Homemade Team Banners

From the University's of Michigan's 30-foot "Go Blue" banner that hails the football team's grand entrances into Michigan Stadium, to simple paper signs hoisted in high school gymnasiums, sports banners have a long and colorful tradition. You can make your own team banner with a little creativity and a few easily obtainable materials. You'll have to decide on the purpose of the banner (outdoor or indoor, for example), whether or not you want to reuse it and from what distance you want it to be visible. Color choices, lettering and logos probably will be determined by the team you're supporting.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic or vinyl sheet
  • Sewing kit or staples
  • Scissors
  • Paint or markers
  • Pencil or crayon
  • Yardstick
  • Wooden dowels or PVC piping
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sketch a mock-up of your banner. Include a main message (team name, perhaps), a short message ("Rose Bowl or Bust!") and a logo or other artwork.

    • 2

      Use a sturdy plastic or vinyl banner material. Use a white banner material or, if possible, a team color such as blue or red. Paper can be used for indoor events, such as pep rallies, but don't count on getting more than a single use out of paper.

    • 3

      Cut the banner to size. Decide the distance from which you want the banner to be visible. For example, if you're going to display the banner at a football game and want the opposing team and fans to be able to read it, the letters need to be at least 10 inches high. Much larger lettering should be used for the main body of text. You may want the team name or logo to be 2 feet high and any additional messaging to be 10 or 12 inches. To accommodate these dimensions, the final banner size should be at least 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. Cut the banner to a width of 6 1/2 feet to allow for the creation of sleeves to accept dowels or piping to hoist the banner.

    • 4

      Create sleeves by folding over each end 3 inches and securing by sewing or stapling it. Double-sided tape also would work.

    • 5

      Outline the lettering and logo using a pencil or crayon. Use a yardstick or T-square to assist you. You also could use stencils. Use paint or markers to fill in the lettering and logo. Latex paint is flexible and won't crack easily. Select appropriate team colors. Self-adhesive decals and letters can be used, but you may find it difficult or costly to find 2-foot lettering. Let the banner dry overnight.

    • 6

      Insert 1-inch wooden dowels or PVC piping in the sleeves. Make sure the piping is long enough to accommodate the 4-foot height of the banner and extends far enough to grasp it. Secure the piping at the top and bottom with tape.