I have a good supply of banner fabric in quilters' cotton prints and solids also. A big part of the imaginative process is taking time to assemble the supplies that will truly add to the overall statement in the banner. Make sure you use batting made from cotton in your cloth banner. Banners are not laundered; they are vacuumed and when in storage kept in dark enclosed areas to keep them in excellent condition. However, as a banner fabric, you must use Lame with caution. Fur is a wonderful item to use in a cloth banner, but must hand sew it in place. 

Press the fusible interfacing to the material with a hot iron, but only use up and down movements, because sliding will make a distortion of your original design. It'll also stick to the iron and create marks the next time one uses the iron if one uses a temperature that is too high on Lame. Batting made from polyester creates a poofy look which does not fit with the banner concept. One more hint for when making fabric banners for church is that you do not need to preshrink any of your materials. Always use a low temperature iron or the glue of the Heat'n'Bond will be visible through your Lame fabric.As you're readying to invest in a fabric banner, time put to use on searching for quality banner fabric is well worth your while in the long run. Enjoy gathering fabrics and materials for creating a work of art for your church. 

Quilting shops can be a bit more costly but their fabric is great banner material! I typically have some on hand for my cloth banners. Lame is an ideal banner fabric for details as a crown, a robe, or accessories that lends a distinct spirit to the entire banner. An assortment of engaging fabrics brings about eye pleasing attention and compliments your complete banner design. Putting on fusible interfacing stabilizes the stretchy fabric and then allows one to use it to add to the fabric banner. Make sure you press Lame with a pressing cloth to keep the glue from coming through the material and gumming up your iron. Stretchy fabrics are fun, though not for the beginner! For the stretch material, set the material right side down with the fusible interfacing on top. 

I prefer intermingled colors of batiks for background or landscape materials such as those with trees, bricks, clouds, stones, etc. Cotton assists the banner to maintain its shape and keeps it from becoming "wavy" when you hang it in a high visibility location in the sanctuary. You are free to use definitive fur, cottons, shiny satins, textured Lame (such as gold and silver, and stretchy fabrics on a banner which one would not normally bring together in a regular sewing project. Everyone will be wanting tips on ways to create a fabric banner as lovely as yours!. Fabric banners for church don't go out of style, so you want them to be created from resilient, durable fabrics. Preshrinking will actually  cause the material to loose the original "sizing" that helps the fabric to holds its shape.