Creating Dream Flags

WORDS ON FABRIC

The key factor is creating something that's sturdy and legible.

Note for younger participants: You may want to leave a wide margin around text to allow for decoration. This will make it easier for children to avoid decorating over the letters.

Here are some methods:

Method 1: Permanent Markers
This is simple and direct. Use light color fabric with a tight weave--not too thick. Use Sharpie or other brand of permanent markers. Write the words on the fabric using as large a letter-size as possible and simple, legible letter style (for easier reading).

Method 2: Fabric Markers
Use light tight-weave fabric and fabric markers. This will give you a little more color variation and may give you more graphic flexibility as well.

Method 3: Computer Printing.
This is a more complex (and costly) way of transferring text to cloth, but allows students to make sure the text is perfectly edited and formatted before printing. This requires computer access for participants (or parent helpers), an inkjet or laser printer, and special sheets of printable fabric available at fabric stores. Some companies that offer this product are June Tailor, Canon, and Avery.

Have students word-process their text and format it for printout on standard paper. When the copy is "perfect," print text on fabric. (Works best if you insert one sheet at a time.) Let print set for a few minutes (or print may smudge.) Remove paper backing from the cloth. It will tear a little on the sides. (You can cut off the loose edges or just leave them.) Inks vary in their fastness. You may need to fix the ink by ironing the fabric to make it waterproof. Laser printer ink has proved fast without ironing. Experiment with your printer and see what works. You can apply watercolors, watercolor pencils, and other media to the fabric for beautiful effects in combination with the text.

Method 4: Needlework
Embroider or cross-stitch letters onto fabric. This is for those who know how. Make sure the thread won't run when wet.

Method 5: Silk-Screen.
This is usually for large quantities but may be combined here in a way that allows individuals to modify a basic text or decoration scheme. You could have letters for D R E A M or some other "starter" and let students add their own text to this.

The Dream Flag concept was created by sixth grade teachers Jeff Harlan, Sandy Crow, Helen Holt and others at The Agnes Irwin School (www.agnesirwin.org), Rosemont, Pennsylvania, U.S. The Dream Flag Project (www.dreamflags.org) is a collaborative project facilitated by Jeff Harlan and Sandy Crow. Contact dreamflags@agnesirwin.org or Jeff Harlan, Dream Flags Project Director, The Agnes Irwin School, Ithan Ave. and Conestoga Road, Rosemont, PA 19010, U.S. A.

. . . for Helen