A traditional decoration.

I have always loved the traditional type of decorations such as holly wreathes and ivy and holly swags at Christmas time, balloons, candles and bunting. Yes, I love bunting; it always looks so festive and colourful and always reminds me of carnivals and fairs frequented in my younger days. Of course it has now become very fashionable and it’s to be seen everywhere in shops, magazines and on card and scrapbook designs. The only draw back to this move into the sphere of the fashionable is that although now more widely available it is also more expensive and if I am to be honest rather tatty. Some of the examples you see in the shops leave a lot to be desired, with odd colours and very poor workmanship,   

In view of this I decided to make my own. My first attempt was using paper and card to make bunting for my daughter's 'Mad Hatters Tea Party’ she had for her 18^th. Well nothing was commercially available so I had no alternative but to make my own.

Handmade printed card bunting

 

My next hand at making bunting was the following Christmas when I made some to decorate the house. I thought of using paper again but decided this was less durable and would really be a one year use product which is not particularly environmental. Having seen the large quantity of Christmas fabrics that were available I decided this was the way to go. I first tried simply cutting the pennants out using pinking shears but felt this gave an unfinished look (exactly as I had seen in many of the retail outlets). I wanted something altogether smarter neater and finished. I therefore decided to cut out the pennants and then sew them together and finally then secure them to a chord or thread.  

The Christmas bunting here is intertwinned with holly and berries

Having made the bunting for Christmas the idea took off: my daughter wanted some to decorate her rooms at University and her room at home and friends wanted me to make them bunting for next Christmas. I realised you could make bunting for any celebration, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Valentines Day, Easter, Halloween, birth of a baby, new job, sorry you’re leaving …… Well the list is endless,

This year I am making some Valentines Day bunting, well I thought I’d surprise my husband. I thought perhaps other might be interested in making some as well. To this end I have drawn up this step by step set of instructions

Making bunting

1. Select the fabrics you like, but bear in mind large patterns are not ideal unless you want huge bunting. Also ensure any image is the correct way up on bunting. For example with this Valentines bunting you want all your hearts the correct way up.

Assorted fabric and bias binding for Valentines bunting

2. Purchase bias binding in appropriate colour to coordinate with fabric. Ensure you purchase the wide bias binding as this will make finishing off the bunting neater. Quantity/ length of bias required will be dependant on how long you want your finished bunting to be. Remember to give yourself sufficient excess to allow for ties to secure bunting     

Picture to show the bias binding

3. Decide on the size of the bunting you want then create a template. This can be cut out of strong thick card or plastic. I have used clear plastic because it is durable and I make a lot of bunting; it also allows me to see through it and centre the pennant over images on the fabric.

This shows the plastic template

    

4. Place template on fabric and draw around using pen, pencil or tailors chalk. Remember to keep images orientated so the tops are at the top of the finished pennant/bunting

 

5. Cut out the pennants

Please note how the hearts are facing the correct way for the pennants

 

6. Take two pennants and place them with their right sides facing and sew together wrong side facing. Sew all sides leaving the top of the pennant open. Seam allowance should be about ½ cm or slightly less. You might find it easier to pin and tack to ensure pieces do not move when sewing. I’m afraid I do not usually bother. 

Note how fabric has wrong  facing and is pinned

Tacking is optional but if making bunting for the first time it might be better to use tacking stitches

Machine stitching makes for a neater finish but can be sewn by hand.

7. Once all pennants are sewn together then turn each one inside out to show the right side of the fabric. Take care to ensure the pennant is carefully turned and the triangular shape is retained.

8. Press each pennant individually with an iron

9. Decide the order of the pennants and the distances you want between each pennant. 

10. Open the bias binding and then secure each pennant to the bias with pins,

Note how pennant is inserted into the bias binding

11. Fold bias over the top of the pennants to ensure all the un-sewn ends of each pennant are secured within the bias as shown then tack securely

12. Sew with machine along whole length of bunting to ensure the bias is neatly closed and the bunting is secure.

  

Finished bunting ready for machine sewing 

 As the old Blue Peter phrase used to go here is some I made earlier. 

Bunting in my daughters room