George Boyle
Bunting is a great way to add a vintage or festive feel to your wedding. Making your own wedding bunting is a fun and creative way to keep costs down and add a personal touch to your special day. You can use any fabric you like, from old bed linen to bold colours and floral prints, and hang it anywhere from the cake to the ceiling. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps to make your own wedding bunting, from choosing your fabric to stitching the flags together. We'll also offer some tips and tricks to make your bunting unique and give it that wow factor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Cotton fabric, calico fabric, patterned fabric, buttons, felt fabric, bias binding, sewing thread, sewing needle, scissors, pins, paper template, freezer paper, fabric pen, rotary blade, iron, cardboard, pinking shears, tape, glue, paper card, paper doilies, twine, tassel garland, ribbon, burlap, lace, tweed, ball tassels |
| Tools | Sewing machine, iron, printer |
| Techniques | Sewing, cutting, tracing, drawing, folding, pressing, measuring, pinning, gluing, stitching |
| Design Options | Floral, glittery, bold colours, statement, vintage, shabby chic, curved, scalloped, handkerchiefs, tassel, gingham, papel picado (Mexican style), single-hued, rustic |
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right fabric
The type of fabric you choose for your wedding bunting will depend on the look you are going for and the resources you have available. You can use any fabric you like, but some fabrics are more suitable for bunting than others.
If you want a vintage-inspired look, a pretty, floral fabric in a shabby chic style will work well. You can also use glittery material or bold colours for a more statement look.
For a classic, elegant look, you might want to consider using cotton fabric. Cotton is a good choice if you want your bunting to be lightweight and breathable. It is also easy to work with and comes in a wide range of colours and patterns. Calico fabric is a good option for one side of the bunting, with a patterned fabric on the other.
If you want your bunting to have some weight to it and hang nicely, a heavier fabric such as quilter's cotton or 'tana lawn' fabric is a good option. These fabrics also come in a wide range of designs, so you can find one that fits your wedding theme.
For a unique, rustic look, you could pair burlap, lace and tweed together. You can also use old bed linen, clothes, or any off-cuts of natural fabric to create a vintage or rustic look.
If you want to add some sparkle to your wedding bunting, consider using fabric with glitter or metallic accents. You can also use felt fabric to add some texture and dimension to your bunting.
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Cutting the fabric
The first step to making your wedding bunting is to decide on the size of your flags. You can draw a triangle on cardboard and cut it out to use as a template. Place the template on your chosen fabric and cut around it using pinking shears or scissors. Pinking shears will help to prevent fraying. You can also download and print a template from a website.
If you want double-sided bunting, you will need to cut out two pieces of fabric for each flag. Place your fabric right sides together and pin the flag template centrally on top. Cut around the template through both layers of fabric. You can also fold your fabric over to cut out multiple triangles at once, saving time and fabric.
For each flag, you will need two pieces of fabric measuring 25x20cm (10x8in). Cut out the same number of triangles in a plain fabric, such as calico, as you have in your patterned fabric.
Once you have cut out all your triangles, it's time to start assembling them. Place a patterned triangle and a plain triangle right sides together, with the flower in the middle (if using). Stitch around the two long sides of the triangle, leaving the top open. Remember to reverse stitch at the beginning and end to secure your stitches.
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Sewing the flags
Place the two pieces of fabric right sides (RS) together and secure the flag template centrally on top. Cut around the template through both layers of fabric. Unpin the template, then pin the two triangles of fabric together. Using a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance, stitch the two fabric triangles together, down one top short edge, then down the side, up the other side, and up the other short straight edge. Leave the top open and remember to reverse stitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to secure.
Trim the seams to reduce the fabric bulk at the bottom point of the fabric. This will help the flag to lie flatter and have a sharper point once it’s turned RS out. Snip the bottom point of the fabric about 2mm (1/16in) below the stitching but take care not to cut the stitches. Taper the fabric edge to this point so there is less fabric outside the seams on both sides.
Turn the triangles RS out and press so that the seams lie right on the edges. Lightly press with an iron. The short straight sides at the top of each side allow the flag to lie more neatly within the cotton tape when you assemble the bunting, so make sure you press these neatly into place too.
Repeat this process to make as many flags as you need.
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Attaching the flags to the tape
To attach the flags to the tape, start by folding the tape in half lengthways with the wrong sides (WS) together. Press along the length of the tape to make a neat crease down the centre. With the folded edge of the tape at the top, measure 30cm (12in) from the left side and mark this point with a pin.
Next, unfold the tape and place one stitched flag on top of it so that the top of the flag meets the fold. Fold the tape back down and pin the flag in place. Measure 10cm (4in) from the right top edge of the pinned flag along the tape and mark this point with another pin. This is where the next flag will go. Repeat this process to pin all your flags along the length of the tape.
Now you are ready to start stitching. Starting at one end of the cotton tape, stitch along your binding, 2mm (1/16in) from the tape edge, making sure to stitch through both the front and back of the binding and through the flags, too. The stitching should go through the tape between the flags to keep the tape folded and hold the flags securely. Secure your first and last stitches by backstitching.
And that's it—your wedding bunting is now complete!
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Decorating the bunting
If you want to create a vintage feel, ask your friends and family to donate their old handkerchiefs, which can be pegged together to create a unique, bespoke look. You could also use paper doilies, folded in half across twine, for a rustic, laid-back vibe.
For a quirky look, washi tape is a super handy tool for creating mini bunting in no time at all. Mix and match colours and cuts for a whimsical look. You could also use this to adorn your wedding cake or cocktails.
For a unique and softer finish, skip the classic triangles and opt for curved bunting instead. This creates a pretty scalloped effect when hung together.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of bunting you need depends on the desired impact. A few strands here and there can look limp and not very thought out, whereas stringing line after line of bunting will create a festive party canopy.
You will need fabric, scissors, pins, a needle and thread, and a sewing machine (optional). You can use any fabric you like, but quilters cotton is a good weight and comes in a range of designs. You can also use old bed linen, clothes, or any off-cuts of natural fabric.
Floral prints and gingham are popular choices for bunting, but you can play around with tones, textures and fabrics to create a unique look. Pair burlap, lace and tweed together for a look that's both new and nostalgic.
First, cut out a triangle template from cardboard and use it to cut out triangles from your chosen fabric. Then, sew the triangles together, leaving the top open. Finally, attach the flags to a length of binding tape, and stitch along the edge to secure them in place.
