DIY Happy Birthday Bunting Tutorial: Free Templates Included
Welcome to this helpful guide to crafting your very own reusable birthday bunting!
Included in this tutorial are free downloadable templates for the bunting flag and the ‘Happy Birthday’ letters, making it even easier to create your personalised decoration.
Celebrate sustainably with a handmade decoration that’s not only eco-friendly but also adds a personal touch to your special day. This project is perfect for beginners and will help you master essential sewing techniques while creating something delightful for your home.
Handmade bunting can be washed and used time and time again and make those special memories for you and your family.
Sewing Skills for Making Reusable Birthday Bunting
You will learn
- How to use Bondaweb.
- Appliqué techniques.
- Sewing bunting.
- Turning and finishing points.
Materials for Sewing Birthday Bunting Flags
**A note on fabric quantities: Enough fabric is needed to cut 26 triangles depending on your fabric choices and colour combinations you may find you require different amounts. **
1 fat quarter yields 8 or 10 triangles, depending on cutting accuracy. See below for the fabrics & quantities we used to create each look.
What is Bondaweb And Why Use It?
Bondaweb is a brilliantly versatile fabric glue; think of it as a sheet of double sided sticky tape that can adhere 2 fabrics together.
There are many benefits to using Bondaweb:
- Until heat is applied bondaweb is not sticky
- Once used it can be washed at up to 60 degrees or dry cleaned
- Bondaweb is perfect for appliqué, but check out our pinwheel project here for an alternative project idea.
- Makes it easier to cut appliqué designs accurately
- It gives appliqué shapes stability, making them easier to sew in place
- The backing paper can be drawn on in pencil and is translucent enough for tracing, making it easier to pan out designs
Step-by-Step Guide to Sewing Birthday Bunting
Step 1: Prepare Your Bunting Flags
- Print and cut out the triangle template. Ensure your printer is set to 100% (not “Fit to Page”) and check the sizing using the 1” test square.
- Trace and cut 26 triangles from your fabric using the template. For precise cutting, a rotary cutter and mat are helpful.
Step 2: Adding ‘Happy Birthday’ Letters with Bondaweb
Once you’re cut all of your flags using the template it’s now time to appliqué on the “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” letters:
Trace “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” letters onto the smooth side of the Bondaweb.
Pro Tip: If your fabric has a definite right and wrong side, trace the letters in reverse.
Roughly cut around each letter on the Bondaweb, then iron the Bondaweb onto the wrong side of your lettering fabric. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for heat settings.
Once cooled, cut out each letter accurately and peel off the backing paper.
Position each letter onto a triangle, aligning it 3cm from the top edge. Iron into place using a damp tea towel for protection.
Seam-Star Top Tip: use an Olfa knife & a craft mat for an easier cut around the inside of the letters.
5. Spread a smooth surfaced tea towel or spare length of cotton fabric over an ironing board.
6. Lay the Bondaweb lettering fabric wrong side up on the ironing board.
7. Place the Bondaweb letters on top of your lettering fabric rough side down, following the fabric grain.
8. Lay a smooth surfaced tea towel/ spare length of cotton over the top and press each letter for roughly 5 seconds, heat setting 2, no steam.
Then wait at least 30 minutes for the Bondaweb to cool and the glue to set.
9. Cut out each letter accurately, cutting small details is easier with fine scissors or a small rotary cutter and cutting mat.
10. One at a time peel the backing paper off each letter and position it centrally on the corresponding triangle, 3cm from the top edge.
11. Place the triangle and letter right side up on the covered ironing board. Lay a smooth surfaced tea towel/ spare length of cotton over the top.
12. Dampen the cover fabric using the iron’s spray setting and press over each letter for roughly 10 seconds, heat setting 3.
Allow at least 30 minutes for the Bondaweb to cool and the glue to set.
13. Sew around the edge of each letter and around any cut out elements (for example the centre of the D), 2mm from the edge.
Hand sewn blanket stitch or machine zig zag stitch overlapping the edge of the letter and the surrounding fabric can also be used (length 0.5 to 1, width 3 to 4 depending on the finish required).
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Sew The Bunting Flags
14. Pin and sew 2 corresponding triangles right sides together, leaving the top edge open.
Want a ready-to-use template? We’ve got you covered!
Click the button below to download the Happy Birthday bunting templates & letters.
How To Turn The Point
15. Clip the seam allowance at the point in a straight line across the top, close to, but not through, the sewn seam.
16. Fold in and press the seam allowance along one long edge, then repeat on the other side, overlapping the seam allowance near the tip.
Clip any overhanging seam allowance.
17. Turn the flag out the right way, using a pointed object to help shape the tip.
18. Clip any protruding seam allowance from the top of the flag and press.
19. Clip any protruding seam allowance from the top of the flag and press.
20. Fold the bias binding tape in half and press.
21. Measure 50cm from the end of the tape and position the first flag between the 2 layers of bias tape, the top of the flag meeting the fold line.
Clip or pin the flag in place with the letter facing forwards.
22. Position the second flag 2cm along from the first and clip, checking that the letter faces forwards.
23. Continue clipping all the flags on place leaving a 50cm tail of bias binding at the end.
24. Prepare the tape ends by pressing 1cm of tape inward to encase the raw edges and clip or pin in place.
25. Repeat steps 20. to 23. for the second line of bunting.
26. Starting at one end of the bias binding sew the 2 edges together and continue all the way along, sewing each flag in place and stopping at the other end of the bias tape.
…And you’re finished, well done!
Want a ready-to-use template? We’ve got you covered!
Click the button below to download the Happy Birthday bunting template.
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