How to make bunting fast, with no sewing machine!

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Brother is getting married shortly and for a wedding present he has asked guests to provide a bit of bunting, - yeah - I have no idea what for.....

Anyway, I neither own nor can work a sewing machine. Are there any short cuts that mean me and the kids can contribute somehow?

tia

Wonderweb iron on sticky stuff for making hems.

Sellotape or (my favourite) a stapler for temporary fixes.

I think that there are a few ways to work around it!

Firstly, use ribbon or bias binding to attach the bunting too - I reckon that'd be easier to attach.

Secondly, I'd suggest using pinking shears - that way you don't have to worry about hemming.

I would cut diamond shapes and then fold them over the ribbon or bias binding (iron the fold flat and then use some pins).

Sew with large running stitches - perhaps with a contrasting colour. I think that this would give a nice shabby chic (I hate that phrase! But you know what I mean) look. So that way you end up with a triangle within each triangle, one of the edges of the triangle sews the fabric to the ribbon or bias binding.

Perhaps a button on each point sewn in as you do the running stitch would add some interest.

You can buy hemming tape or something similar that would also work, but personally I don't think that it'd take long to do large stitches.

You can also buy some sort of double sided bonding fusing stuff. I can't remember what it's called, but it's like interfacing but it has two fusing sides. You use it with an iron. I use it sometimes to stick a shape onto fabric before sewing around it when I'm applique-ing.

Does anyone know what this stuff is I'm talking about?

I agree Wonderweb, (that's its name Vegemite ) or i did see some lovely bunting made out of coloured felt, no need to hem and you can decorate each triangle by sticking on cut out flowers, stars,spots buttons etc

Get a wide ribbon or tape for the top, iron in half lengthways, place the triangles in between and sew a running stitch by hand along it to secure, it won't take long

Great! Thank you for the ideas. I'm a bit less overwhelmed. No idea what bias binding is but know what ribbons are.

If I get some kind of light coloured material are there any kinds of pens/paints that the kids could decorate them with?

Can I thread/glue on beads or get those fake jewel sticker things from the pound shop for the children to stick on?

I've never really paid enough attention to bunting before to really know what it is made from.

Ooooh, I have felt! Bought it one day to do crafty things with the kids. Must have been YEARS ago though as am not really crafty.

Perhaps we can use that too. Does it all have to look similar or can each triangle be different?

paper, ribbon, crimping scissors and staples. I have made some for dd's bedroom through just googling and printing designs on paper, cutting out with crimping scissors and stapling to ribbon looks great, also broad sheet papers are good, pink sports pages in this area and looks good cut out with crimping scissors and stappled to white ribbon.

I think the bunting is for outside (although not certain what it is actually for), as they are getting married in a field and the invitation says to bring wellies!

So paper might not work!

hmm would not be good in the rain then. sounds like an exciting do though

I think it looks better if the sizes are the same, but no reason why they can't all be different in other ways.. Pritt stick is your friend, although i think PVA and Copydex are more water resistant, and spread thinly, as if it really soaks through the felt it can leave a dark blob on the other side

Yes, - exciting is the word. I'll have a 3 week old (hopefully) as well as a 5yr old with ASD and a 3yr old and they have booked our family a wigwam with an open fire, on account of the 3 week old needing some heat!

Actually really looking forward to it but blimey, - it's a scary prospect!

I made bunting from wallpaper samples, pinking shears, a stapler and garden string. It was supposed to be for Xmas but I was so pleased with it, it's still up.

Wedding sounds great. What a lovely idea to give bunting.

Oooh, where do I get wallpaper samples?

Or would they not really work outside?

wow hard work for you then OP, I would be looking at this as an adventure, may be the only way to survive it , hats of to you, hope you have some help.

walpaper samples sound great may need to give this ago maybe for the hallway or something.

Sure, - but what the friggin eck are they going to DO with the bunting after the wedding?

they would work I think. go to homebase etc can you order them on line?

Maybe they'll use it to decorate their house

Hope the weathers nice, and take some Citronella burners to keep the midges at bay.. Have a great time making the bunting, and at the wedding!

It appears my daughter's dress (kind of a half bridesmaid though we've been told to dress her how we want) is going to be more expensive than the bride's.

I saw the bride's top. She bought it for 75p. Lovely though.

Daughter insists on wearing bright orange and white spotty flamenco dress. Goodness knows what wellies will go with that!

Hem hem. Not very stealthy boast coming up

I am an acknowledged bunting expert (ask D0G I have bunted her wedding.)
Bung me the fabric, I will bunt it and bung it back

If you get some waterproof tablecloth materials (e.g. from Dunelm) or even some pretty old clothes from a charity shop, cut it with pinking shears into triangles then you can staple it onto a length of tape. Job done, no sewing!

would have to be bumble bee wellies with that outfit

Just have to figure out what pinking shears are then, as they've been so recommended........

Norks, - that's very kind of you but I think the point is supposed to be that the guests MAKE their own as a personal touch. And I WOULD like to attempt it with the kids.

However if we fail............

pinking sheers are heavy duty scissors with the big teath that give a zig zac type cut.

Wallpaper samples are generally thick and they've lasted quite well but it is tricky to get them. You can probably still rip bits off rolls in B&Q but the wallpaper's a bit ...
eBay often has samples, or Wallpaper Direct bit lots of places charge or offer a certain amount free ten charge? It might be cheaper to buy a nice end of line roll or vintage wallpaper from eBay.

Ahh. Do I find them in homebase or John Lewis?