I have a few rules when going to thrift stores, estate sales & flea markets.
1. I set a spending limit and don’t go over unless it is the deal of the decade. This helps me walk away from things I’m not 100% on.
2. If I love it and it is a great price…I buy and then figure out what to do with it later (unless it is really big).
3. I try to stick to certain themes that work together (beachy colors, primitive items, turquoise anything)
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With that being said months ago I found a bag of cut quilting pieces for $1.00. I loved the fabric, but had no plan on how I’d use them. Previously, I made garden flags out of some of them. Next I thought I would make a quilt with them, but after talking to my grandma I realized the pieces were cut for a Double Wedding Ring quilt which is far beyond my sewing abilities. So…they’ve been stuck in a bag waiting for a new life. Now they are nearly 4 yards of cute bunting
Supplies:
Fabric pieces in a mix of patterns and colors
1/2 inch bias tape
I didn’t cut my pieces, but if you need to they are about 1 1/4 inch at the bottom and 2 inches at the top.
Step 1: Place two pieces together facing each other
Step 2: Sew 3 sides. I just kept going instead of cutting between each one
After you’ve got them all stitched, trim the edges and cut a little slit in the bottom corners. This helps the corners not get bunched when you turn it right side out.
Turn right side out and iron.
Space them side by side as you sew them to the bias tape. I folded my bias tape as I stitched. There are probably better ways to do this, but I often try to sew in the least amount of steps. If your fabric is bigger you’d probably want wider bias tape.
So festive and fun. I know bunting is a big trend right now, but I really like the practical aspects of the trend. Once made it can be reused over and over. You can take a plain room and make it look like a party just by putting up your bunting. I think I will keep mine up all winter when I am depressed it is cold outside.
How about a little peek at her 2 year old pictures? This picture makes me happy (there are so many more…to be posted next week)
If you don’t want to make your own bunting (or you need a better pattern) here are some fun versions I found on etsy:
Candy Kirby Designs, The Ruffly Owl, Freyadays, SparklePower, A Cottage Life
(I quite obviously got the idea to wrap my bunting around a wooden spool from A Cottage Life’s mini bunting and mini spools)
angie - i LOVE the 2yr old pic! what a lovely idea!! just made a pillowcase dress for emery…they are SO cute!
quarts d'una - wow!!! i want it!!!
it’s perfect!
Fee - Wow, I’m impressed. I really don’t know how to sew, so i’m easy to impress, but this one really seems to have taken some time and love. I love it!! You are such a impressive person in general. Four kids and you still manage to do so many great things…
LeeH - You could cut letters with a Silhouette and sew them to bias tape for a cute banner
giozi - Congratulations for the little princess
kari signe - great post! i have been wanting to do this for my daughter’s room so this is perfect timing. well done!
Tasha - That’s adorable!! I love the unique shape of the flags, you usually just see them in triangles.
Such a cute way to use quilt pieces!
Courtney - so cute! I just finished about 40 yards of bunting for my daughter’s playroom…it is so happy and bright, I smile each and every time I walk by!
Sarah Pratt - So Cute!! I LOVE the picture of your daughter!!!
Dana Laymon Photography - she is so bloody cute! i can’t wait to see the rest of her pictures!
Nicole - did you MAKE Firecracker’s dress? OMG – LOVE! love the photo setups as always…:)
Amanda - love it! especially the old fabric you used.
weeee can’t wait to see the big 2 year olds photoshoot. i know my heart will melt even more for a little girl. sniff… she’s so darn cute with those curls and cowlick.
robyn - I love bunting and all the variations and uses for it. I’m going to try to do one for our 4th of July birthday party. I probably have some bias tape still in the package somewhere. It will be some quick slam it together sewing. Bunting is so festive, I don’t think you can go wrong. Thanks for the inspiration!!! Love it!
Tammy Kay - Ashley, you never cease to amaze me! The bunting is adorable and so is your little Firecracker
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - That picture of Firecracker is beautiful! I wish we were neighbors in the worst way: you have amazing ideas Ashley!
P.S. My hobby-lovin husband saw your post on Noodling; now he really wants to try it. Thanks alot:)
xo
amy - brilliant…brilliant brilliant brillant BRILLANT…ALWAYS want to buy quilting squares…never know what t do with them…YOU. ARE. BRILLIANT. pinning this!
Amanda - Too fun… I have BOXES of vintage {ie: so ugly it’s cute} fabric from quilting biddies that my grandma knows… I’ve just been trying to find a user friendly project to use it with! This is eaking towards the top of the list.
