Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Difficulty level Beginner
Time to Complete Evening
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Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project
Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Our talented sewing expert Nick brings the outside in with this beautiful bunting. Perfect for adding a splash of spring colour to your home or as some charming Mother's Day décor! This project is quick and simple to make, suitable for experienced and novice sewers alike. Have fun customising your cute bunting by mixing & matching different felt colours, threads and button embellishments. In this project he uses Bernina Button Sew-On Foot #18 making sewing on buttons an absolute breeze. Find out more about this foot below...


Why use Bernina Button Sew-On Foot #18?

Foot #18 eliminates the tedious job of sewing buttons on by hand. The short sole with its non-slip rubber covering sits securely on 2 or 4-hole buttons (moulded shank buttons must be sewn on by hand).

When using this foot, the feed dogs of the machine are lowered so that the selected stich sews in place, going back and forth between the holes of the button. The adjustable centre toe provides the flexibility to sew not only buttons, but jewels, hooks and eyes and many other embellishments.

The toe can be adjusted to suit the fabric and fastening being used. It can even be pushed upwards out of position for decorative placement of buttons. This makes the buttons even more secure.
 

You will need:

  • Bernina sewing machine
  • Bernina Button Sew-On Foot #18
  • Bernina Edgestitch Foot #10
  • 7 pieces of good quality felt, approximately 6 x 8.5cm each
  • An assortment of buttons (with holes not shanks)
  • Double fold tape, approximately 3.5m
  • Fabric marker
  • Scissors (for paper and fabric)
  • Thread
  • Hand sewing needle
  • Paper
  • Thick card
  • Paper glue
  • Fabric glue (optional)
  • Small dressmaking pins (optional)

Bernina Button Sew-On Foot #18 is our Accessory of the Month available at a 15% discount!

This promotion will run until Tuesday 31st March 2020.


Click here to visit the Bernina online shop.

Find out more about Button Sew-On Foot #18 by clicking here.
 

Making the template

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Stage 1

Your bunting can be triangular, square, rectangular or any other shape you like. I chose a pointed flag measuring 5.5cm wide and 7cm at the longest edge.

Draw or print your template, stick it to the card and cut out.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

The felt quantities given will be enough to cut four pieces from each of your seven colours if your template is a similar size. Feel free to make your mini bunting a little small or larger, remembering to adjust the quantities of felt as necessary.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Using your template, cut four pieces from each colour of felt for a total of twenty-eight.

Sewing on the buttons

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Stage 2

Choose a button to sew to one of the bunting pieces.

Remove the screw from foot #18 and push the center toe up out of position. Replace the screw firmly.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Attach foot #18 to your machine and lower the feed dogs. Position the button on the felt. Place the felt under the foot with the button holes arranged between the two toes of the foot.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Depending on your machine, you will be sewing the button using either a button sew-on program, a universal stitch or a zig-zag stitch. The sew-on program (stitch 60, which looks like a button and is found in the buttonhole category) will automatically stitch and tie off. The universal stitch will sew locking stitches each time it sews three side stitches, whilst the zig-zag will need to be pulled to the back and tied to secure. If using a zig zag, sew six to ten stitches back and forth.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Select the stitch you plan to use. Before stitching the button in place, lower the presser foot to hold the button in position and turn the hand wheel to check that the stitch width is the same as the holes on the button. Adjust the width if needed.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Sew the button in place then pull the top thread to the back using a hand needle and secure. Repeat for the remaining felt pieces.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Project tip:
When stitching a 4-hole button, stitch the front holes first and then slide the button forward to stitch the remaining holes.

Finishing the bunting

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Stage 3

Open up the double fold tape and position the bunting pieces. I left a length of 30cm at the beginning and then a 5cm gap between each flag. Be sure to leave 30cm at the end too. Using pins or a thin line of fabric glue helps to hold the bunting in place whilst you stitch.
 
Use foot #10 to edge stitch along the full length of the tape to stich it closed and secure the felt pieces.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Your mini spring bunting is finished. Display it with pride!

You can add variety to the direction of the stitching by sewing an arrow, square or an X when using 4-hole buttons. Different coloured threads and button sizes will add interest too.

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Picture: Nick's Mini Spring Bunting Project

Got a spring in your step?

We certainly do, this quick and simple project is just what was needed to decorate the home! We hope you're feeling spring fresh and have successfully brought the outside in with this cute mini bunting project. The vibrant colours look fabulous up on the wall with the sun shining through!

Make sure to check our website regularly as we will be putting out a brand new project, designed exclusively by a Bernina UK team member or Bernina guest contributor, EVERY MONTH!