As soon as I saw Fiskars has a fabric circle cutter, I couldn’t resist making another Fourth of July bunting flag. If you haven’t seen the one I made last year for our fireplace, Stars and Stripes bunting, you can
check it out here.
With the fabric circle cutter, the scalloped bunting project comes together really quick. Making it the perfect project if you’re throwing a last minute get together. And if you don’t celebrate Fourth of July, you can change up the colours and prints used in this tutorial to go with the occasion you’re celebrating or décor in your space.
The fabric circle cutter is a must-have tool for cutting perfect, consistent circles and semi-circles; and it’s easy to use. Simply fold the fabric (for a circle) or remove the raw, jagged edge of the fabric with a rotary cutter and ruler (for a semi-circle). Following the written guides on the ruler (i.e., fabric fold line, half circle seam allowance), align it with folded or straight edge of the fabric. Remove the safety cap from the cutter handle. Apply pressure to the ruler with your non-dominant hand to secure and hold in place. Then carefully slot the blade into the desired measurement, push down on the handle, follow the rounded template of the ruler to cut your fabric. When you’re done, cap the cutter handle and store the ruler on a flat surface. The measurements on the templates also takes out the guesswork when it comes to seam allowances and you can jump straight to constructing your project. Yay! The template includes a ¼in seam allowance.
Each pendant measures 6in x 12in. The final project size will vary based on the number of pendants on a chain. The pendants are joined by using binding and between each pendant is a 1in gap and has approximately 35in overhang on each end of the chain to tie the bunting on to surfaces. Below is table with approximate chain length by the number of pendants:
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Number of pendants on each chain
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Length of chain
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1
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82in (209 cm)
|
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2
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95in (242 cm)
|
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3
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108in (275 cm)
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4
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121in (308 cm)
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5
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134in (341 cm)
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6
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147in (374 cm)
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7
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160in (405 cm)
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What You'll Need
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# Of pendants on each chain
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Fabric A
(Small semi-circle)
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Fabric B
(Medium semi-circle)
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Fabric C
(Large semi-circle)
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Fabric D
(Frills)
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Fabric E
(Backing)
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Fabric F
(Binding)
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1
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• One (1), 3½in x 5½in |
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• One (1),
5½in x 9½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• One (1),
7in x 13½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• One (1),
2in x 11in
• One (1),
2in x 20in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• One (1), 3½in x 5½in
• One (1), 5½in x 9½in
• One (1), 7in x 13½in
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¼yd (23cm)
• Two (2), 2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 82in |
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2
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Two (2), 3½in x 5½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Two (2),
5½in x 9½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Two (2),
7in x 13½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Two (2),
2in x 11in
• Two (2),
2in x 20in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Two (2),
3½in x 5½in
• Two (2),
5½in x 9½in
• Two (2),
7in x 13½in
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¼yd (23cm)
• Three (3),
2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 95in
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3
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Three (3), 3½in x 5½in
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¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Three (3),
5½in x 9½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Three (3),
7in x 13½in
|
¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Three (3),
2in x 11in
• Three (3),
2in x 20in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Three (3),
3½in x 5½in
• Three (3),
5½in x 9½in
• Three (3),
7in x 13½in
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¼yd (23cm)
• Three (3),
2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 108in
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4
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Four (4), 3½in x 5½in
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¼yd (23cm) or 1 FQ*
• Four (4),
5½in x 9½in
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½yd (46cm)
• Four (4),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Four (4),
2in x 11in
• Four (4),
2in x 20in
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¾yd (69cm)
• Four (4),
3½in x 5½in
• Four (4),
5½in x 9½in
• Four (4),
7in x 13½in
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¼yd (23cm)
• Three (3),
2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 121in
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5
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Five (5),
3½in x 5½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Five (5),
5½in x 9½in
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½yd (46cm)
• Five (5),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Five (5),
2in x 11in
• Five (5),
2in x 20in
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¾yd (69cm)
• Five (5),
3½in x 5½in
• Five (5),
5½in x 9½in
• Five (5),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Four (4), 2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 134in
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6
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⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Six (6),
3½in x 5½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Six (6),
5½in x 9½in
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½yd (46cm)
• Six (6),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Six (6),
2in x 11in
• Six (6),
2in x 20in
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¾yd (69cm)
• Six (6),
3½in x 5½in
• Six (6),
5½in x 9½in
• Six (6),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Four (4),
2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 147in
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7
|
⅛yd (12cm) or 1 FE*
• Seven (7),
3½in x 5½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Seven (7),
5½in x 9½in
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¾yd (69cm)
• Seven (7),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Seven (7),
2in x 11in
• Seven (7),
2in x 20in
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1yd (92cm)
• Seven (7),
3½in x 5½in
• Seven (7),
5½in x 9½in
• Seven (7),
7in x 13½in
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⅜yd (35cm)
• Four (4),
2in x 42in. Sew all strips width wise and sub-cut: one (1), 2in x 160in
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*Note: A fat eighth (FE) is an eighth of a yard of fabric that measures approximately 9in x 22in. It is made by cutting a quarter of a yard in half of the fold.
