Advent Bunting Tutorial

 How to make Advent Bunting

 This bunting has pockets to fill with treats and festive challenges for your little ones on the run up to Christmas. You can make a long piece or break in into smaller sections depending on where you want to hang it in your home.

You will need:

1.25m – 1.5m co-ordinating solid fabric (see point 8 below)
Scissors / rotary cutter and mat / quilt ruler
Thread
Fabric marker – tailor’s chalk / fabric pencil, tape measure

Cutting:

cut along the red grid of your advent panel to give you 25 individual number squares.
cut 25 squares of red fabric measuring  9.5 cm x 9.5cm
cut 50 rectangles of fabric measuring  9.5cm x 14cm
cut 4cm x length(s) you require for your bunting. (see point 8 below)

If you want to decorate your number panels, do so before stitching up your bunting pockets, be sure to leave at least 1cm clear of the edges for seam allowance.

1 – right sides together, join a red square and a number square, stitching across the top edge with a 5mm seam allowance.

2 – from the wrong side, press the seam allowance towards the red fabric, then fold and press the red to the back of the number square. This will create the front of your pocket.

3 – take two red rectangles and the number square you just stitched, make a sandwich, with the number square in the middle, positioned at the bottom, so you have raw edges together.


4 – sew around 3 of the edges with a 5mm seam allowance, leave the top edge open to turn through

5 – snip the corners of one of the rectangles off to reduce the bulk, be careful not to snip too close to your stitches!


6 – turn through, with your number square facing outwards. Neaten your corners and press your pocket. 

7 – repeat for the rest of the pockets, it will be quicker if you chain piece, working on one section at a time.

8 – depending on the length(s) of bunting you want to produce, decide how close / far apart you'd like your pockets to be. On my example a have a 5cm gap between pockets and used a 125cm strip for 5 numbers with room at either end to tie up the bunting, the amount of solid fabric you need to buy is based on this example (1.25m solid fabric) if you want longer ties or bigger gaps please buy more fabric.


9 – once you have decided on your length, fold your 4 cm strip in half length ways and press, open and then press the two raw edges to the centre of your strip. 

10 – Now add your pockets to the strip, in numerical order or not – your choice! Stitch your strip closed, allow around 25cm before your first bunting pocket is inserted, tuck your pocket right up to the centre fold of your strip, pin to hold and then secure in place by stitching along the edge of your strip. Leave a gap of your choice (I left 5cm) before securing your next pocket.  Continue until your length(s) are completed.

Now the fun begins and you can start planning activities and treats to fill the pockets.

This is just one way you can use the pabel, you could always make a solid panel with pockets or individual little drawstring bags to hang on the tree. I've put together some ideas on Pinterest, why not take a look and be inspired to make your own version. There are also some activity ideas, a little note giving clues to find craft supplies is a great way to kick off a slow weekend with your little ones.


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