How to make your own bunting for a Big Jubilee Lunch

There’s certain to be plenty of colourful mini-flags on display at the community get-togethers being organised for the Big Lunch weekend from 2nd-5th June 2022. The annual event has been renamed The Big Jubilee Lunch this year to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years of service.

The Big Lunch, an annual event bringing people together to share food, have fun and get to know each other, is just one of the amazing projects made possible by National Lottery players, who raise over £30MMillion each week for good causes.

We asked our friends at The Big Jubilee Lunch for some tips on making regal bunting at home. Here’s their step-by-step guide using simple materials you already have.

To make bunting you will need:

Cardboard

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

Blu Tack or drawing pins

Scraps of material

Ribbon, bias tape or even old shoe laces to string your bunting on

Adhesive: double-sided tape, glue-gun, stapler or needle and thread

Step 1: Make a template

Using a ruler, draw the outline of a triangle on a piece of cardboard. Take your scissors and carefully cut out the shape to create your own bunting template. For the classic bunting shape, we recommend marking measurements of 16cm for the top edge and 22cm for the sides. If you're feeling adventurous, you could try different shapes and sizes for your template.

Step 2: Cut out your flags

Attach your bunting template to pieces of scrap material using pins or Blu Tack so the fabric doesn't move while you are cutting out your flag. Carefully cut around the template to create the flags and repeat until you have the amount you want.

Step 3: Space out your flags

Space your flags evenly along the material you have chosen to string them on. Bias tape is a narrow strip of fabric, handy for finishing off rough edges of fabric; you can find it in various colours and sizes in your nearest sewing shop or large supermarket. Ribbon also works well for bunting. Try to find fun colours and patterns to make your bunting stand out. You could even use old shoe laces or string – get creative!

Step 4: Get sticking

Affix your flags to your string, being careful to leave a decent amount of free space either end for hanging your bunting. You can attach your flags in a couple of ways: a needle and thread will give you a lovely polished look; a hot glue-gun is quick and easy (mind your fingers with the heat). If you're short on time, try out double-sided tape or even a stapler!

Step 5: Hang up

... and enjoy!

Remember, bunting can be made out of almost anything – recycled scraps of old fabric, old clothes, plastic bags or even old tents – so get creative and have a right royal time!

Details of how to host your own Big Jubilee Lunch can be found here.

24th May 2022