Advice on Bunting please

[Midia]

Hi all, we're making lots of cotton bunting in preparation for my niece's wedding in May. We're at the putting together point and can't decide on spacing and I wondered what's the usual space between pennants? I've read leave the width of a pennant between each but that does seem quite a lot, just don't want to get it all sewn up and find it doesn't look right, it's hard to tell spread out on the table! Anyone make bunting that could advise please? x

[picto]

Hi Midia, I normally put the width of a pennant as a spacer, but there is no hard and fast rule, if you want to use less pennants or you want to 'fill the gap' you can tie a pretty bow or streamer in between.

Jan x

[TempoDesigns]

I use approximately the width of the pennant, or thereabouts, as you have been advised. It's not an exact science and you may just have to pin a few in position before you sew in place, and then have a play with the spacing.
Experience has proven though, that trying to space too widely (to save on pennants) just doesn't work and the pennants don't flutter nicely.
Similarly, spacing too closely, or even with the ends of each pennant touching, doesn't seem to work, it looks too regimented.
Hope this helps a little and I hope the wedding preparations go well.

[Midia]

Thanks for the replies - so helpful thank you! Love the idea of ribbon or streamers in between and yes, am very aware that I don't want it to look too spacey and therefore stingy!! She's chosen a mix of stripes and flowers and spots - sounds starnge but looks lovely, just need the sunshine for it to flutter in!

[Roslet]

I have always gone with about a pennant space or sometimes a little more between mine. The other thing that I also do with bunting is to dye the tape different colours or hues rather than it all being in regulation white, this looks great if you have pink, blue green etc as it all tones in.

[Midia]

Thanks Ros, I wish I'd known about that earlier, the coloured tapes were so much more expensive so we opted for white seeing as we needed 16 metres. Good advice for the next lot though so thanks!

[Seahorse]

I made some bunting today,my second attempt and I spaced them just under the width of the pennant, looks good.

I cut mine out in paper first then sewed them on a length of cotton to see what spacing looks best.

[Midia]

Great idea to cut out on paper first, I do wish I was so organised, I am far too impatient unfortunately!

We made the first lot of 5 metres on Thursday and it looks just fab, very summery with spots stripes and flowers as I said, we're definitely going to put extra prettiness on with some organza ribbon streaming every now and then along the bunting, thanks for all the great advice.

[rewolf]

I am about to start making Bunting also for my daughters wedding and thought i would look here to see if i could get any ideas , i am thinking of using some vintage fabric but i am not to sure of the size for each pennant and do i need to hem round each one !! i could do a zigzag stitch not to sure, i am still doing the knitted flowers and have the cake to marzipan and ice, June did seem far away but is getting ever nearer !!

[Midia]

We made our pennants approx 8" tall by 6" as we wanted a good size, also we did double thickness so sewed RS together, then trimmed and turned inside out and pressed. I know people do make it in single thickness fabric and use pinking shears around the edge but we wanted it that bit heavier and preferred the finished look this way. All down to personal preference I suppose but the finished article looks lovely and with 3 of us on a production line it only took a few hours.

[rewolf]

thank you for the advice they are going well, have got a bir carried away , i am doing them double thinkness as you sais and they look good so far , i have done two with their names on and i am really pleased with those, i will really try to get help and a camera to post some pics !!

[Seahorse]

We would love to see the pics!!

[Midia]

All the bunting we were making is completed, the wedding is the week after next so I'll also get some photo's of it in situ. I enjoyed making it actually and found it quite therapeutic - all 80 + pennants!

[rewolf]

Pleased for you that you have completed your bunting it fun to do isnt it , i am also making knitted flowers so yesterday was a making flower day today had better be a bunting day, its a good thing i am signed off work sick at the moment so i dont feel guilty about about sitting crafting, really dont have time to go to work when you think of all the craft projects waiting to be done !!!