Craft a Smile: A Bunting Tutorial

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Hello Farmgirl friends!!!

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Last month, I wrote about Jina… the friend I finally met in person! I keep thinking of the sweet little gift she brought me that makes me smile every time I see it, and it got me thinking about tiny little home made things that bring a smile to someone else.

So this month I made two darling little fabric buntings that I am gifting to two of you that commented on my blog post last month! The winners are:

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Sheila LaPoint and Cindi J

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I’ve sent an email to each of you so I can get your address to mail these to… please check your inbox!

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And now, who would like a tutorial on exactly how to make these little buntings? They are fast and fun to make and the best part is they make such a happy little gift. Many years ago, I attended a quilt retreat in Vermont with about 20 ladies I’d never met before (I wrote a blog post here if you want to read it!). I wanted to take each of them a little gift so I made buntings! They got to pick which one they wanted. It was such a fun gift and I’ve made (and gifted) so many since then. So… let’s get started and make a few!

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Gather your supplies:

• 3” x 4” Fabric Scraps (you will need two for each little banner)
• 1/4” Double Fold Bias Tape Binding
• Banner Bunting Pattern Piece
• Rotary Cutter and Ruler
• Wonder Clips (optional)
• Tailor’s Awl (optional)

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Step One: Press your fabric scraps and using a rotary cutter and ruler cut them to 3″ x 4″ in size. Then cut a point at the bottom on a 45 degree angle. (I did make a little pattern that you can download here if you choose.)

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Step Two: Place two of the fabric pieces right sides together and sew 1/4″ seam down one side, along the points, and up the other side. Leave the top open for turning.

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Step Three: Turn the little banners right sides out. Use a sharp object to very carefully push the points out.

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Step Four: Iron until nice and flat and seams and points are crisp.

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Step Five: Use your rotary cutter to trim off the open edge of the banners. You are simply cutting off scraggly ends in order to make them nice and smooth to fit into the bias binding. You don’t need to cut off much.

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Step Six: Measure and cut a piece of double fold bias binding to the length that you need it. Be sure to add about 12″ on each end to use for hanging your bunting.

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Step Seven: Begin sewing from the end of your bias binding about 12 inches, then without removing your binding from the machine, place the raw edge of a banner inside the fold of the bias binding. Sew along the edge and continue placing the little banners until you have as many as you choose on the bunting.

Tip: Be sure to sew right next to the edge of the binding in order to completely catch the raw edge of the banner. I use a Tailors Awl to hold the edge in place as I sew.

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Step Eight: Your adorable bunting is finished and it’s time to hang it! Or, carefully fold it up and package it in a small plastic sleeve and gift it to someone that needs a reason to smile! And if YOU need a reason to smile, sewing one will do it for you! I’d love to hear how yours came out and who you gifted it to!

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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.

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Dori