Susan - Super Cute!!
Carrie - So cute…. I notice the books in one of your pictures – I would be so curious to know what books you find inspiring and fun to look at…a blog post maybe? Or perhaps you have already done that and I missed it
Karen H - So cute! It looks like it is fabric cut from feedsacks of the 1930-1940′s. You can buy reproduction fabrics of this era now, they are quite popular. However, there is no way it would cost you a dollar! That was quite a score! And I love that shape!…btw, a double wedding ring quilt is tough to make with so many curved seams–this was a great idea!!! You are brilliant.
Jenny B. - Cute bunting! Love the picture of Firecracker. Everything in it is so pretty!
kiley - love that the pieces are so teensy! CUTE!!!
Debbie - All of your crafts this week are so cool and inspiring. Just love your blog…the colors, the mood, the photos, you rock
cailan - Cutest bunting I have ever seen – I can’t believe how amazing that fabric is!
Kathie - Way too cute!! Love her 2 year old picture too!!
I just recently made my own bunting out of some random scrapbook paper I had laying around! Now I just may have to do the same with a bunch of scrap fabric I have! Love your great creative ideas! 
meg duerksen - gorgeous.
Debbie - That pic of your daughter is gorgeous! I love everything about it! Your bunting looks great no matter where you use it. Thanks for the idea.
Jennifer - Great post! I love bunting!!!!:)
Heidi - How lovely! I’ve had this on my list of to-do’s for quite some time. I love how your bunting turned out!
brianne - Ooh great idea on the spool – we have a bunch of of those around our place and that would be a great use for them.
Jeannette - Thanks for the info – I was planning on trying this for Corban’s birthday with some cute superman logo fabric I found. I can’t wait to try!
Margaret - Oh my oh my oh my! I LOVE this bunting…so simple and cute! I’m definitely adding something like this on my list of things to make for my daughter’s nursery! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Carrie Rosalind - LOVE it! I’ve seen so many different types of bunting, but this one is my new favorite!!
Midwest Magnolia - Melissa Lewis - So incredibly cute!
Sarah D - What fabric is Firecracker’s dress made out of? It is adorable!
Courtney Henson - Darling bunting! Love the shape of it! I adore vintage quilts so this fabric is right up my alley! And thanks for giving a shout out to me and my shop!
Courtney from A Cottage Life
Vickie Mason - OMG! That is such a cute picture of your baby girl. I LOVE the dress and headband
Julien Denoyer - I absolutely love your blog!!! Your photography is just gorgeous, really enjoy the various projects you get into, will be following you on a regular basis!!!
Amanda B. - I wish I had seen this a couple weeks ago…I couldn’t leave the house with a napping baby and had to bring bunting (well, outdoor garage sale flags) and decided to cut apart shopping bags and sew them together. My friends thought I was crazy, but it turned out really cool and used up lots of bags and cost me nothing since I had the ribbon I sewed them to already.
I will need to try to make a more festive bunting soon!
Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft - Oh, that two year old pic is enough to make my heart melt! Can’t wait to see the rest.
Ranee - love it. one of the cutest buntings I’ve seen!!
mary Sue - ok where did you get that beautiful dress!!! Do tell…
Dacia - This is amazing! You inspire me every single day. Thank you for including my banner at the end.
jodi - I found a bunch of this at a yard sale too! Plus octagon pieces that were already sewn into large diamonds that I have put on my new baby daughters walls and turned into double-sided pillows for her as well. I’ve just use the smaller pieces (like yours) to cut out with a bird stencil and iron on to handmade cards. I think I’ll use your idea too! Yay!!
LK - I am in love with your 2 year photo. I may have to use this idea next year when we have pictures taken again. Fabulous idea – outdoor shoot, boutique dress, beautiful daughter – what more could you want!?
Quaint Crafting Delight « - [...] Rectangle Mini Bunting. [...]
Linda - Hi I Really Like your great tutorials!!!
I Link to you on my Blog,
http://paneamoreecreativita.it/blog/2011/07/raccolta-di-progetti-di-cucito-creativo-per-lestate
Thanks for sharing
DIY bunting:) » Jenna Nicole Photography - [...] with me to photo shoots, so it seemed like perfect timing. Besides, Ashley Ann posted on her blog a tutorial for bunting, so I made my own:) [if you've never read Ashley Ann's blog, and you're a crafty person, or want to [...]
Mindy Carlson - Hey, just found this on Pinterest and it’s perfect for a box of vintage scraps I found at an Estate Sale, too. Thanks for the idea!