A fat quarter (FQ) is a quarter of a yard of fabric. It measures approximately 18in x 22in and is made by cutting a yard of fabric in half lengthwise and vertically.
- Fusible interfacing – Requirements are based on 20in width of interfacing:
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# Of pendants on each chain
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1
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⅜ yd (35cm)
• One (1), 3½in x 5½in
• One (1), 5½in x 9½in
• One (1), 7in x 13½in
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2
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½ yd (46cm)
• Two (2), 3½in x 5½in
• Two (2), 5½in x 9½in
• Two (2), 7in x 13½in
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3
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⅝ yd (58cm)
• Three (3), 3½in x 5½in
• Three (3), 5½in x 9½in
• Three (3), 7in x 13½in
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4
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¾ yd (69cm)
• Four (4), 3½in x 5½in
• Four (4), 5½in x 9½in
•Four (4), 7in x 13½in
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5
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⅞ yd (80cm)
• Five (5), 3½in x 5½in
• Five (5), 5½in x 9½in
• Five (5), 7in x 13½in
|
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6
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1 yd (92cm)
• Six (6), 3½in x 5½in
• Six (6), 5½in x 9½in
• Six (6), 7in x 13½in
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7
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1⅛ yd (104cm)
• Seven (7), 3½in x 5½in
• Seven (7), 5½in x 9½in
• Seven (7), 7in x 13½in
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Directions
Read through all the directions before you start. Seam allowance throughout the project id ¼in unless specified.
PREPARE TEMPLATES
Skip this section and go to Fusing and Cutting Semi-Circles, Step 1, if you have a Fiskars Circle Cutter.
Step 1: Print out paper templates (
download them here) at 100% scale. Test that the print out is to scale by using a ruler to measure the ‘1in test block’ square.
Step 2: There are three different sized semi-circles: Small (Template A), Medium (Template B) and Large (Template C) Semi-Circle. For the Large Semi-Circle template (Template C), there are two parts to it. Join the two templates to form a complete semi-circle.
Note: For Template C, the second half overlaps the first one to help with getting the two pieces aligned.
Sections on Fusing and Cutting Semi-Circles, Step 1 to Assembling Pendants, Step 1 are instructions for one pendant. Repeat the series of steps based on the number pendants you’re creating.
FUSING AND CUTTING SEMI-CIRCLES
Step 1: Identify the adhesive side of the fusible interfacing. Place adhesive side of interfacing on wrong side of corresponding one (1) Fabric A 3½in x 5½in rectangle, one (1) Fabric B 5½in x 9½in rectangle and one (1) Fabric C 7in x 13½in rectangle.
By applying the fusible interfacing, it helps keep the semi-circles in shape and will make pinning and sewing the frills at a later step easier.
Step 2: The project requires you to cut three different sized semi-circles:
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Small semi-circle:
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If you’re using the Fiskars Circle Cutter, line up the long edge of one (1) 3½in x 5½in rectangle with the fabric fold line markers and 4in notches on the Fiskars Circle Cutter.
- If you’re using the paper templates, use Template A
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If you’re using the Fiskars Circle Cutter, line up the long edge of one (1) 5½in x 9½in rectangle with the fabric fold line markers and 8in notches on the Fiskars Circle Cutter.
- If you’re using the paper templates, use Template B
-
Large semi-circle:
-
If you’re using the Fiskars Circle Cutter, line up the long edge of one (1) 7in x 13½in rectangle with the fabric fold line markers and 12in notches on the Fiskars Circle Cutter.
- If you’re using the paper templates, use Template C
For one pendant you will need to cut a total of:
- One (1) Fabric A small semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric E small semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric B medium semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric E medium semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric C large semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric E large semi-circle
Set semi-circles aside for Frills, Step 5.
FRILLS
The first few steps of this section involve gathering fabric. Please use a coordinating thread colour here, i.e., white. For the purpose of the tutorial, I used a darker colour to make it easier to see where the stitches are made.
Step 1: With right sides together, fold and press one (1) Fabric D 2in x 11in rectangle and one (1) 2in x 20in rectangle in half lengthwise. Therefore, you would end up with one (1) Fabric D 1in x 11in rectangle and one (1) Fabric D 1in x 20in rectangle.
Step 2: Head over to the sewing machine. Pull a long tail of top and bobbin thread – at least 3in to 4in. This is going to make it easier to gather the fabric in the following step. Adjust the stitch length on the sew machine to be the longest possible. My sewing machine allows up to 5.0mm as the stitch length.
