Cheery Denim Bunting

Image 1: Denim Bunting Banners

I love Denim, the sturdy blue fabric used to fabricate blue jeans.  I've crafted multiple projects with denim, but my favorite denim project transforms old blue jeans into decorative bunting.  

More on the term bunting below, but I'll briefly define bunting here as a string of triangles (or pennants, or flags) strung in a row to form a decorative garland or banner.    

Image 2: Embellished Denim Bunting

Upcycling blue jeans into bunting is satisfyingly fast, and offers lots of options for embellishment.  Since I am a fan of vintage laces and linens, I frequently use bits of lace and doilies to decorate individual triangles. 

Image 3: Denim Bunting Upcyled from Blue Jeans

I also love plain denim triangles for a simpler look.  The details of the blue jeans used and the range of colors stand out when not embellished.  Of course, any fabric could be used, but denim has it's own special place in American culture - a love affair resulting in many items created by people reusing this fabric.

Image 4: Happy Birthday Banner (Bunting)

The first bunting I made was for a birthday decoration.  I had saved worn out blue jeans for denim projects, and I wanted to upcycle them.  Bunting is a satisfying, quick, low tech project (no precision measurements) with a cheery result that has lots of possibilities for embellishment.

Image 5: Denim Bunting

I used white electrical tape to quickly form letters on the banner - this way I can spell out a name, or whatever I want.  In the end the words I used most are "WELCOME" and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY".  Letters could also be painted or ironed on, or embroidered or appliqued for the ambitious.  

Image 6: A Drinking Straw makes the top Sturdy

Bunting is almost intuitive to make, and I will be posting a tutorial soon with tips. (Photos already done!  Post started!)  But a sneak peak here: for my bunting, I've added one innovation: I put a drinking straw in the top of the bunting to make stringing the triangles fast and easy, and to keep the top of the triangles from sagging.  

Image 7: Step #1 Decorated Denim Bunting

I also hope to showcase some other embellishments I have experimented with.  Watch for the full tutorial soon, but in the meanwhile I hope this post has inspired you.  Up-cycle away!

 

[Notes: Bunting is a British word for this type of garland made with triangles.  Strings of flags, frequently triangular, (called bunting) were used on British Navy ships for centuries.  Bunting then found their way into the celebrations of British events as decorations. You might also call them garland, etc.]

[Notes: I stressed for a while to determine the triangle size I wanted.  The top of my triangle measures 7.5 inches across, and the top to bottom dimension is 8.5 inches.  This allows a template to be printed out on 8.5x11 inch paper, and I have made bunting with paper, which could be a cute project with kids in a class setting.]

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy:

Heart Quilt

Heart Window

Button Heart

Spring Mini-Album

Mixed Media 1

Mosaics

Valent Hutch 3

Valent Hutch 2

Valentine Cards

Valentine Ball

Button Love

Rock Window

I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 407 (Entry 2x of 86x.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 344 Mon 4a (Entry 49 of 188.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 9a (Entry 17 of 48.)
My Random: Anything Goes 439 (Entry 5 of )
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 20 of 28.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 10x of 26x.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 19 of 26.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 563 (l Entry 14 of 60.)
Keeping it Real: Party (Entry 11 of 41.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry **)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 761 3p (l Entry 1 of 119.)
Karins Kottage: Linky party 3 (Entry 6 of 112.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 460 (m Entry 8 of 85.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 23r of 116r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 613 (l Entry 26 of 29)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry 76)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues (l Entry **)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 19r of 138r.)
 Pennys Passion: Think Out Loud Th (m Entry 2 of 44)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 436 Wed (m Entry 10 of 44)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 12 of 34)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 532 (Entry 8 of 76)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 118 (Entry 8r of 75r)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 474 Wed (m Entry 12 of 81)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 448 (Entry 15)
For the Love: Lets grow Together Wed 346 (Entry 17)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 378 Th (Entry 11)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry )
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry )
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 514 Fri (s Entry 4r)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 3)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic 525 Thur 8p (i Entry 15)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Sat Sparks 652 Fr 8a (L Entry 18 of 117.)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 382 (Entry 11 of 109)
Shelbee on the Edge: Spread the Kindness 740 (Entry 18)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry )
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 34)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 227 (L Entry 21)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 660 (L Entry 24)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 19)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry )
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 762 (Entry 5 of 16.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 1 of 96.)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 232 7a (Entry 36 of 113.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 288 (l Entry 19 of 138.)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even 653 4p (l Entry 3 of 120.)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry --)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 4 of 84)
Labour Love: Happiness Homemade 568 Sun a (Entry 11 of 108.)
Also Love my Mess: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry )
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop Mon 4a (Entry )
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

700938

Bunting