Planning a summer garden party? Spruce up your outdoor decor in a snap with this easy and free crochet bunting pattern by Lynne Rowe!
Everyone loves a strip of brightly coloured bunting and these days we don’t even need to be celebrating to get the bunting out. Who would have thought that a length of evenly spaced colourful triangles would become a symbol of happy times and practically compulsory at a street party, wedding or public event. Strung from lamp-post to lamp-post in a zig-zag fashion, bunting can instantly create a feel-good factor and never fails to lift our mood.
Bunting was originally used on ships as far back as the early 1600s and was made from a lightweight cloth that flapped in the wind, whereas today we can buy bunting in almost any form, including paper, fabric, plastic or card. It comes in a variety of shapes too, such as hearts and squares as well as the traditional triangle and it can be bright, colourful, chequered or floral. It’s great that ‘the good old-fashioned bunting’ is now a permanent feature in many homes, gardens and summer houses, mainly because it instantly adds a bit of vintage charm to a room or outdoor space, as well as making us smile.
My favourite thing about bunting is that anyone can make it, from small children to adults. It doesn’t matter if your crafting skills are minimal because a few sheets of coloured paper combined with string and glue can create a line of bright and cheery bunting; even better if you can crochet, because it is perfect for using up scraps of yarn. You can make it for any occasion – Birthdays, Weddings, Baby Showers, School Fetes or Christmas and you could even create your own ‘happy memories’ bunting from left over yarn from those special projects – creating a visual memory of all the lovely things you’ve made.
If you’re a regular visitor to Yarndale, you will have seen the spectacular bunting display, created from hundreds and hundreds of lovingly made triangles from all around the world - 6,000 triangles in total, which is quite incredible and the perfect way to bring people together from all over the world.
Free crochet bunting pattern
With my free pattern you can make your own strip of bunting from your yarn stash oddments. I’ve used six colours of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino with a 4mm hook to create a triangle that measures 12cm long, but you can easily substitute any yarn. You could even use different yarn weights within your strip, to create different sized flags. The possibilities are endless. You will also need 1-2m of ribbon.
Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in six colours:
Apple (002)
Peach Melba (0068)
Sienna (067)
Ecru (101)
Forest Green (053)
Mint (003)
Hook size: 4mm
Notions: 2m of 6-7mm ribbon
Triangular Pennant Instructions (make as many as you wish):
Using any colour yarn and 4mm hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 3ch (counts as first tr), 3tr into ring, 3ch, [4tr into ring, 3ch] twice, sl st to top of beginning 3ch. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Round 2: Join next colour to any 3ch space, 3ch (counts as first tr), (1tr, 3ch, 2tr) all into same 3ch space, *1tr in each of next 4 tr, (2tr, 3ch, 2tr) all into next 3ch space; rep from * once more, 1tr in each of next 4 tr, sl st to top of beginning 3ch. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Round 3: Join next colour to any 3ch space, 3ch (counts as first tr), (2tr, 3ch, 3tr) all into same 3ch space, *1tr in each of next 8 tr, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) all into next 3ch space; rep from * once more, 1tr in each of next 8 tr, sl st to top of beginning 3ch. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Round 4: Join next colour to any 3ch space, 3ch (counts as first tr), (2tr, 3ch, 3tr) all into same 3ch space, *1tr in each of next 14 tr, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) all into next 3ch space; rep from * once more, 1tr in each of next 14 tr, sl st to top of beginning 3ch.
Round 5 (Border): Worked around 2 sides only. Sl st in each of next 2 tr, sl st into corner sp, 3ch, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), *sl st in each of next 3 tr, 3ch, sl st in 3rd chain from hook (picot made), rep from * 5 times more**, sl st in each of next 2 tr, sl st in 3ch space, 3ch, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sl st in same 3ch space, rep from * to ** once more, sl st in each of next 2 tr, sl st in next 3ch space, 3ch, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sl st in same 3ch space. Cut yarn and fasten off. The unworked edge is the top of the pennant.
Weave all loose ends of yarn into work and trim. Pin flat and block each triangle. Sew straight edge of flags onto ribbon, evenly spaced apart, or thread ribbon through the straight edge of the flag, weaving the ribbon through the gaps between the treble stitches.
Love this pattern? It's here free thanks to the designer, Lynne Rowe! Head to knitcrochetcreate.com to follow her projects, see more free patterns, and keep in touch.