DIY a Vintage Flag with Ribbon and a Handkerchief

A few years back I found this set of vintage baby crib springs at a local junk shop. It was chipped and rusty and moldy on one corner, but I loved the harlequin shape of the springs.

At the same time I also saw an old weathered mantelpiece that called my name in a major way.

I had NO idea how I would use either item, but I knew that I loved them both and would eventually find a way to work them into my house. My husband gave me some major side-eye over these two purchases, but he kindly delivered them to our garage without complaint.

And finally, after many moons, I figured out exactly where those two items were meant to be.

Right here in my new dining room….

Yep, that vintage “flag” up there? I made that out of nothing but ribbon and a handkerchief. And about forty-leven push-pins.

SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT:

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2″ Red Grosgrain Ribbon (I got a 10 yard spool and had plenty left)
Blue striped wired burlap ribbon
Dark blue handkerchief
Thumb tacks
Vintage crib springs (found at local junk or thrift stores)

Directions:

Roll out the ribbon and cut in lengths to cover the crib horizontally.
Use thumbtacks to attach the ribbons to the sides of the crib. Start with a red stripe at the bottom and alternate the ribbons until you cover the entire set of springs with 7 red and 6 “white” stripes.
Then attach the blue handkerchief in the upper left corner (when front-facing) so it resembles our blue stars on the flag. Iron the handkerchief so it has nice sharp creases to fold around the edge of the ribbons. Use a straight pin to secure any loose edges.
Pat yourself on the back and display your new vintage flag artwork!

Seriously, this was the easiest project ever.

I am SO happy with the way this quick little patriotic project turned out. I might leave it up way past the Fourth of July!

I’m so glad I bought these two pieces at the antique store so long ago. It took me a while to figure it out, but once I found the perfect spot for these pretty pieces to live, I could not be happier with how they look.