Sew one straight line approx. ⅛in from the raw edge of one folded Fabric D rectangle. Do not backstitch the beginning and end of the seam. Before you trim and remove the rectangle from the sewing machine, make sure you leave a long tail of top and bobbin thread – at least 3in to 4in, similar to the start of the seam.
Repeat this step with the second Fabric D rectangle.
Step 3: Fold both the Fabric D rectangles in half width wise, finger press and with a fabric pen or marker, mark the centre point.
Step 4: Take the top thread tail on one end of the Fabric D rectangle with one hand and carefully pull it to form gathers in the fabric. You will want to do this from both ends to maintain the integrity of the seams and avoid breaking the thread.
Don’t worry too much about how dense the gathers are or how the Fabric D rectangles are laying out at this point. That will be adjusted in the next step.
Step 5: Take one (1) Fabric A small semi-circle, fold in half to make a quarter of a circle, finger press to identify the centre point of the semi-circle. Unfold the semi-circle.
With one (1) Fabric A small semi-circle facing up, line up the raw edge of one (1) Fabric D 1in x 11in rectangle with the inside round edge of one (1) Fabric A small semi-circle. To ensure there is an even distribution of Fabric D rectangle across the semi-circle, start with aligning and pinning the marked central points on the Fabric D rectangle and small semi-circle. Then match and pin the ends of Fabric D rectangle with the long edge of the semi-circle. Move and adjust the gathers (Fabric D rectangle) so they are evenly distributed and the semi-circle lays flat. Place pins to keep Fabric D rectangle in place.
Repeat this step with one (1) Fabric B medium semi-circle and one (1) Fabric D 1in x 20in rectangle.
Step 6: Once you have matched Fabric D rectangles with small and medium semi-circles, reduce the stitch length to 2.0 to 2.5 and sew ¼in from the rounded raw edges of the semi-circles to secure the layers of fabric in place.
Take your time, you may need to lift the presser foot to adjust the fabrics as you go around the semi-circle and the gathers don’t catch on the presser foot. Also, don’t forget to reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam. And it is okay if the ends of Fabric D rectangles are left raw at this stage of the project. They will be enclosed by the binding connecting all the pendants together.
ASSEMBLING SEMI-CIRCLES
Step 1: With right sides together, match and pin the following corresponding semi-circles:
- One (1) Fabric A small semi-circle from Frill, Step 6 and one (1) Fabric E small semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric B medium semi-circle from Frill, Step 6 and one (1) Fabric E medium semi-circle
- One (1) Fabric C large semi-circle and one (1) Fabric E large semi-circle
Step 2: Sew ¼in from the rounded raw edges of all the semi-circles to secure the layers of fabric in place.
Step 3: With a pair of fabric scissors, carefully clip notches around the rounded edges of the semi-circles, avoiding the stitches. This is going to allow the rounded edges to lay flatter and form a rounder edge.
Step 4: Turn the semi-circles right side out and press into place.
ASSEMBLING PENDANTS
Step 5: Fold each of the semi-circles in half to make a quarter of a circle to identify the centre and finger press. Unfold the semi-circles.
With Fabric A, B and C of the semi-circles facing up, align the semi-circles’ long edges and central points. Pin and edge sew in place.
Step 6: Repeat steps Fusing and Cutting Semi-Circles, step 1 to Assembling Pendants, Step 1 based on the number of pendants required for your chain.
BINDING
By now, all the pendants for the project are complete and this final section is all about combining them to one long chain and finishing the raw edges of the pendant. The following steps applies to all chain lengths.
Step 1: At each end of the longer Fabric F Binding rectangle, fold the raw edges towards the centre of the wrong side of the fabric twice. Press and edge sew to hide the raw edges to create one (1) Chain Binding. The Chain Binding is used to connect all the pendants.
Step 2: Fold and press the Chain Binding in half lengthwise (as per Frills, Step 1).
Step 3: Measure 35in from one side of the Chain Binding and make a note of the measurement with a fabric marker or pen. With the wrong side of one (1) pendant facing up, match the top left corner of the pendant with the marked guide.
Then line up the raw edges of the Pendant and Chain Binding, and sew ¼in from the raw edge to secure the Pendant in place.
Step 4: This step applies to projects with 2 or more Pendants. Skip and move on to the following step if the project has 1 Pendant.
Using the right side of the Pendant as a guide, attach the remaining Pendants, leaving a 1in gap between each Pendant and sew ¼in from the raw edge to secure the Pendant(s) in place.
Step 5: Fold the Chain Binding over to the right side of the Pendants and machine sew to secure it.
Step 6: Trim loose threads, hang and enjoy! And don’t forget to share your progress or completed project on social media by tagging: #ScallopedBuntingFlags #TheWeekendQuilter @the.weekendquilter
This blog post is written by a Fiskars brand ambassador and sponsored by Fiskars. This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you use these links to buy something, I may receive a commission.
