How to make bunting
It's easy to make bunting out of things you already have at home; it's a simple process that everyone can get involved in.
New for 2022! Our bunting templates for The Big Jubilee Lunch will help you create perfect bunting every time! We also have standard bunting templates for The Big Lunch - perfect if you're hosting an event with a different theme, outside of the Jubilee weekend or throughout the Month of Community.
To make bunting you will need:
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Blu-Tack or drawing pins
- Scraps of material
- Ribbon, bias tape or even old shoe laces to string your bunting on
- Adhesive: double-sided tape, glue-gun, stapler or needle and thread
Using a ruler, draw the outline of a triangle onto your piece of cardboard. Take your scissors and carefully cut out the shape to create your own bunting template. Or, make your life easier, by using our templates! For the classic bunting shape, we recommend marking measurements of 16cm for the top edge and 22cm for the sides. If you're feeling adventurous, you could try different shapes and sizes for your template.
Attach your bunting template to pieces of scrap material using pins or Blue-Tak so that the fabric doesn't move while you are cutting out your flag. Carefully cut around the template to create the flags and repeat until you have the amount you want.
Space your flags evenly along the material you have chosen to string them on. Bias tape is a narrow strip of fabric, handy for finishing off rough edges of fabric; you can find it in various colours and sizes in your nearest sewing shop or large supermarket. Ribbon also works well for bunting; try to find fun colours and patterns to make your bunting stand out. You could even use old shoe laces or string — get creative!
Affix your flags to your string, being careful to leave a decent amount of free space either end for hanging your bunting. You can attach your flags in a couple of ways: a needle and thread will give you a lovely polished look; a hot glue-gun is quick and easy (mind your fingers with the heat); or, if you're short on time, try out double-sided tape or even a stapler!
... and enjoy!
Remember, bunting can be made out of almost anything — recycled scraps of old fabric, old clothes, plastic bags or even old tents — so get creative and make sure to share your beautiful bunting with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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