How to Make Bunting: 5 Styles, 3 Methods (Sew & No-Sew Options)

Bunting banners are perfect for parties and other special occasions. Learn how to make bunting in five styles and then learn how to put together each one.

What is bunting?

A bunting is a banner or garland used for all sorts of occasions. They can be made from paper, cardstock, or scraps of fabric like cotton and embellished in all sorts of ways. And they can be made with triangle or flag shapes. 

What are buntings good for?

Buntings are the perfect addition to:

• weddings
• baby showers
• graduations
• birthdays
• holidays (like the Fourth of July, or Christmas)
• everyday decor
• any celebration

01| How To Make Fabric Bunting – Sewing Method

Before I tell you how to make fabric bunting, I want to say that ages ago (like years!) I purchased two burlap banners from an Etsy shop that is no longer in business – both the love banner over our bed and the nest banner we used in our decorating for ages.

But I’ve since discovered that they’re actually really easy to make!

The basic tutorial I share below can be expanded upon and embellished with paint (layered and gorgeous – see tutorial below) or other items like nests, paper, flowers, etc. Or it can be left un-embellished to add simple texture to your decor!

Supplies

• Burlap or other fabric
• Jute
• Sewing machine
• Stickpins
• Thread
• Ribbon (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut triangles to your desired size from your fabric. If you’re using a fabric that will fray, consider using pinking shears to help prevent fraying. 

2. Fold the top edge of each of the triangles over about an inch and press to make a crease. Trim off the extra little bit that sticks out.

3. Cut jute to the length you want your banner to be, plus some extra lengths to hang down the sides. If you use more than one length of jute, tie them together into a knot at one end to keep them from wiggling around during the next steps.

4. Pin jute into the folded burlap with stick pins.

5. Using a zig-zag stitch (whatever it’s called – I’m totally not technical with sewing!), sew the jute into the burlap.

6. Optional – Now position your letter stencils, and stencil on your word. Of course, as with all stenciling, dab the excess paint off your brush onto a napkin. And since burlap isn’t solid fabric, place a sheet of paper under the burlap to keep the paint from leaking through.

7. Optional – Tie ribbons onto jute if desired. If you tied a knot to keep the jute together, untie it now.

That’s it! Just hang it up, letting the curly ends of the jute hang down. Delicious.

02| How to Make Fabric Bunting – No-Sew Method

I am such a fan of pennants, banners, and buntings!  They add such a festive, whimsical touch to every room. We’ve made many banners for different occasions, like this no-sew pennant banner from scrap fabric.

Supplies

• Hemp string or ribbon
• Scrap fabric
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut fabric scraps into triangles and hemp string or ribbon to the desired length.

2. Using hot glue, affix each pennant to the string/ribbon about a 1/2 inch from the top of the triangle. Then fold the fabric over and glue it again.

3. Trim excess fabric.

See how easy it is! You’ll be seeing more of these in different colors and textures in the seasons to come.

03| How to Make a Painted Burlap Pennant Banner

This banner was super fun to make! I love the texture, the pale aqua color, and the super subtle white letters with a wee bit of glitter.  Can you see it?

Supplies

• about 1/4 to 1/2 meter of burlap
• jute or hemp string in the desired length
• Sea Lavender craft paint (Martha Stewart by Plaid Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic)
• Summer Linen craft paint (Martha Stewart by Plaid Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic)
• Martha Stewart Crafts Coarse Glitter in Crystal
• Stencil Brushes
• Martha Stewart by Plaid Monogram Serif Alphabet stencil
• napkins or a paper plate

Instructions

1. Measure out and cut four pennant pieces. Ours were about 4″ x 8″ rectangles, with triangles cut out of one short side.

2. Using the zigzag setting on your sewing machine and folding the burlap over the string about a half an inch, sew each pennant to the string, spacing evenly. (Not shown).

