Tutorial: Christmas Tree Bunting

As promised yesterday, here's how I made my christmas tree bunting.

Materials:
Fabric scraps the type of fabric doesn't matter.
Backing fabric, I used green flannelette, but you could use anything you like.
Bias binding approximately 2 metres will accommodate 10 trees.
Pinking shears, scissors, tailors chalk, sewing machine, thread etc


Step 1: Choose your shape, I've used the one on the right.

Draw your tree shape on card and cut out. Or download the simple template (tree on left) here or the template for the tree on the right here. Print on card (although normal paper would be fine if you don't have card) and cut out.

You can re-size the template to make smaller or larger trees.


Step 2: Collect your fabrics



I used mostly scraps and a little bit from the stash, loosely following a green theme.


Step 3: Start making your trees. With wrong sides facing, lay the fabric for your first tree on top of the backing fabric.








Pin in the template in place on top of your fabric. Starting at the base of the "trunk", sew around the edge following the template. Don't forget to secure your sewing with a couple of back stitches at the beginning and end, this will ensure your tree stays together.

Instead of pinning you could trace around the template with a disappearing marker and then pin the layers together and sew.








Using pinking shears - or, if you don't have them, normal scissors - trim around your tree. Be careful not to cut into the stitches.

The front looks like this:



The back looks like this:



Continue making trees until you have enough to fill your length of bias binding. I made 10.



Step 4: Assemble your trees on the binding.

Start by laying your binding out to it's full length ( like on your bed or on the floor). Arrange your trees along the binding to ensure you get the right spacings. Rearrange as needed to make the colours work for you. Make sure there is enough length at either end to hang the bunting.

When you're happy with the order and space, use tailors chalk or a disappearing marker, to mark a little cross on the binding to show where each tree will hang from.

Pile your trees up in order and take your binding and trees to the sewing machine.

Use thread matching your binding and a large, wide zig-zag stitch start at one end and stitch the binding together. Pause just before the first chalk marking and tuck the top of the first tree inside the binding. Make sure the tree is flat and sitting straight so that it will hang properly when you're finished. Shorten the stitch length on your machine. Continue sewing along the binding making sure you catch the top of the tree. Once the tree is attached, lengthen the stitch length again.

Shortening the stitches where the tree attaches to the binding ensures there are enough stitches to hold onto the tree. You don't have to do this, you can use a shorter stitch length the whole way, I just like the way the big zig-zag stitches look across the bunting.

Continue in this way until all trees are attached to the binding.

Tie a knot in the binding at each end of the bunting.



Hang on the wall.



Although you might want to wait until a little closer to Christmas before hanging.

If you make these, please post a comment or email me to let me know, I'd love to see them!