How to Make an Embroidered Pageant Banner

Contestants wear banners in order to help identify themselves to the judges during competition. The embroidered text on the banners is what separates the contestants from one another. This text shows what the contestant represents, which can be a county, state, city or school. You can make them at home with the assistance of a serger and an embroidery machine.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Serger
• Embroidery machine
• Chalk pencil
• 2 Colors of thread - one must match the color and the other must contrast
• 2 yards fabric of your choice and color, or what is dictated by the pageant
• Sewing shears
• Tape measure
• Straight pin
• Hand sewing needle

1. • 1
     Layout the fabric on a flat purpose. Measure out a portion that is 12 inches by 6 feet and mark it with a chalk pencil. Cut out the portion with sewing shears.
   • 2
     Thread the serger with the thread that matches the fabric. Sew around the the edge of the piece of fabric you cut out with the serger. This will finish the edge of the fabric.
   • 3
     Fold the banner in half horizontally and mark the center with a dot in chalk pencil. Thread the embroidery machine with the contrasting thread. On the touch screen controls on the front of the embroidery machine press on "Alphabet." Then press on "Custom Characters."
   • 4
     Choose the letters you want to embroider on the machine in order and adjust the size as needed with the controls to fit into the space on the front of the banner. Unfold the banner and arrange it underneath the needle of the embroidery machine at the point where you want the top left corner of the embroidery to start. Press down the presser foot and then slowly press down the foot pedal until you find a speed you are comfortable with.
   • 5
     Cut the thread close to the fabric once the embroidery has finished. This will clean up the embroidery and rid the banner of loose threads. Wrap the banner around the contestant and pin it so that it is snug on the body and some extra length is evenly distributed on both the front and back.
   • 6
     Thread a hand sewing needle with thread matching the banner, and sew a running stitch where you pinned the banner. Move the needle up and down in a straight line through both layers of fabric. Cut away excess thread when you are done.