3. Place the banner on some newspaper or something that can get paint on it (because the paint will bleed through the burlap). Pour some Sea Lavendar paint onto napkins or a paper plate. Dab the large stencil brush in the paint and then onto each pennant piece. Repeat for desired coverage. Let dry – or help along with a blow dryer.

4. Place stencil letters centered on the pennant. Using a small stencil brush and Summer Linen paint, dab through the letter stencil onto the burlap.

5. Immediately, while Summer Linen paint is still wet & stencil is still in place, sprinkle Coarse Glitter over the stencil just so the letter gets all glammed up with glitter. Let dry.

6. Repeat Steps 4 & 5 for a total of 2 Xs and 2 O’s.

04| How to Make a Reusable Chalkboard Banner

I love me a good homemade DIY pennant banner! And when I first saw an All-Occasion Chalkboard Banner made from chalk cloth I was smitten! I mean what’s not to love; the never-ending chalkboard craze, the fact that it’s reusable for any occasion or that it looked like a super simple DIY craft project?

Hello?! Perfection!

So, a little while ago I created my very own all-occasion chalkboard banner using chalk cloth (duh) and bias tape of all things!

Supplies

• 1/4 meter chalk cloth
• 1/4 meter felt (gray for back)
• glue gun and glue
• cardboard 
• 3 yards of bias tape (your choice of color)
• Black or white thread
• Chalk
• Old rag

Instructions

I was inspired by the chalkboard banner that was created by Delia Creates. So, I’m going to give you the gist of the instructions below. But if you need more help or visuals go visit the wonderfully written and photographed step-by-step instructions on Delia Creates.

1. Cure your chalk cloth. This is important. If you don’t cure your chalk cloth (or any other new chalkboard surface), you will get ghosting. As in the ghost of previous letters or drawings will remain on your chalk surface.

To cure any chalkboard, simply rub the SIDE of a piece of chalk all over the surface. Then wipe with a dry cloth. This will leave a bit of chalky residue (as seen in the finished pennants below).

2. Hot glue your felt to the backside of your chalk cloth. Make sure to spread the glue all over the backside. This will help to keep everything in place while you cut and sew your pennants and the whole banner. 

3. Now trace at least 14 pennant shapes with chalk onto your chalk cloth. Basically, a pennant shape is simply a triangle. Draw one in the size and dimensions you like onto a piece of cardboard. Then cut it out and trace 14 of them onto your chalk cloth. 

14 pennants will give you enough pennants on which to write most holiday and special occasion greetings.

4. (This is where I find it easier to deviate from the tutorial on Delia Creates by not sewing the pennants before cutting them out.) Cut out your pennants, by cutting along your chalk lines. 

Pretty awesome (yet simple), yes?!

05| How to Make a Scrap Fabric Rag Bunting

Oh, how I love cheap and easy! Cheap and easy projects of course! Case in point, this adorable rag bunting was made entirely of scrap pieces of fabric I already had in my sewing drawer. And let me assure you I do not have a large stash. These were literally scraps out of the one drawer I have for fabric. They also happen to be the only ones that coordinated.

Supplies

• Scraps or strips of fabric
• Scissors
• Jute or hemp string/cord

Instructions

1. Make a small cut into the fabric about every inch or so. Give or take a half-inch.

2. Pull fabric on either side of the cuts, tearing strips.

3. If you want a balanced rag bunting and you don’t have an equal number of fabric strips in each fabric, layout the fabric to find a nice balance.

4. Tie jute or hemp cord/string to a chair. Tie the other end (I always leave it attached to the ball/roll until I’ve finished so I can judge the length then) to another chair. This step makes it so much easier to do step 5.

5. Starting on one end, tie fabric to cord/string in a simple knot. Repeat for all fabric strips.

Then simply fluff, hang and enjoy!

Other Craft Projects You Will Love

• Easy Pom-Pom Garland Tutorial  (this one would be BEAUTIFUL layered with the scrap fabric bunting above!)
• DIY No Sew Floor Pillows
• How To Sew Cloth Napkins in 5 Steps

What do you think? Have you tried making your own burlap bunting?