How to Make Lavender Bunting (Beginner Sewing Tutorial)

How to Make Lavender Bunting (A Beautiful Sewing Project with a Twist)

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make lavender bunting, a simple but beautiful sewing project that looks decorative and smells amazing.

This is a perfect beginner-friendly project, with plenty of tips along the way to help you achieve neat, professional results.

Watch the matching video tutorial: How To: Lavender Bunting Tutorial

Lavender bunting makes a wonderful addition to a child’s room, nursery, wardrobe, or any space that could benefit from a soft scent and handmade charm.

Completed handmade lavender bunting with pastel gingham fabric triangles displayed in a sewing studio.

What Materials Do You Need?

Fabric – ¼ metre of 4 different fabrics to create 12 pennants (3 of each colour way)
You may need more fabric if you want additional pennants or fewer colour variations.
Bias binding – 2.5 metres × 1″ (2.5cm)
(Increase the length if adding more pennants or if you require longer hanging ties.)
Thread
Template (4″ / 10cm wide × 4″ / 10cm long) – Download Here
Print and cut in card for stability.
Lavender (or alternative filling)

Materials and tools for making lavender bunting including gingham fabric, scissors, bias binding, lavender, thread, ruler, and sewing template laid out on a white background.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Sewing machine
Scissors or rotary cutter
Chalk, pencil, or removable fabric pen
Pins
Ruler
Tape measure

Step 1: Prepare and Mark Your Fabric

Place the template on the WRONG side of the fabric. Trace around the template using a removable fabric marker or chalk.

Tracing a triangular bunting template onto green gingham fabric using a removable fabric pen before cutting.

Bunting triangle outline drawn onto gingham fabric showing the stitching line marked with a removable fabric pen.

Add a ¼” (5mm) seam allowance around the template using a ruler.

Using a ruler and removable fabric pen to draw a seam allowance around a bunting triangle template on gingham fabric.

Drawing both the stitching line and seam allowance can be helpful for beginners. While it takes a little longer, it ensures:

Evenly sized pennants
Perfectly symmetrical points
A more professional finish

Step 2: Cut out the Pennants

Cut around the outermost seam allowance line. Each finished pennant requires two triangle pieces.

Cutting out a bunting triangle from gingham fabric using dressmaking scissors, following the drawn seam allowance.

For this project I did the following:

12 finished pennants
4 fabrics
3 pennants per fabric
6 triangles cut per fabric

Step 3: Sew the Pennants

Place two triangles RIGHT sides together.

Two bunting triangles placed right sides together and aligned ready for pinning and sewing.

Position a pin at the top point first, to ensure both drawn points align.

Pinning a bunting triangle at the point to ensure accurate and symmetrical sewing.

Pin around the rest of the triangle, matching the drawn lines and placing a pin along the stitching line.

Pinning a bunting triangle along the drawn stitching line to ensure accurate and symmetrical sewing.

Sew the two pennants together. Sewing tips:

Stitch along the drawn stitching line
Backstitch at the start and end
At the point, place the needle down, lift the presser foot, rotate the fabric, and continue sewing

Repeat for all pennants.

Step 4: Trim, Turn & Press

Trim seam allowances to ⅛” (3mm) to reduce bulk.

Carefully trimming seam allowances of a bunting triangle to reduce bulk before turning right side out.

Trim horizontally at the point (do not cut through stitches).

Clipping excess fabric at the point of a bunting triangle to help achieve a sharp, clean point when turned.

Turn the pennant to the RIGHT side.

Use a point turner, pencil, or wooden dowel to shape the point. (Avoid using scissors, they can easily pierce the stitching).

Press flat.

Pressing a sewn bunting triangle flat with an iron to create a crisp edge and sharp point.

Step 5: Fill with Lavender

Open the top of the pennant and fill with approximately 1 teaspoon of lavender.

Lightly distribute the lavender so that the pennant sits flat.

Filling a fabric bunting triangle with dried lavender using a spoon before closing the top edge.

Step 6: Close the Top Edge

Stitch ¼” (5mm) from the top edge of the pennant using a long basting stitch (4mm).

Backstitch at both ends

This can be done by hand if preferred; the stitch simply holds the lavender in place.

Stitching across the top edge of a bunting triangle on a sewing machine to secure the lavender filling.

Step 7: Arrange the Pennants

Lay out your pennants and decide on the order.

This is completely personal and depends on your fabrics and colour balance.

Finished fabric bunting triangles laid out with white bias binding ready to be assembled into bunting.

Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise and find the centre.

Find the centre of your bunting:

If you have an odd number of pennants, the centre of the bunting is the middle pennant.
If you have an even number of pennants, the centre of the bunting sits between two pennants.

Match the bunting centre to binding centre.

Step 8: Attach the Bias Binding

Position the pennants with the RIGHT side facing up.

Place the top edge of the pennant inside the folded bias binding; ensure the binding folds evenly either side of the pennant.

Positioning bunting triangles inside folded bias binding to prepare for pinning and sewing.

Position pins ⅛” (3mm) from the edge of the bias binding.

Place pins evenly, so that they are the same distance from the edge of the binding on the front and back.

Pinning bunting triangles evenly into folded bias binding to hold them in place before stitching.

Continue working outward from the centre.

Step 9: Finish the Binding Ends & Sew

After the last pennant has been placed, continue folding the binding in half, matching and pinning the edge.

Pinning bias binding in place before stitching.

Finish the end of the binding by folding the raw short edge towards the wrong side by ½” (1cm).

Continue to fold the binding in half, as completed throughout and pin in position.

Folding the raw end of bias binding inward to create a neat, clean finish at the end of the bunting.

Pinning the folded end of bias binding to secure the bunting before final sewing.

Close-up of the folded and pinned end of bias binding ready to be stitched for a professional finish.

Sew the binding onto the pennants.

Stitch ⅛” (3mm) from the edge of the binding, using a consistent guide on your sewing machine foot.

A walking foot can help with thicker layers; especially if your machine struggles to start sewing at the end of the binding. Start and finish with a small backstitch to secure.

Sewing along the edge of white bias binding on a sewing machine to attach bunting triangles evenly.

Trim threads once complete.

Close-up of a blue gingham bunting triangle with white bias binding folded over the top edge, showing neat topstitching securing the bunting in place.

Finished Lavender Bunting

Your lavender bunting is now ready to hang and enjoy. Experiment with:

Different fabric combinations
Spacing between pennants
Alternative fillings

Perfect for nurseries, wardrobes, gifts, or simply adding a handmade touch to your home.

Originally Published: 9 July 2015

Updated: 12 January 2026