Outdoor Bunting - what to use?

[NumTumDeDum]

I'd like to brighten up the garden and I see the neighbours have hung bunting from their gazebo but it's cotton and I can already see it getting tatty. I was thinking maybe I could make some from oilcloth or something hardwearing. I wondered about maybe that fabric you make kites from or sails but where do I get it from and will my Singer machine cope with it? Any ideas?

[seanbonbon]

Cath kidson do oilcloths, you can buy as much as you like, if you find an outlet store it might be a bit cheaper.
No clue about the sewing machine, sorry

[NumTumDeDum]

Actually I do live near an outlet, I'll have a look thanks.

[Startail]

ripstop nylon

If you search, kite and parachute fabric, you get all sorts. Spinnaker cloth is also the same sort of stuff.

Yes it will sew with a good ordinary machine we used it for making caterpillar costumes years ago.

However, readymade outdoor bunting is a lot cheaper

[DaisyBD]

Startail - do you have a link to anywhere selling cheap outdoor bunting? I've found some that is £35 for 10 flags, which seems rather pricy to me... and a tutorial for making it out of old plastic bags, which in my hands would end up minging and look like - well, old plastic bags cut into triangles. I really want to decorate my kitschy hen house (suggestions for chicken-proof plastic flowers in tubs also gratefully received).

[NumTumDeDum]

I think I found the same bunting as you. It is too much for me also.

[PurpleFrog]

So where did you find this expensive outdoor bunting? I had a look a few months ago but I could only find cheap polythene stuff.

I am asking because I had thought about making outdoor bunting, as I have a stash of 2oz and 4oz pu-coated nylon in bright colours which is now so old that I don't want to chance making anything out of it which has to be really waterproof.

[DaisyBD]

Here, PurpleFrog. I do really like it but I can't quite bring myself to buy it at that price.

[PurpleFrog]

Thanks. Gulp! I see what you mean...

[NumTumDeDum]

Annoyingly I can't find a middle option. It's either cheap plastic bunting that will be bleached by the sun and ragged in no time or this expensive stuff. But if I go and buy oil cloth etc it will probably cost just as much and I'll probably make a hash of it. Gah. Will have to think of something else I think.

[SoupDragon]

I wonder if fleece would work. It wouldn't fray and it is made of plastic. Probably colour fast.

[PurpleFrog]

I think fleece would pick up wind-blown dirt etc. very easily.

NumTumDeDum - if I do a test piece I will let you know.

[duchesse]

A group of us made bunting for a friend's daughter's Moroccan themed wedding. The friend had bought a variety of bright quite shiny synthetic satins in Moroccan colours (russet orange, dark red, bright pink etc...). After the wedding, some of it stayed up in the garden for a further 2 years looking just as good as when it first went up.

[OhHullitsOnlyMeYoni]

Wonder if you could use a wax spray on cotton cheapy ones to protect it?

[OhHullitsOnlyMeYoni]

Or check out ebay
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTIC-FLAG-BUNTING-BEER-GARDEN-WEDDINGS-BIRTHDAYS-GARDEN-FETE-DECORATION-/111021643883?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Celebrations_Occasions_ET&hash=item19d967d86b

[KobayashiMaru]

oilcloth:
www.ebay.ie/itm/SALE-Handcrafted-Garden-Bunting-made-with-Cath-Kidston-Flowers-Oilcloth-/161019645440?pt=UK_Home_HomeDecor_Accessories&hash=item257d84ce00#ht_594wt_1037

[NumTumDeDum]

I've found some at Homebase for 6.99. Quite nice colours too.

[NumTumDeDum]

And here is the link.