(image from lakeland.co.uk)
This photo doesn't do the "Merry Christmas" bunting I have seen in the Lakeland catalogue justice at all. It is quite a bit nicer than it appears in this photo, and something I think I could make a version of!
The original in the shop is £12.99, which for 14 triangular pieces of material and some letters attached to some stringy stuff seems rather expensive. I'm not buying it, don't worry.
I think that I may have enough Christmassy material [or at least red, green and white material] stashed away somewhere that I could make it. If I make judicious use of pinking shears to reduce fraying, and quite liberal use of glue, I may even be able to get away without much sewing......I am not that great at sewing.
This weekend may well find me digging out the fabric and having a look to see what else I might need. We are lucky to have had a Boyes shop open up relatively recently in one of the nearby towns, and they have a fairly cheap haberdashery section, so I could get a few bits in there if need be.
Can any of you expert seamstresses out there offer me any advice or top tips?
4 comments:
Here's the bunting [double sided] I made for Liz and Jon last year
http://angalmond.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/perils-of-procrastination.html
and this afternoon Karen posted this http://chelmarshchunterings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/christmas-bunting.html
my top tip is about proportion - make it 5 units wide by 8 units deep [inches, centimetres or multiples of either] as I have found that seems to be best.
second tip - leave a gap between flags - equal to the width, or half the width, of a flag. That is much easier to hang, because you can use the spaces to loop over curtain rails etc]
third tip - leave a good length of tape [50cm or so] at each end for tying.
These computers waste an awful lot of time, don't they? During my browsing today came across your blog. Nice Christmas bunting, and as you say a bit on the expensive side for what it is.
Don't know that I could be classed as an expert, but here goes. It may be a bit long winded, but hope you can understand what I am trying to say.
Here in Canada we have two products that I would suggest you could use to eliminate the fraying. One is called "Fray-No-More" (quite an original name isn't it). It is a liquid which is applied in small drops to the frayed edge, and "voila", fray no more. The other item is a fusable product, which is used mainly for iron on fusable applique. Both sides of the product is fusable so once you have adheared it to the wrong side of one fabric you could fuse it to the wrong side of another fabric. Followed by cutting out the shape required, this ensures the fabric would not fray. Using this method you would not have a "wrong side" showing and greetings could be attached to both sides. You could attach all of the flags to a bias cut length of fabric which has had the raw edges sewn together.
Another idea, instead of fabric you could use a colour appropriate plastic picnic table cloth, for both the flags and the hanging rope, no fraying. Sew on your fabric letters. Done!
Hope this helps.
Drop by to see me sometime.
Patricia
Hi Morgan, I have just blogged about my Christmas bunting today. It was so easy to make and there are a few measurements on the blog. I stitched 2 pieces together down each side leaving the top open I turned them and pressed them before stitching them into the folded bias binding. HTH
Karen
Wow, thanks, ladies! I think I dare to have a go now. I have also had a look at some of the websites you have mentioned, and am inspired by your work. Thank you. I will have to post a picture if my offering is half decent when I get it made!!
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