In this article, I will share with you two common ways to hang banners. 1) To hang on the wall: use a nail with finials and a rope with tassels. 2) For a freestanding post on a base: use horizontal and vertical studs with finials, a weighted base, and a PVC tee in the center.
1) To hang on the wall: First off, the strings and tassels are a nice classy touch to your finished banner. You can find twisted satin cord, metallic cord, or upholstery cord online or at your local fabric or drapery stores. Before you cut the rope, always be prepared to wrap a small piece of tape around the rope where you want to cut it. Cut in the middle of the taped section leaving tape on both cut ends so neither end comes undone. You can also use decorative strings to hang on the sides and/or hang over the top of your banner for aesthetic purposes only. This article explains how you can use the strings as a way to hang the banner on a wall.
You will need a wooden dowel cut to the length you want to fit the width of your banner and extend a couple of inches on each side. This is to your liking. A wooden closet rod will work, or a smaller dowel. PVC pipe or metal rods can also work. If you are attaching fabric to the sides of the banner, you will want to add enough length to the horizontal spike to allow it to cover both sides. The diameter of the spigot also depends on the size of the upper shell. Generally, the larger the banner, the greater the diameter of the spike. I also like to add screw caps to the cut ends of the dowel for a finishing touch. The ends are usually made of wood and come in different sizes. You can order them online at specialty lumber websites, or sometimes find them at your local home improvement store. Choose a final that is the right size to fit your barrette. If the wood finishes are not finished, you can spray paint them.
The next step is to use an electric drill. Use a drill size that fits the size of string you are using. Carefully drill a hole through the dowel on the left and right sides to extend beyond the banner. Always measure and mark where you plan to drill. Remove banner before drilling holes. You can also use sandpaper to smooth out any rough spots left after drilling. Now slide your banner over the pin. Punched holes should be at least 1 inch away from each edge of the banner. Work your rope through a hole; then over the top and finally down through the other hole. The taped-off part of the string helps to thread it through the holes…just like a shoelace. Knot the string on each side just below the dowel so the string does not slip through the hole. The string over the top doesn’t need much slack, but can now be used to hang the banner…for example, over a hook or ornamental knob. The unfinished ends of the rope can be cut close to the knots or left long and tassels added to the cut ends. We can discuss an easy way to make tassels in another article.
two) To hang upright: The second easy method of hanging a banner is to use a horizontal pin, a vertical pin, a weighted flag base, and a PVC t-joint. PVC tee joints can be found in the plumbing section of your local home improvement store. The tee must be able to slide over the top spigot. So you may want to have the dowel with you to find the right size tee joint. If the nearest size tee joint is still too loose, there is a remedy.
TIPS: I wrap masking tape around the center of the dowel where the T-joint will be secured. The tape will create a snug fit. Another way is to drill holes in the T-joint and fasten the joint with screws to the spigot.
Then be sure to measure the dowel to find the exact center of the joint so the banner will hang level. Before you slide the dowel into the top banner cover, you will need to measure the width of the banner to find the center and carefully cut an opening in the top back of the banner cover or in the back liner (if there is no a sewn cover). ). The opening should only be large enough to accommodate the T-joint so that the bottom of the “T” can stick out of the opening. This bottom “T” part of the PVC joint is where you will insert a vertical pole to hold the banner. So now slide the top horizontal dowel with the secured t-joint into the top cover of your banner, or between the back liner and the front of your banner. A vertical dowel rod will need to fit into the bottom of the “T” and then into a weighted flag base or some other constructed base. Flag bases can be purchased at flag stores.
TIPS: If your banner has a top cover and the T-joint cannot pass through the cover; first try to slide the dowel into the center cut opening WITHOUT the tee attached. At the center opening, now place the T-joint in the cut opening and continue to slide the dowel through the joint and through the other half of the casing. Add your finishes to the ends of the dowels for a finished look.
These are two ways to hang a church banner, but they are by no means exclusive. The next article will share how to make easy and beautiful tassels.