How to make bunting

Bunting is such a simple, but such an effective thing to make, it is a brilliant place to start if you are new to sewing, lacking confidence or just want to get back into it. You can use new purpose bought fabrics, you will need about half a metre of fabric for 2 1/2 to 3 metres of bunting. It also works well with scraps and is a great way to upcycle old clothing. There are lots of steps here, but I have really tried to break it down and hold your hand all of the way through. Go on, give it a go...

You will need 3 metres of 2.5cm binding, enough fabric to make about 24 triangles (half a metre of fabric in total will do the job with some spare) and an isosceles triangle cut from card.

• I cut my card triangle from a cardboard box, a cereal box would be ideal. Mine is 20cm along the long sides and 16cm across the top. `
• Fold your fabric double so you can cut two triangles at a time. Trim the length of the fabric to the size of your triangles. To cut the first pennant (that's the correct name for each triangley flag) you will have to cut along the two edges, then just flip it and cut the next edge.

 

• Once you have cut about 24 triangles (12 fronts and backs) you are ready to stitch them together. Make sure that right sides are facing. Using the edge of the machine foot against the edge of the fabric to keep your lines straight and even, sew along the long edge of each pennant. Keep the needle down so that you can lift the foot at the tip and just pivot the fabric around the needle to sew back up the other edge.

TOP TIP NUMBER 1; Do not try to break your thread moving from one flag to the next, just sew a few stitches between each pennant then feed the next one through. This is called 'chain piecing' and it saves thread, mess and time. When you have stitched all of the triangle backs and fronts together you can snip between them to separate them all. 

• Once you have separated all of the flags you need to trim the points and top corners, this is to get a sharp point and smooth top when you turn them.

• Using a chop stick, skewer or other pointy stick, turn all of the pennants right way out. carefully but firmly push the point out with the stick. If you find that you have clipped too close or pushed too firmly, and go through the end with your stick, don't panic, just add another line of stitching slightly inside the first to close the gap and try turning again.
• Now go to your iron with all of your turned triangles and your card triangle. TOP TIP NUMBER TWO; when pressing each pennant, insert the card template into the flag. This will push the sides seams out and make it the correct shape with ease. Press away. At this stage your bunting will start to take on a really nice look and you will be able to begin to appreciate what it will look like when finished.

  

• Arrange the pennants into a sequence that you like the look of and it is time to sew it all together.
• Take your length of binding and fold the corners into the centre, then fold that little triangle into the length, this will give you a lovely neat edge.

 

• Now fold the beginning of the binding in half along its length. Stitch across the width to finish the end, pivot on the corner and continue to sew along the doubled length of the binding to sew the two sides together. Continue for 10-25cm depending on the length of your binding, this will give you ends that you can use as ties. Measure the same length from the other end of your binding so you will know when you get there.

 

• When you are 10-25cm along your binding you can begin to insert the pennants. Simply leave the needle and foot down, open the edge of the binding and slip the top edge of the flag in. Then close the binding and continue stitching.

 

• When you reach the end of each pennant just keep sewing until the corner has moved to the back of the foot, then add in the next one. This will ensure that your pennants are evenly spaced.

• Keep adding pennants until you get to the part that you marked for the tie at the other end. Finish as you started with a little triangle turned in to neaten the end and pivot on the corner to sew closed. 

Congratulations, you have a wonderful length of bunting, now go and hang it in your bedroom/the kitchen/the garden/ your son or daughters room/ give it to a friend as a special handmade gift!

If you don't have the time or resources to make your own bunting, let me do it for you. I usually have some in my Etsy shop, and am always happy to make some to order. 

For ideas of themes for bunting why not search the internet? You could start with my Flickr album!

And above all else, if you do use this tutorial will you please let me know how you get on? Good luck.