How to Make a Fabric Bunting Banner - Easy Sewing Project

1. 1

   Step 1: Make a Cardboard Template for the Bunting Flags

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   Cut a rectangle of card 6 inches wide and 8 inches tall. Mark the middle of the bottom edge, 3 inches in from each side. Draw a line from each top corner down to that mark, then cut along the lines. You now have a triangle template you can use again and again, so every flag comes out the same size.

   Tip:

   Cereal box card is fine. It is stiff enough to trace around and costs nothing.

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   Used in this stepself healing cutting mat 18 x 24

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2. 2

   Step 2: Cut the Fabric Bunting Triangles Two at a Time

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   Lay out your fabric folded double so you cut two triangles at once. Place the template on top and either trace around it and cut with scissors, or cut straight along the edges with a rotary cutter. Flip the template each time so the triangles nest together and you waste less fabric. Every flag needs a front and a back.

   Tip:

   If you are adding iron-on interfacing, fuse it before you cut any triangles.

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   Used in this stepOlfa 45mm rotary cutterself healing cutting mat 18 x 24Fiskars fabric scissors

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3. 3

   Step 3: Pair the Bunting Triangles Right Sides Together

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   Give the cut triangles a quick press so they lie flat. Then decide how you want the flags to look. Alternating the fabrics on the front and back means the pattern shows whichever way the bunting hangs. Place two triangles with their right sides facing each other and the edges lined up. Pin them or hold them with quilting clips.

   Tip:

   Stack the pairs in the order you want them on the tape. It saves sorting later.

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   Used in this stepClover Wonder Clips

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4. 4

   Step 4: Sew the Long Edges of Each Bunting Flag

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   Sew down one long edge, pivot at the point and sew up the other long edge. Leave the short top edge open so you can turn the flag later. Keep a quarter inch seam allowance all the way round. You can feed the pairs through one after another without cutting the thread between them, which makes a big batch go quickly.

   Tip:

   Stop with the needle down at the tip before you turn the corner. It keeps the point sharp.

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5. 5

   Step 5: Snip the Tip of Each Sewn Bunting Flag

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   Once the pairs are sewn, trim the extra fabric off the point of each flag. Cut across the tip close to the stitching, but do not cut through it. Less bulk at the point means a sharper, neater tip when you turn the flag out. Take out any pins now too, so they do not catch when you turn the fabric.

   Tip:

   Small sharp scissors give you more control at the point than big shears.

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   Used in this stepFiskars fabric scissors

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6. 6

   Step 6: Turn the Bunting Flag Right Side Out

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   Push the point of the flag through the open top and turn it right side out. Then use something blunt, like a chopstick or the end of a paintbrush, to gently ease the point out from the inside. Do not use anything sharp, or you may poke a hole through the tip. Run your fingers along the seams to roll them out to the edge.

   Tip:

   A knitting needle works well as a point turner if you have one.

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7. 7

   Step 7: Press Each Fabric Bunting Flag Flat

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   Press the turned flag with a hot iron so the seams sit right on the edges and the flag lies flat. That flag is done. Repeat the sewing, trimming, turning and pressing for all the other flags before you move on to the tape. Pressing now makes a big difference to how neat the finished bunting looks.

   Tip:

   Trim any fabric poking out of the open top so it tucks neatly into the tape.

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8. 8

   Step 8: Fold the Bunting Tape Over the First Flag

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   Pull out a couple of feet of tape from the roll and leave it loose. That end is for tying up the bunting. Lay the tape flat, place the top edge of the first flag on it, and fold the tape over so it wraps the raw edge on both sides. Hold it in place with a couple of quilting clips.

   Tip:

   Press a crease down the middle of the tape first if it will not fold evenly.

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   Used in this step1 inch cotton twill tapeClover Wonder Clips

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9. 9

   Step 9: Space the Bunting Flags Along the Tape

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   Leave a gap before the next flag. The spacing is up to you. Use something you always have to hand as a gauge, such as three fingers laid side by side. Fold the tape over the next flag and clip it. You can clip all the flags on before you sew, or add them one at a time as you go through the machine.

   Tip:

   Keep the gaps the same all the way along. Uneven spacing is the first thing people notice.

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   Used in this stepClover Wonder Clips

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10. 10

    Step 10: Sew the Bunting Flags Into the Tape

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    Sew along the folded tape close to its open edge, catching the top of each flag as you go. Remove each clip as it reaches the presser foot. If you add flags as you sew, slip the next one in with your three finger gap and keep stitching. When the last flag is on, leave another couple of feet of tape and cut it from the roll.

    Tip:

    Sew the tape between the flags too. It closes the tape and stops it twisting.

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    Used in this step1 inch cotton twill tape

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