Winter is creeping into my garden. Day by day it inches closer. While I am not resisting the crisper mornings and shorter days, I do yearn for summer’s colour.
Bright yellow pumpkin flowers radiate from one end of the veggie patch while others in the opposing ‘compost corner’ mirror the glow. That helps. Other than the standard 50 shades of green, the gentle purple hues of the bean blossom and the dainty rosemary flower are the only other colours my vegetable garden offers this May.
Looking out of the window, I think it’s time for a vegetable garden colour make-over!
If mother nature can’t provide the colour I’m craving, I’m going to give her a gentle helping hand.
I’ve been meaning for ages to make garden bunting. Not only will it brighten up my vegetable garden it may flap about and fend off a few birds who are taking a particularly unhealthy liking to the last of the guava.
Enter the linen cupboard. Packed with well-worn, dearly loved tea towels that have served their time and then some, it’s a treasure trove of potential. Stained corners, thinning threads—they’re past their prime in the kitchen, but I couldn’t think of a better way to give them one final encore than transforming them into cheerful garden bunting. A rustic and practical upcycling project that not only brings joy but also keeps a little fabric out of landfill.
Why Tea Towels?
Cotton tea towels are workhorses: tough, breathable, and already worn into softness. They also tend to come in charming colours or prints, even when well past their kitchen-use stage. While they won’t last forever out in the elements, they’ll certainly brighten things up for a good while.
If you are not ready to forfeit old tea towels, reach for any colourful material remnants – they do the job perfectly too. This is a sewing-for-beginners project, a no-fuss easy project, that’s fast, fun and family-friendly.
What You’ll Need
- Old cotton tea towels or similar scrap fabric
- Cardboard or brown paper (to make a template)
- Sewing scissors
- Pins (optional)
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Garden twine or strong natural string
- Safety pin (for threading)
- Optional: scrap ribbon, pinking shears
Homemade Garden Bunting
- Make Your Template: Create a triangle shape out of cardboard or brown paper to act as your pattern.
- Cut Your Fabric: Fold your tea towel or fabric in half so you can cut two layers at once. This way, you get front and back pieces for each flag. Place your triangle template on the fabric, pin it if needed, and cut around it using sharp sewing scissors. Pinking shears can add a decorative edge if you have them.
- Sew the Triangles: As I’ve gone for the ‘rustic’ look simply sew the edges (so there is no need to do blind seams). A zig-zag stitch is easy and is fit for purpose.
- Repeat: Continue until you’ve made as many flags as you want. A string of 8 to 12 triangles is a great starting point, but feel free to make more depending on how much space you want to decorate, and how much material you have at hand!
- Thread the Flags: Using a safety pin attached to one end of your garden twine, thread it through the top of each triangle. Space them out evenly. If you prefer, you can sew each flag directly onto the twine for a sturdier finish.
- Hang It Up: Drape your bunting along fences, across garden beds, over trellises, or even near the compost heap. The gentle movement may even deter some of the birds who are a little too interested in your late-season crops.
