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How to Make Festive Upcycled Denim Bunting

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Nothing makes a garden or patio look ready for a party than a bit of bunting. I always associate bunting with summer fairs and garden parties.

This denim bunting I originally made a few years ago for the Queens Diamond Jubilee, we had a street party.

How to Make Patriotic Upcycled Bunting Two Different Ways

The upcycled denim bunting I originally made was Union Jack bunting, but as most of my blog audience is American I’ve also made a Stars and Stripes version just for you! It was quite easy to adapt my flag bunting design from Union Jack to Stars and stripes as they are both red white and blue.

So whether you celebrating the Queen’s Birthday, the latest Royal wedding or the 4th of July there is a bunting for you!

Upcycled Flag Denim Bunting

The bunting features in the A to Z of denim crafts.

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What you need to make your denim bunting

  • Old pair of jeans. I just use the legs of the jeans, (so you can save the pockets to make a fabulous denim pocket organiser.)
  • Ribbon scraps, I keep all ribbon scraps from presents and packaging and have quite a collection of especially red ones from Valentine’s gifts. If you haven’t got any you can normally by a variety pack from your craft store.
Upcycled denim bunting 2 ways

Depending on how long you want your bunting will determine how many pairs of jeans and how much ribbon.
 

How to make your upcycled denim bunting

1. First, make a triangular cardboard template the size you want for your bunting. Use this template as a guide for cutting out your denim. Personally, I prefer to use a rotary cutter and board to cut my denim, but scissors are fine, just a bit slower. You will need 2 denim triangles for each piece of bunting one for the front and the other for the back.

2. Secondly lay out your ribbon, depending on what flag you’re making. You can either sew your ribbon flag design to your denim triangles or the easy option is to glue them with fabric Mod Podge. Gluing instead of sewing does make your bunting a little stiffer but this is no bad thing.

3. I have 2 graphics to show you how to make your upcycled denim bunting, one for Union Jack bunting and one for Stars and Stripes bunting. They are both practically the same except for how you arrange the red and white ribbon.

Also, you note there are stars on the American bunting. I used a die to cut out these stars from some spare white ribbon. If you don’t have a die cutter you can always use a star stamp instead.

Upcycled Denim bunting stars and stripes
Upcycled denim bunting Union jack

4. After you have glued or sewn your ribbon pieces into place, get a blank triangle of denim and pin these 2 pieces right sides together. Sew round the sides leaving the top open. Trim off an excess ribbon, and turn right side out. You will need a pencil or something pointed to push out the tip of your triangle.

5. To sew your denim bunting triangles together in a long garland, fold over your blue ribbon and pin this to the top of your triangle. Make sure that you place the denim in between the ribbon fold. Then simply sew your denim bunting flags to the blue ribbon. All you need now is a party!

upcycled denim bunting in union jack and stars and stripes flag design
Upcycled denim bunting- Full tutorial including one for Stars and Stripes.

 
I first made my Union Jack denim bunting in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee when we had a street party. I got it out again for the royal wedding in 2013. It’s been sitting in a drawer since then but will be back on display next weekend for Harry and Megan’s Wedding

If you are looking for more upcycled denim projects check out my page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Julie

    So much fun, you can keep this kind of bunting for ever and just whip it out for auspicious occasions!
    Did you watch the wedding last week? I loved it, watched the whole thing in my PJ’s with tea and toast. Perfect!

    Reply

  6. Mary

    Claire is it possible that I didn’t comment the first time around? I love the Queen! I was watching the Crown a few months ago and it was very good. Dr Who married to the Queen! You know I love everything you do! And this is no exception. Love those cute little stars!

    Reply

  8. Leanna

    These are both very well done, It awesome that you celebrate the queens 90th birthday. Cucumber sandwiches are a favorite of mine as well, but I don’t know what Pimm is. I am going to guess its an English Ale or tea?

    Reply

    • Claire Armstrong

      Thank you Leanna. Pimms is an English fruity spirit that you make into a kind of punch with lemonade and you add strawberries, cucumber and lemon and mint. It’s a very popular drink a to events like Wimbledon or any big summer party.

      Reply

  15. Monroe

    Oh my! This bunting is cute beyond words! I love it! I love upcycled denim projects, and I adore the heart ribbon you used. I’m pinning this to my Patriotic Pins board. I’m inspired and may make my own denim bunting soon! Thanks for sharing this wonderfully creative idea!

    Reply

  18. Name*

    Great job Claire, perfect weight for outdoors, love that it isn’t delicate looking like other versions! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply

  19. Christine at Must Love Home

    Loved your bunting project..what a super recyle idea!!You have been Pinned, Tweeted and Posted to Facebook! Your post will be featured this week at the Friday Favorites Link Party. The party goes LIVE on Thursdays at 7PM at mustlovehome.com I hope to see your there! Hugs – Christine at Must Love Home

    Reply

  21. LydiaF

    What a fun project! It really catches my imagination and I love the idea of hanging it from my balcony. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg. I’ll be featuring it in this week’s link up. Enjoy the week!

    Reply

  23. Denise

    Love the idea of upcycling old jeans into bunting. I would be gluing mine as I am not great at sewing. Love the American Flag version too. Thanks for linking.

    Reply

  27. Katja

    Hello, just found your blog by mistake. I adore your huge variety of beautifully selfmade things. I’ m also a fan of denim and often asked myself how to get a further use out of my family’s old jeans…now I’ve got plenty ideas.
    Wish I had only a quater ( or even less) of actually put into practice self made projects in my home. Thanks for your shared inspirations 🙂

    Reply

    • Claire Armstrong

      Thank you so much ! Lovely to hear that you like the stuff that I make, it’s great to know that I give people some ideas. I’m working on some more denim projects so watch this space.

      Reply

  33. Lucy ~ Patina Paradise

    Your bunting turned out great! I especially love the British flag bunting with the polka dot and gingham ribbons. Glad you were able to join us this month and how sweet for you to include the American flag in your bunting. :o)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  12. […] Upcycled Denim Bunting – Perfect for 4th of July. I am not typically into crafts because they mock me when I don’t finish them. However, this project really caught my eye. If I was going to finish a craft project, this would be it. […]

    Reply

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