I recently got a new job tutoring online and I now have an “at home” classroom. It’s super cute if I do say so myself. I thrifted most of the “teacher stuff” like a corkboard, magnetic board, and broke-out number magnets from when I was a kid. To add a little flair, I created a strip of simple linen bunting.
If you are looking for a low waste decoration tutorial, this is for you! This project is perfect if you have some scrap fabric lying around that you can cut into triangles and attach to a cord, string, or ribbon.
Tea Staining Natural Fibers
Before I cut my scrap linen into triangles, I decided to soak my fabric in tea to give it a vintage color, the slightly faded-with-time look. It gives it an antique, soft vibe that works for my *aesthetic.*
How to dye your linen bunting
First, brew some tea and soak the linen for about 15 minutes. Then I rinse with cold water and let air dry.
I had scrap of 100% linen from a previous project and dying it with tea colored it beautifully and subtly. This only works on natural fibers like linen, cotton, rayon or wool. It’s not a severe dye but I thought it gave the beige fabric a bit more personality and flair.
How to Sew Linen Bunting
Time: 10-15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Materials & Equipment
- Linen fabric (optional: tea-stained and dried) measuring approx. 6″x 36″ (a yard)
- Ribbon, cord, or string
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine, or needle for hand sewing, with matching thread
Directions
As a note, I choose not to hem or otherwise keep the edges of my fabric from fraying. While that requires an extra step, I think it gives the bunting a more cottage core, country chic look without a hem. If that’s not your style, feel free to cut your triangles an extra 1/4″ wide and fold over and sew to create a hem.
- Using my bunting template below (or creating your own with cardboard), cut your fabric into 8 triangles.
- Unspool some of your cord and start placing the triangles along the length. I started 6″ from the end and left 3″ between each triangle. Fold over the top edge of the triangle and pin it to the cord.
- Sew down the side, turn and sew across, then turn and sew up the side. Make sure to catch the cord on both ends.
And there you have it! These definitely do not have to be perfect. While you can quickly whip them up with the sewing machine, this is a tutorial that you could also do by hand with an easy running stitch.
When it comes to zero waste and party decorations, it seems like a contradiction. Decorations are often single-use and made of plastic; they are manufactured to be easily tossed at the end of a celebration for easy clean-up. It got me thinking about some other things that could be made for decorations or at least reused. Here are some ideas I have so far:
Other Zero Waste Decoration Ideas:
- Florals and plants
- Streamers made of fabric
- Let food be the statement!
- Thrifted candle holders
Let me know what you use to decorate for parties in holidays! Do you want me to make something specifically? Let’s talk in the comments.
Happy Making-
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