Bunting 101: Help!

10 March 2010


{photo by Sarah Maren}


{photo by Max Wanger}


{photo by Floataway Studios}


{photo by Jeanne Ciasullo}

BUNTING! I sure seem to write about bunting a lot, don’t I? Sheesh. My apologies if it’s not your cup of tea, but it certainly is mine. Anyway, we’ll be making a whole lot of the stuff for this summer’s wedding. Yes, a whole lot. We’re going to deck the whole weekend in bunting.

I do have one question for y’all before we begin construction. I don’t like the look of pinking shear edges, but I’m worried about fraying if we cut the triangles with a straight edge, wheel, or scissors. I’ve heard that soaking the fabric in a flour-water (or maybe sugar-water?) mixture and then letting it dry before cutting will help, but I’m not sure. Does anyone have a great solution to this problem? Any tips? Is this flour-water hocus pocus totally bogus? PLEASE weigh in!

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Stephanie
March 10, 2010 6:29 pm

Hmm, I haven't heard of the flour-water thing, but it sounds iffy. Wouldn't it leave a weird residue on the fabric??

You might try spraying with liquid starch after cutting. It might be glue-esque enough to prevent fraying.

Cassandra
March 10, 2010 10:40 pm

When I sew I use this little glue stuff called Fray Check (available at JoAnns), but it's a tiny bottle, and it might not be logical. What about folding the ends over and doing a quick seam?

simplesong
March 11, 2010 12:43 am

we made fabric bunting for our son's bday and i was originally going to use no fray fabric spray (like this http://www.amazon.com/Sprayway-No-Fray-Spray/dp/B0005JO4JE) but i found that i didn't need it. after cutting + sewing it it frayed very little!

Emily
March 11, 2010 2:06 am

Thank you, thank you! I will most definitely take your suggestions under advisement.

Laurie
March 25, 2010 2:23 am

I have made a many of these pennant buntings in my day – usually they are for one event. To be honest I have not bothered to fend off the fraying. I cut them and attach them to the main line and let them go. Depending on the fabric some fray a bit – but it's never been a deal. If they were going to whip in the wind for a month it might be a problem – but for one weekend – I think might be safe to leave well enough alone . . .

Kate
August 28, 2010 12:55 am

…and doing nothing turned out to be just fine.