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Ever wanted to know how to make bunting or a cushion with a pom pom trim? Gemma Clough shows how...

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You can make a super pretty decoration

HAD never made bunting before but always wanted to have a go and thought it’d look cool at my Renegade stall to have a bunting name banner. It looked pretty simple to make and guess what… it was! I screen printed mine but you can use patterned fabrics, applique techniques or stencils etc to make a super pretty decoration. I’m planning on making some more next Christmas, too, and shaking it up a bit so it’s not sickeningly twee or from the Cath Kidston school of ‘craft’.

YOU WILL NEED

Fabric (I used polycotton for the backs and cotton for the front) Bias binding (I used 3cm wide bias binding) A sewing machine Scissors Pins

Cut out your triangles. These can be whatever size you want for your bunting, keep in mind that you’ll be sewing up the sides so will lose some from each side seam!. The easiest way to make all your triangles the same size is to create a cardboard template.

Sew your triangles together. In between these two stages I screen printed the letters, so if you were going to stencil or applique something on them then do it before your sew the two sides together. Pin the front and back pieces of fabrics together (right sides facing each other) and sew up the side seams.

Turn the triangles the right way around, use a knitting needle to poke the bottom corner right out. I also trimmed away some of the seam to make it easier to turn the corner out. After turning them the right way around you need to iron the seams so that it sits flatter.

Pin the triangles centrally inside the folded-over bias binding with whatever space between the triangles as you want, so long as it’s equal between them all. Leave a good length of bias binding at each end for tying/pinning your bunting up. Sew along the edge of the bias binding, making sure that the line of stitching is neat.

How to make a cushion with a pom pom trim Gather your supplies: – 2.5 metres of pom pom tassel – fabric of your choice – 18in pillow form – straight pins, marking pen, needle and thread, scissors, sewing machine

Step 1:

Cut your fabric. Cut the back panel to 19in x 19in and 4 front pieces to 10in x 10in each. For the front, place two 10in x 10in pieces on top of each other right sides together and sew a halfinch seam down one side. (If your print is a directional print, make sure you pay attention to which way your fabric is facing, so it will be correct once the pillow is finished) Do the same to the other two 10in x 10in pieces. Iron the seams open.

Now you have two front pieces. Place one on top of the other (right sides together) and sew a galfinch seam down one side. Again, make sure your fabric is facing the right direction. Iron the seams open. You now have one ‘front’ piece’. Set aside.

Step 2:

Take your pom pom tassel and pin it around all 4 sides of the back panel. Make sure you pin it with the pom poms facing in. Sew or baste the tassel in place using a 1/4in seam allowance, making sure to back stitch at each end. I like to do this so when you sew the two panels together, you don’t have to worry too much about the tassel moving around.

Step 3:

Once your tassel is in place, you are almost done! Lay the front patchwork panel on top of the back panel (right sides together) matching up all 4 sides. Pin in place leaving about a 6-7in opening at the bottom of the pillowcase for flipping and stuffing. Sew all around (except for the opening) with a half-inch seam allowance, making sure to backstitch at each end.

Step 4:

Once your panels are sewn together, trim all 4 corners making sure not to cut the stitching. Flip the pillow right side out and poke out the corners with something pointy, like a turning tool. I use a knitting needle, works great! Stuff your pillow form through the opening.

Step 5:

Fold in the opening and pin closed. Using a needle and thread, sew the opening closed.