The Best Bunting DIY Guide

Summer is on it's way and this year, we in the UK have the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June and also the London Olympics and Paralympics to celebrate.  Of course, you don't actually need and excuse to show off your bunting, it's now perfectly acceptable to bring it out just to celebrate the warm weather and the long evenings.

There are many different ways to make bunting; from making pinkingsheared triangles to save hemming and also using string, but I'm going to stick my neck on the line here and say they are flimsy imitations.  If you are going to do it, do it right.  The bunting I will show you is  durable, washable and smart enough to be used at even the most formal events.  The flags are two-ply so there is no right or wrong side when hung.


You will need:-
1. Fabric.  Depending on the size and length of the bunting, the amount will vary.  Pick at least three different fabrics for variety.
2. Cotton Tape or Bias Binding.  I prefer cotton tape as it is so much cheaper.  Bias binding can set you back around £1 per metre.
3. Cotton Thread.
4. Scissors.
5. Sewing machine (sewing can be done by hand, but it will take a lot longer!)
6. Iron and Ironing board.

You also need to decide the dimensions of your bunting.  I personally prefer my bunting to have spacing between the flags and I tend to have around 20cm (8 inches) in between each flag for my outdoor strands.
The measurements for my flags are 18cm long and the straight bit at the top is 13cm. 
Also, each strand I make is between 5-6 metres long (17-20 feet).  I know that sounds really long, but once you start hanging it around the garden it gets swallowed up really quickly.

Firstly cut out a card template for the size and shap you want each flag.  You will need to add about 5mm all over to allow for the hem.  Use the card to mark out where to cut on the fabric. Every two triangles will make one flag, so make sure you have plenty of material.

Cut out the triangles and pin with the right sides touching each other.  The flags will be sewn and turned out, so make sure you can only see the wrong side.

  
Sew the flag together leaving the top of the flag open. (So just the two pointy sides).
I tend to leave about a 5mm gap from the edge.  This means you don't have to cut off the excess at the sides, but you may want to snip away some material from the point to make turning them inside out easier (but not too close).

Turn the flag inside out so that you now have the right side of fabric facing you.  You may need to use something like a rounded chopstick to force the point out, but don't push too hard, you don't want holes.  Iron the flag flat.

I use 25mm wide cotton tape.  You can find this online in rolls of 25 metres for less than a tenner.

Pin the open end of your flag into the tape, turning over the top.  You may need to trim the top of the flag, but it doesn't matter if it's not neat as it'll be hidden.

 Sew the length of the tape making sure the flags are secure inside the fold.

You can add a loop by sewing the tape on itself.  This just helps with hanging the bunting.

You are now ready to hang!  These are three seperate strands and you can see that I've cut up an old pair of jeans for some variety.

Why stop at outdoor bunting?  Here I've made Christmas bunting.  You'll need to scale down your sizes for this bunting and I've used bias binding for the strand just as it's a little neater than the cotton tape.

Vintage Shops, Bah!

Vintage is so in and on the money right now but there's no need to be ripped off.

I have been to plenty of vintage shops to realise that most of the items for sale are the half decent stuff plucked from the rails of the British Heart Foundation shop.  And even then, half decent is a generous descripton.
So, get your thinking caps on and head to the villages or towns in your area that are a little more well off than the surrounding areas and hit the charity shops.  Make sure you have cash in your pocket and time on your hands (this won't work if you're dragging a toddler around and bribing them with biscuits).
And I'm not just talking about clothes here.  Have a look at these kitsch glass flasks with a leather jacket.  They conjure up images of snow shoes, reindeer and hot toddies.  They may not be to everyone's taste, but for 50p each, it's worth taking them into your home, and seeing if they work.  If they don't, remember to pass it on and donate them.

You can always find some great glasswear too.  I chose this lovely decorative glass which came in a set of 6 for £2.  Perfect for a novel way to serve champagne, or cava, of course!