Americana Braided Flag Banner

There has been some interest in my Americana Braided Flag Banner.  I came across a photo of a similar item on google and then set about making my own instructions.  My quilt guild had a retreat recently. I presented this project to those attending and did a demo for putting it together.  I prepared a 'fabric and cutting list'  and  a file showing how I went about trimming them up for assembly.  I did not make a complete tutorial for the project,  but I am willing to share with you here,  the same info I provided to the guild.

This is the Americana Braided Flag Banner:

It measures

12" x 28"




















FABRIC & CUTTING  LIST

**this is written for a scrappy version of 3 reds & 3 whites. You could adjust it to 5 reds & 5 whites or you could use only one red  one white fabric or ??? **

Fabric Requirements

• 3 cream strips @ 3-1/2” x WOF
• 3 barn red strips @ 3-1/2” x WOF
• (1) 9”x 12-1/2” Navy
• (1) 8” square cream print for background star
• (1) 7” square gold print for smaller star
• (1) 14” x 31” piece for batting
• (1) 14” x 31” piece for backing
• (2) 2-1/4” x WOF red strips for binding

from EACH of 3 cream prints ... Cut:

• 1 strip @ 3-1/2” x WOF (width of fabric)
• subcut into (20) 1-1/2” rectangles each ...{ 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” } = 60 rectangles

from Reds # 1 & # 2 … Cut

• 1 strip ea @ 3-1/2” x WOF
• cut one 3-1/2” square from each fabric; cut those 2 squares in half, diagonally … { 4 triangles; these are the beginning triangles for the braids
• subcut remainder of these strips into (20) 1-1/2” rectangles each … { 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” } = 40 rectangles

from Red #3 … Cut

• 1 strip @ 3-1/2” x WOF
• subcut into (20) 1-1/2” rectangles … {1-1/2” x 3-1/2”} = 20 rectangles

from Navy … cut

• 1 pc @ 9” x 12-1/2” rectangle

Stars

• (1) 8” x 16” piece of interfacing or (1) 8” square fusible web product
• (1) 8” x 8” piece of cream print
• (1) 7” x 7” piece of gold print

Make 4 Braid Strips
** no photos for this step**

Begin with a red triangle, longest edge laying horizontally, and the point at top.

Placing at the top point of the red triangle, sew a white strip to the right side of the triangle,
press open.

Sew a red piece on the left side and at the top point of the white strip, press open

Sew a white piece on the right side and at the top point of the red strip, press open

Sew a red piece on the left side and at the top point of the white strip, press open.

**Continue in this manner, adding one white strip on the right side; then one red strip on the left side, pressing open after adding every strip.  Add a total of 15 strips on each side.  Make 4 braids in this manner.



TRIMMING SIDES OF BRAIDS
* trim each braid separately *

With a 6” x 24” ruler, line up the 2” vertical line on the center point of the top and the center point of
the bottom triangle......... check that the 2” line runs up through (or near) the center points of each
braid. …........ ** Step back and look at what is under the ruler BEFORE YOU CUT …. is there an
approx. equal amount of reds and whites showing? Look for the 3-1/2” vertical line on ruler. This is
where the braid strip will be straightened and trimmed off on the opposite - 'red' side. **.

Cut: When you are happy with the ruler placement, trim the white edge even.

Flip the braid strip around so the red edge is on the right side for trimming.
Line up the 3 – 1/2” vertical line on the ruler with the left edge of braid (now the white side)
Cut:  trim the red edge even

            


















                                                                                                        















Trimming Braid Top & Bottom 

         Top: Place the ruler at the top point of braid, scoot the ruler left until there is a full 3-1/2” width of         fabric under the ruler. Cut: trim edge even 

              

From the top edge, measure a 21” length of braid, Cut: trim off excess.      

SEW BRAIDS TOGETHER

** Pay close attention to orientation of the strips, keep all the tops at the top **

Sew: sew the braid strips together. ( If you sew starting at the bottom and stitching to the top of the

braid, all the seams will be facing downward. You do not have to match any seams ) This section will

measure ( 12 – 1/2” x 21”) . 

I used the interfacing method of making my star appliques.  You can see a demo of that method  HERE.

You will find a nice variety of star sizes  HERE .

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help if I can. Please do not distribute this information in any manner, but please direct others to this page to get their own copy. 

Thanks for stopping by.