pink flowers, bunched in with smaller grey and white buds, and grey and pink leaves, these flags are just too pretty.

Of all the banners I worked on this time, I think this one is my favourite. I love the mint, pink, and grey colour combination and the floral flags on each end are the perfect accent. I hope little Evelyn will have her flag hanging in her space for years to come.