Oilcloth Bunting Tutorial & Giveaway

We have this lovely area off the side of the house, we've got the usual patio furniture there, a BBQ and all around these lovely planters, when we moved in, in February they were bare. Then Grannie & Grandad came over and on Mothering Sunday we went to the local garden centre and bought some lovely plants & herbs. Grannie & Grandad set about to turn our bare drab planters into something beautiful. As the planters looked so lovely I thought I'd spruce the boxes with some gorgeous colorful oilcloth bunting - I bought the oilcloth in Australia from Me Too Please  -  they have the best selection of oilcloth and gifts. I brought the oilcloth over with me, so it was a great excuse to use it.

I was especially happy with how the bunting turned out and how it brightened up the garden. I made the bunting especially to fit this area, and I have recently made some bunting for family in Canada.
  
Here's The Tutorial

The bunting is really easy to do, first I made a triangle template measuring 12' x 8" out of card and used this card to draw around on the oilcloth. I usually use a pencil but here I have used a marker pen so you can see the triangles.

Using a pen draw around your triangle

Next carefully cut out your flags following the pen/pencil lines - I usually do 15 flags per bunting - you can do more or less.

Carefully cut out your triangles (flags)

Once the flags are cut out decide which order you'd like them to be, I always find this the hardest bit deciding, once you've decided it's time to get sewing.

Place your flags in a neat pile

Decide your order of flags

I usually buy the ready made bias tape to sew the flags too, I start by tidying up the ends of the bias tape by folding in the end about 1cm, folding it back in half and sewing into place.

Ready made bias tape makes it so easy

Fold in the end of the bias tape 1cm

Fold back in half and sew

Then measure 20cm (or the length you would prefer) along the bias tape and mark, this is for tying the bunting up, sew along the length of the bias tape, close to the edge, to the marked point, stop sewing, leave needle in and lift foot, insert your first flag in between the bias tape, making sure the top of the flag is at the fold.

Sew along the bias tape close to the edge

Sew along to the other side of the flag and before continuing I measure and the mark the next 10cm's (or the length you'd prefer between your flags) which just so happens to be the width of my machine from the needle.

Measure desired length between flags and mark

Continue sewing until you reach your next mark insert flag and sew, repeat until all flags sewn in.

I find I will need to use 2 packets of the ready made bias tape so when I am near the end of one piece I join the next piece to it using this tutorial (which is also good if you want to make your own bias tape).

Or an easier way would be to join the two bias tapes together before starting to sew the flags on.

Once all the flags are sew on, I continue sewing another 20cm's to the end. I then tidy up the end of the bias tape as I did to begin with........

.......And voila you have one set of oilcloth bunting ready to display.

I've made mine one-sided bunting perfect for displaying against something but if you want to display the bunting so both sides are showing, but you don't want to sew the oilcloth together, as oilcloth can be difficult to sew. An easy way is to insert two flags wrong sides together into the bias tape and sew. they can be matching or non-matching flags depending how you like it.

Another tip is if your oilcloth is creased you can iron it out - put your iron on a low temperature and cover the oilcloth with a tea towel and iron - do not use a hot iron oilcloth melts - I found that out

And if you do like the bunting I have made, one lucky reader can be in the running to win this bunting.

To enter -  like my Facebook page and comment below saying where you'd like to display your bunting and you'll be in the chance to win it. Don't forget to leave me your email address too so I can contact you.

Good luck

PS Please share your homemade buntings with me I'd love to see them