Easy Patchwork Bunting DIY

Great Way to Start a Happy Summer. Marvelous, i.e. ‘easy’ + ‘super cute’ idea: pre-sewn patchwork fabric. How great is that for making a festive ‘Welcome Summer’ – bunting for across the porch at the last day of school, to remain there all summer?! This patchwork blue fabric is perfect for ‘4th of July’ as well, so making a bunting today will be ‘one thing done’ for your BBQ porch party in a month from now also.

What’s not to love?

43” Wide Madras Plaid Patchwork Navy Fabric By The Yard.

Specifics: This yarn-dyed cotton Madras fabric has 3” X 3" assorted plaid squares pre-sewn together. Colors include navy and white. “It is perfect for spring and summer apparel such as shorts pants dresses skirts and lightweight jackets.” says the manufacturer, and if you order over $35, you’ll get free shipping, says the retailer.

Let’s round out the décor on your porch. This patchwork fabric being sold by the yard, you can buy a couple of yard to make some matching pillow covers for your garden seating area, and a picnic blanket for your lawn or chilly eve’s on the porch. Free sewing patterns are below.

Contrast Fabrics

Consider using contrast fabrics for backs and details of the bunting and associated garden furniture items that you’ll fabricate.

As per my usual recommendations, first use up what you have in your fabric stash. If you don’t have anything suitable, consider getting a few yards of this matching, inexpensive gingham fabric, or stripes fabric and you’re set to make a wide range of soft garden & patio furnishings. Check that the thickness and the strength of the fabrics match. Use batting when required (see blanket patterns).

Quick 1,2,3 How to Make Bunting Instructions

Make a triangle template of 8” wide and 12” long.
Cut your fabric. Presuming you are making your buntings double-fabric, you should add seam allowances of 1/2 “ on all sides.
With the right-sides of 2 fabric pieces facing each other, sew the two long sides of the bunting flags together. Turn your flags right side out.
Cut long strip of fabrics that are 2.5 times as wide as you’d like your bunting cord to be. (2.5x will probably be about 1 “). Attach the strips to get one super long one. A typical bunting is 6 meters or 6.5 yards.
Prep required: pin first! Fold the fabric inwards and insert the tops of your flags. Pin the flags in place, allowing equal distances between each flag. How full you want your bunting to be is up to you. What matters is that there is the same distance between the flags throughout your strip of bunting. Yes, you can lay it out on the floor and eyeball it. But you really should pre-pin it for best results. Tip: ensure you have a nice long strips of fabric cord on both ends of the bunting strip so you can tie up.

And btw. I like these combination of colors and fabrics also for a boy’s bedroom, don’ t you? This pre-sewn patchwork fabric makes a beautiful quilted bedspread without the usually associated ‘year’ of labor.