Diy Wedding Bunting: A Step-By-Step Guide To Making Yours

Bunting is a simple yet striking decoration for your wedding, and making your own is a fun and creative way to save money. You can use bunting to transform any wedding venue, from a barn to a marquee, and it can be hung indoors or outdoors. Making your own bunting is remarkably easy, and you can use any fabric you like, from bed linen to clothes or natural fabric off-cuts. You can also make paper bunting, which is probably quicker and lends itself to decorative ideas that require writing on the pennants.

Choosing a fabric

The type of fabric you choose for your wedding bunting will depend on the style and theme of your wedding, as well as your budget. Bunting can be made from a variety of fabrics, including paper, cotton, hessian, lace, burlap, and even vintage handkerchiefs. If you want to create a shabby chic look, you could use glittery material or bold colours for a statement. Floral fabrics are also a popular choice for weddings, with Liberty's 'tana lawn' fabric being a specific example.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, paper bunting is a great alternative to fabric bunting and can be decorated with writing, making it ideal for seating plans or guest books. You can also use different types of paper, such as lacy white doilies or colourful oilcloth, to add a unique touch.

For a soft and romantic look, fabrics like chiffon, lace, or satin in white or pastel colours are a good choice. You can also incorporate wedding motifs like hearts, flowers, or doves, and add pearls, sequins, or beads for a subtle sparkle. If you're going for a rustic or outdoor wedding theme, burlap bunting with coarse twine and lace, pom-poms, or fabric rosettes can add a natural warmth and charm to your decor.

To create a unique and personalised bunting, you can mix and match different fabrics with varying patterns and textures. Mismatched floral fabrics in similar tones or a combination of burlap, lace, and tweed can give your wedding decor a new yet nostalgic feel.

No matter which fabric you choose, make sure it is coloured on both sides if you plan to hang your bunting away from a wall. Additionally, consider the durability of the fabric, as paper bunting may tear and crease over time, while unhemmed fabric may fray at the edges.

Cutting the fabric

First, decide on the size of your bunting triangles. A common size is a triangle with a width of 20 cm and a height of 30 cm. You can adjust these measurements based on your preference and the desired impact. Once you've decided on the size, create a cardboard template to ensure consistent sizing across all your triangles.

Next, prepare your chosen fabric by folding it in half. Place the template on top of the fabric, aligning the top edge with the fold. Using a pencil or fabric chalk, carefully trace around the template. Repeat this process until you have traced enough triangles to reach your desired bunting length. Remember to leave a gap between each triangle, typically around 10 cm, when calculating the required fabric length.

Now, it's time to cut! Cut along the traced lines to create your triangles. When you open them, you will find that they form diamond shapes. At this stage, you can also cut out any additional shapes or designs, such as hearts or flowers, if you wish to incorporate them into your bunting.

After cutting, fold the diamond-shaped pieces in half to create triangles, ensuring that the right sides of the fabric are facing outwards. This step is important to achieve a neat finish. To enhance the fold and create a sharp edge, use an iron to press it lightly.

If you are using a one-sided material and want both sides of the bunting to be visible, you will need to cut two fabric triangles and sew them together to create a double-sided pennant. This step may require some extra fabric and time, but it ensures your bunting looks perfect from all angles.

Finally, prepare the triangles for sewing by pinning their open edges. Sew along the open edge, leaving a hem of approximately 1 cm. Remember to leave the top edge (the folded edge) unsewn. If you prefer hand-sewing or don't have access to a sewing machine, you can carefully stitch by hand.

By following these steps, you will have precisely cut fabric triangles that are ready to be assembled into beautiful wedding bunting. Take your time, and enjoy the process of creating something unique and special for your big day!

Preparing the triangles

The first step in making your bunting is to create a template. Decide on the size of your bunting triangles, a common size is a triangle with a width of 20 cm and a height of 30 cm. You can, of course, customise the size to your liking. Once you've decided on the size, create a cardboard template with these measurements to ensure your triangles are the same size.

Now it's time to cut the fabric. Fold your chosen fabric in half and place the template on top, with the top edge of the template on the fold. Trace around the template with a pencil or fabric chalk and cut out the triangles. When you open them, they will be diamond-shaped, ready to be folded into triangles.

Next, fold the diamonds in half to create triangles, with the right sides of the fabric facing outwards. Iron the fold to create a sharp edge.

To prepare the triangles for sewing, pin the open edges together. Sew along the open edge, creating a hem of around 1 cm. Remember to leave the top edge (the folded edge) unsewn.

Your triangles are now ready to be pinned and sewn onto the bias binding or cotton tape!

Sewing the triangles

Now it's time to sew your triangles together! Place the two pieces of fabric with their right sides (RS) together and pin 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. Remember to reverse stitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to secure. Leave the top open.

Trim the seams to reduce the fabric bulk at the bottom point of the fabric. This will help the flag 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 be careful 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.

Finishing touches

Now that you've crafted your bunting, it's time to add some final flourishes to make it truly unique and special for your wedding. Here are some ideas for those all-important finishing touches:

Add some sparkle: If you're going for a romantic look, add some subtle sparkle to your bunting by sewing on pearls, sequins, or beads. You could also opt for fabric with a hint of glitter or metallic thread woven through it.

Incorporate motifs: Include wedding motifs such as hearts, flowers, or doves for a whimsical touch. You can sew or glue on small embellishments or choose fabric with these motifs printed or embroidered on them.

Personalise it: Make your bunting one-of-a-kind by adding letters, numbers, or a sweet message. You can spell out the couple's names or initials, or even a fun phrase like "Just Married". Felt or fabric letters stitched on each flag work well.

Mix and match fabrics: Play around with different fabrics to create a unique and textured look. Combine burlap, lace, and tweed for a rustic yet elegant finish, or go for light and airy fabrics like chiffon or satin for an outdoor wedding.

Add some colour: Don't be afraid to experiment with colour! Choose a bold, vibrant palette or stick to soft pastels for a more understated look. You can even match your bunting to your wedding colour scheme.

Go for different shapes: Think outside the triangle! Experiment with semi-circles, scalloped edges, or even paper hearts and flowers for a fun and unique take on traditional bunting.

With these finishing touches, your DIY wedding bunting will be a beautiful and memorable addition to your special day.

Frequently asked questions