This DIY fabric bunting is so quick and easy to make, you can whip it up in a couple of hours! It’s a great sewing project for beginners and makes good use of any leftover fabrics you probably have stashed away for a rainy day. I love reusable party decor, and I’ll be pulling this cute banner out for all our special occasions from now on!
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This is going to be a super quick DIY post, because there’s really not that much to say! This fabric bunting is very simple.
I made this banner to use at a pre-wedding girl’s night for my sister. I was trying to find decorations that are reusable. And while I did find some things to purchase, they were all packaged in plastic anyway, so I felt like that kind of defeated the purpose of trying to be eco-friendly.
I decided I could easily make my own reusable party decor, using up some fabric scraps I had lying around.
I’ve been working hard to make purchasing choices that are more in line with my values. And single use plastics are not in line with my values. So we don’t use or buy balloons anymore. Or party decor or gift wrappings that can’t be re-used.
I did buy some paper pinwheels, like these ones, that’ll I’ll save after the party and use again and again.
How to Make a DIY Fabric Bunting
I wanted to design a banner that would be at least double-sided if not completely reversible. (It being reversible would depend on the fabric patterns you choose.)
But it’s nice to have decor that doesn’t have to be hung up against a wall. If you choose to hang it in a doorway or on a railing, it will look good from both sides.
The pattern measures 8.5″ x 3 3/8″ . So you will need pieces of fabric at least that big. BUT you can also print the pattern smaller if most of your fabric scraps are smaller pieces. The idea is to make use of what you already have on hand!
I just designed a very simple & rough pattern. Nothing fancy and no need to sign up for it. 🙂 Click here to download it.
Here’s what you’ll need to make a DIY fabric bunting:
Printed Pattern
Fabric Scissors
Length of Twine or Cord. Yarn would work too.
Selection of Fabric Pieces (I made 26 flags, but 18-20 would be a perfect amount.)
If you don’t happen to already have lots of fabric on hand and you’re looking for a great shop to find cute fabrics, Stacked Fabric Company is one of my favourite places to shop!
How to Sew a Party Banner
Start by making a loop at the end of the twine.
Fold one ‘flag’ evenly in half around the twine and pin it in place.
Take it to your sewing machine and sew all the way around the flag about 1/4″ or less from the edge. Make sure to start and stop your sewing by going through both the fabric and the twine.
Don’t worry about fraying edges. I think it’s part of the rustic charm of this banner. With the curved edges, it won’t fray too much. And this decor piece won’t need laundering, so it should be fine.
Space the flags about 1″-1.5″ apart.
Make sure that the flag doesn’t shift along the twine as you’re sewing around it. Straighten it out before you backstitch the last stitches.
Once you’ve sewn all the flags around the twine, trim the twine and make another loop at the end.
If you’re looking for more eco-friendly ideas, check out these posts too:
8 Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap Ideas
DIY Produce Bags
DIY Toothbrush Travel Wrap
This beautiful cross-stitch printed fabric is one of my most precious scraps. I still love it so much after all these years! I’m happy to have found a fun way to use it up.
That’s it! So simple and lovely. 🙂
Happy crafting,
If you love unique decor, check out this post for aDIY Woven Wall Hanging that’s perfect for filling wall space!
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