Beautiful Bunting

I am really into bunting at the moment - probably because we have just celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and there has been bunting everywhere you turn but also because I think it just makes a home look more loved and pretty.  I am not particularly talented with a needle and can probably just about sew on a button.  I don't even own a Sewing machine but that was not going to stop me.

Originally I intended to make some bunting for either the landing or the lounge but I saw some very attractive blue spotted material and thought I might also make some for Nathaniel's bedroom.  In the end I decided I would make Nat's bunting first as a trial run, not having made anything like this before.

Firstly I made myself a template triangle about the size I wanted my bunting to be and then I cut out nine further triangles out of plain white paper (nine because there are nine letters in Nat's name).

Next I took my different fabrics and placed two sides together (good side facing in) then I pinned my paper templates to the material and cut around them with scissors.

Then I made sure the edges were neat and then I removed the paper and pinned the two pieces back together again.

I sewed down the two long edges of each triangle leaving a one centimetre gap from the edge and leaving the top edge completely open.

I turned each triangle the right way out and used the wrong end of a pencil to push out the point.

I then pressed each triangle with a hot iron.

I used cotton bias binding (about an inch thick) to join my bunting so also folded that in half and ironed it flat.  I played around with my triangles to decide which coloured materials best complemented each other and until I had decided on a sequencing order

Leaving a couple of inches for a tie back on each side,  I placed the first triangle between the two edges of the binding material and pinned it in place.

I left a gap of about one inch and added the next triangle, pinning each in place until all nine triangles were pinned to the binding.

Next I printed out some large letters on computer paper and cut around these for my letter templates.

I pinned each letter to some felt material and them out.  I attached the letters to my fabric triangles using a hot glue gun.

I then used cotton and thread to sew along the length of the binding material to attach each triangle securely in place.  I then removed the pins and hey presto - Bunting!!

I am quite proud of this as my first effort.  However, I can see how it would be so much quicker with a sewing machine (presuming one knew how to thread it and use it that is!) 

I think I might have just added a new must-learn skill to my bucket list (things I want to do or learn to do before I die!) and perhaps a sewing maching might also find its way onto my birthday wish list in the autumn  . . . although . . . . I had been thinking a good camera might be nice!!