Sewing tutorial: how to make botanical bunting part 2

This post is a continuation from part one of this tutorial, where I explain how to make the crazy patchwork fabric for your bunting pennants. Now read on to find out how to piece them altogether to finish your lovely, vintage-style bunting.

You will need:

Your patchwork pennants (previously created by following this blog post)
Backing fabric
Lace (to attach the pennants to). Aim for a width of approximately 2cm. The length depends on how long you would like your string of bunting to be.
Pins
Sewing machine and thread; you need thread that matches your pennants as much as possible, and thread that matches your lace
Iron and board
A pennant template – create your own, or download my template below

Bunting-Template Download

Begin by cutting out as many pennants in your backing fabric as you require. Pin right sides together to the patchwork flag you made previously.

Leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance, sew around the edge of your pennants from one corner, down to the point, then back up the other side. Leave the top of your pennant open.

Press your seam, turn right side out, and press again.

Now fold the top of your pennant to the inside by approximately 1cm, and press again.

Pin your lace along the top of your pennant, starting approximately 20cm from the end of your lace.

Sew in place using a matching thread and zig-zag stitch – this will help conceal your stitches.

Repeat this process until all of your pennants are attached to the lace. Its entirely up to you how far apart to leave each flag; it may depend on the pattern of the lace motif as you need to aim to keep the pennants evenly spaced apart. Keep going until you have the length of bunting you require, and again leave approximately 20cm of lace at the end.

And there you have it! Beautiful, completely original bunting that is a pleasure to make and adds a real touch of home-spun charm to any home, garden or party. Plus you get to use up lots of those fabric scraps we are always so reluctant to get rid of.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like to join my Creative Sewing Challenge. Its open to anyone who loves to sew, and completely free to sign up. You receive a creative prompt each month, plus ideas such as this to inspire your sewing (the theme for this month was ‘botanical’). Find out more here or sign up below:

And feel free to share my pin – thank you!