I don’t know about you but I am quite happy to swiftly move away from Christmas and New Year and turn my thoughts onto my favourite time of year – Easter and Spring!
Never more than this year has Spring seemed more hopeful. By then, (hopefully!) this awful virus will be under control, more people will be vaccinated and we may even be able to venture outside again and enjoy the beautiful weather that comes in Spring. A welcome sight after such a long cold and dark winter, especially a lockdown winter!
In the meantime, I’ve happily been making do playing with this beautiful and super sweet Easter Egg Hunt fabric designed by Natàlia Juan Abelló for Riley Blake Designs. Today I am sharing two projects, including a free pattern to make your own cute mini bunting!
First up is this Hexie Basket. I was looking at all the pretty prints and they were just crying out to be fussy cut, and we all know one of the best ways to highlight a cute fussy cut print is a hexagon. With that in mind I set to work sewing together a hexie panel. Honestly these prints are so adorable!
It was at that moment inspiration struck and I decided to use it to make a basket. Perfect for holding all the Easter Goodies!
Rather than trimming any of the hexagons, I appliqued them to fabric. This Riley Blake Basic Texture in Sweet Mint works perfectly and I love how the texture adds to the effect of a basket.
For the back, rather than do more hexagons, I went for stripes.
For both the front and back I quilted “in the ditch”. Something I am not overly confident with, but this time luck seemed to be on my side and it turned out OK!
Made with a foam interfacing, this basket is not only sturdy it has plenty of room inside, and of course it doesn’t have to be used just for Easter. I am planning on making some more, it’s always great finding a way to use some hexies. I also hope to write up a pattern for it too.
On the subject of pattern I’d like to share my second make. I couldn’t resist making some bunting! (Keep reading for the free pattern and template!)
You can’t beat a bit of bunting to cheer a room up, and I think Easter is a perfect opportunity to indulge in that. I had a lot of fun with these and had to stop myself with the amount of flags I did. (FYI bunting is incredibly hard to photo!) It also seemed the perfect excuse to crack open the Mini Eggs, which may or may not have been eaten during the writing of this post!
It seemed a good choice to go with a sunny yellow gingham (another Riley Blake Basic) to string them all together. In hindsight cutting the fabric on the bias probably would have worked better, although this way still works.
I really enjoyed picking out features of my favourite prints to showcase these sweet fabrics. There are so many sweet details. Even the floral fabric when you take a closer look has bunches of carrots.
So if you’d like to make your own bunting you can download the template below. Read on for instructions.
You will need:
- 16 x main fabric – 3.5″ (w) x 4.5″ (h)
- 16 x backing fabric – 3.5″ x 4.5″
- Double folded bias binding – 2 yds
- Point turning tool
- Sharp scissors like embroidery scissors.
- Flag template
Making the flags
Download and print off the flag template, making sure the test square measures 1 inch.
Trace and cut 16 of each main fabric and backing from the template.
With right sides together, sew around the 2 long edges and the bottom points with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
With a pair of small sharp scissors trim the points to ⅛” and add snips along the bottom, and right into the V. Be careful not to snip the seam! This stage is vital in achieving nice sharp points.
Turn right side out through the opening at the top.
Using a point turning tool (a knitting needle or chopstick will work fine) gentle push the seams down into the corners until the points are nice and sharp.
Press well and top stitch 1/8″ around the 3 sewn sides.
Repeat until you have 16 flags ( or your desired amount)
Attaching the binding
Open your binding so you can see the middle.
Starting on the left measure 10″ along from the end and place your first flag.
Stitch in place with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Make sure to keep the top fold open. We will stitch this down later.
Measure 1″ from the edge of the flag and make a small mark, place your next flag on that line. If you prefer you can have a shorter or bigger gap. It’s entirely up to you. (If you do have a bigger gap you will need extra binding). Stitch that down as you did for the first. Repeat for all the flags. Trim any excess binding on the end so you are left with 10″ to match the other end.
Once all flags have been basted in place, conceal the raw edges by folding the open binding down and top stitch 1/8″ from the edge.
Now if you’re brave or short on time you could clip in place and topstitch in one hit, however the way I’ve shared although takes a little more time, ensures neatly placed flags.
Finished! You have some sweet binding! I hope you enjoy this quick and easy make! I can’t wait to make more for every occasion we have! So much fun.
What Saysie Makes 
This fabric line is just gorgeous, I especially like the hexie basket. Hexies are my favourite form of sewing and I am alway looking for ideas to use them different ways. x
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