Grace Abounds I’ve wanted to make our own buntings and I was finally able to do it in time for Kid 2’s birthday. These handmade colorful felt buntings (banners, for some) are easy to make. What’s good is that I was able to use scraps from my previous projects. Also, at long last, I was able to make my very own bias tape after watching countless tutorials on Pinterest and Youtube.
The best thing about this simple sewing project is that we can use it over and over without worrying about tears and folds unlike when we used paper and cardboard banners. In this post, I’m going to share with you how I sew our colorful felt buntings. I used the following materials, tools, and equipment for this project.
Materials:
- Felt cloth in blue, pink, yellow, and purple
- DIY double-folded bias tape
- white cotton thread
Equipment and tools:
- Brother GS2700 Sewing Machine
- Measuring tape
- Ruler
- Sewing clips
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting Mat
I made the buntings as additional decor for my child’s birthday. I measured the length of the wall to which I planned to put up the buntings and used it as a basis for the length of the bias tape. For this, I used a gray 100% polyester fabric which was a leftover from when I made a fitted tablecloth for our dining table. The double folded bias tape that I made measures 60 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. I ironed the folds before winding the tape on a piece of cardboard prior to making the buntings.
For the triangles of the buntings, I got felt cloth from my existing stash in colors that I think would go nicely together. I traced the bunting template provided in the book, Get Started Sewing: Learn Something New, which I got from Big Bad Wolf Book Sale when they came here in the Philippines years ago. The template looked too big for me so I downsized it to my liking. The final measurements for the triangles are 5 inches on the sides and 4 inches on top. To cut 4 pieces at once, I used my rotary cutter and ruler as a guide. I cut 4 pieces of every color and ended up with 16 triangles.
After cutting the triangles, I carefully unwind my bias tape and laid it on a wide flat surface. I marked the center of the bias tape to serve as a guide on how to evenly distribute the triangles throughout its length. I used sewing clips to secure each triangle in place.
To prevent the ends of the bias tape from fraying, I tucked the ends at approximately 1/4 of an inch and did a reverse stitch on them. I did a running stitch throughout the length of the tape using a 1/8 inch seam allowance, with the top parts of the triangles carefully tucked in.
That’s it! We’ve got our easy-peasy, colorful, and reusable handmade buntings! Go ahead and try making one for your celebrations, too!
