Easy sewing project: bunting

 Bunting is a collection of flags, usually triangular, sewn on a piece of ribbon or tape to create decoration.

Bunting in recent years has made quite a comeback.

My first attempt at bunting was for a birthday party I threw last year.  Pink and orange bunting helped decorate the tent

Me and Mum and bunting

I had some fabric left over after making a patchwork baby blanket so I thought it would be a lovely opportunity to make some bunting to match it.

The blanket the bunting will match

Here's what you'll need

6 different fabrics about 24" x 9"
scissors or rotary cutter
a piece of card to cut a triangle out of
ruler
cutting mat
thread
1 package of double sided extra wide bias binding
 sewing machine

Choose fabrics that coordinate well

Make a template by folding in half a piece of paper and using a ruler and pen draw the appropriate size, then cut.  Mine measured 5 1/2" on the short side and 8 1/2" on the 2 long sides.  I then made a version out of card so that I could easily draw around it.  You can also use a cutting mat and rotary cutter if you are more adapt at cutting.

Draw around the triangle and then cut 4 triangles of each fabric.  It's easier to fold the fabric in half right sides facing and cut 2 at a time.

Place 2 triangles of the same fabric right sides together and put 3 pins in to hold while you stitch

Sew down one long side to the point, swivel and sew back up the other long side.  Reinforce stitching at beginning and end by back stitching a few stitches.  In retrospect I would have left a skinnier seam.

Trim point off

And trim down the sides of the point so there is less bulk when you turn it the right side out

Turn the triangles right side out

Gently push the point out

Iron smooth

Trim off the top where the seams stick up

Lay out your triangles to get the right look

Open out the bias binding, centre and pin it over your bunting.  Make sure you have extra binding at each end in order to tie the bunting.  I left approx. 15" at each end.

Starting at the very end of the bias tape sew it together closing the opening.  Eventually you will arrive at the first triangle keep sewing until all the triangles are attached to the tape and you reach the end where again you will have sewn the tape closed.  I decided to leave 1 1/2" gap in between each triangle just because I like the way it looks.  You can leave bigger, smaller or no gap at all.....it's all personal taste.

For some reason I had a really hard time taking a good picture of the bunting hanging, I think I need to put up that party tent again