i used a machine!! it was a pretty straightforward process: i got a strip of fabric in each color cut in 3/8 of a yard so that each strip could be 6 inches without seam allowance (its double sided) and then i sewed yellow to white and black to purple, then white to purple. at this point i essentially have two flags. i laid them right sides together and sewed the yellows together, then the blacks together. i sewed one side off, then turned it right side out. i cut holes for the grommets and
hammered them in. then i turned it back inside out and sewed off the last side, except for the black stripe. once that was sewn off, i flipped it back right side out and hand stitched the end of the black stripe together. i also used an overlock stitch for every seam to keep it from fraying! it was a really enjoyable process and i would describe myself as a beginner/intermediate sewer.