Bunny Bunting {Tutorial}

Do you decorate your home at Easter time? I must admit, I love my bunny decorations and enjoy displaying them around the living areas at this time of year. This bunny on a scooter is my latest purchase. Isn't he a cutie?!?

This Easter, I decided to create some Bunny Bunting - to keep in theme with the rest of the bunny-ness around the house.

If you'd like to make some Bunny Bunting like mine, here's how I did it.

1. Download and print the bunny outline template. This is one I found for free online when searching bunny coloring pages. Kids coloring pages are such a great resource for sewing projects, don't you think?

2. Trace the design onto some freezer paper and cut it out, directly on the line. If you don't have freezer paper, you can just cut out the printed out designs and use a couple of pins to hold it in place.

3. Choose some pretty fabrics - you will need approximately (2) 6" pieces and the same size scrap of batting. I used some favourite prints from The Shabby Strawberry range of fabric, by Emily Hayes, for Penny Rose Fabrics.

4. Sandwich the fabric and batting, like you would a quilt. Bottom layer of fabric is facing down, batting and then the top layer of fabric, facing upwards. You can spray baste or pin if you like, but personally, I found that it wasn't necessary.

5. Change your machine to a 1.8 - 2.0 stitch length and sew along the edge of the template (through all of the layers). I sewed around the bunny shape twice using a light grey cotton thread - Aurifil #2600 in 40wt.

6. Now it's time to cut out the bunny. Cut approximately 1/8" to 1/16" outside of the stitching. If you have some fray-stop, dab some around the edges to stop fraying... or keep the frayed edges if you like that look (or if you don't have any fray-stop).

7. With a crewel needle and Perle 8 cotton, sew a running stitch all the way around the bunnies (inside of the stitching).

Make as many quilted bunnies as you like, to suit the space. I made 5 and I think an odd number works well.

8. Once you have all of your bunnies finished, it's time to sew them onto your twine or ribbon or cotton tape or really, whatever long string you're planning on using. I used red and white bakers twine for my bunny bunting.

Leave yourself some an empty section at the start (for hanging) and then space out the bunnies along the twine. When you're happy with the way they're spaced out, use a clover clip or a couple of pins, to hold them in place. Sew the bunny ears to the twine with a little cross stitch.

Easy, right? Now go forth and make some Bunny Bunting to hang in your home this Easter.

PS: If you're looking for bunny decorations, I found most of my at Bed, Bath & Table. They have a gorgeous assortment and if you're lucky, they're already reduced in price. Buy up a few now for the remaining few days and then you'll have a bunny collection already started for next Easter ;-)