A big, happy ‘Hello!’ to you all, my favorite online community of crocheters!
I’m particularly excited about the free crochet pattern I’m sharing with you today! Crochet Button Bunting!
OK, crochet bunting isn’t anything new, however, I feel like I’ve achieved something new here…
Now and then, throughout the year, I get the urge to get more organized, especially around the home. I also love celebrating the change in seasons and I value my little rituals that mark the start of a new month, too.
Every 4 weeks I would swap the cardboard lettering I had on my bulletin board, to suit the appropriate month. This frequent swapping was making them look a bit ‘well-loved’. The thought of having to replace them soon got me thinking. “Why not crochet some?”. So I did!
I’m a stickler for saving space, time and energy. All of these factors would be wasted if I crocheted up a separate string of bunting for Every. Single. Month. If I did that, I’d have to crochet 74 flags (or ‘pennants’). I wanted to retain the freedom and simplicity of using interchangeable letters. Especially as I’d only need to make 27.
27! Instead of 74?! That’s basically 2 thirds of precious time, space and energy saved! Not to mention materials. It’s a no-brainer. Plus it’s so easy to store and swap a few letters from a deck of flags.
These little crochet bunting pennants can be swapped around, all thanks to the little buttons that hold them in place. Of course, you could crochet them together if a more permanent result is what you’re after.
While I was designing the bunting, I thought I’d create a new board to display it on. Something not too large that could decoratively hang above my original bulletin board. And so, in a separate post, I have written up the tutorial on how to create your very own: Crochet Bunting Board! (Try saying that 3 times fast)
For now, though, find the Crochet Button Bunting free pattern below! For a printer-friendly PDF version, click here to be taken to Ravelry. There, you can download it for a small fee. In return, you’ll receive the 8-page PDF complete with extra tips and informative help. I have also included:
- Crochet Chart for Bunting
- Lettering Charts for the full English Alphabet
- Number Charts 0-9
- Schematic
- A printer-friendly version of the Crochet Bunting Bulletin Board Tutorial
By occasionally supporting my little, run-from-home business, I am able to continue sharing my designs for free. A win-win for all! here is the FREE pattern for the basic Crochet Button Bunting!
These bunting flags are quite small at 4.5cm wide by 6.25cm high (1¾” wide by 2½” high). I worked them up using my favorite 4ply organic cotton, by Mayflower. You can play around with varying yarn weights and button sizes to create the size you prefer.
Button Bunting
CROCHET PENNANTS
Designed by Consciously Crochet
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner – Basic stitches & minimal shaping
HOOK SIZE
3mm / US C-2
MATERIALS
- MAYFLOWER Cotton 8/4 Fingering Weight (aka 4ply) (100% organic cotton, 50g/170m),
“Sand” (Shade 25) 1 x 50g ball makes approx. 22 pennants (flags)
If making my Button Bunting Board (see full tutorial here), you will need 27 pennants, so:
- “Sand” (Shade 25) x 2 for pennants
- “Brown” (Shade 26) x 1 for lettering
- Extra yarn if adding tassels
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
- Yarn Needle
- 2 x Stitch Markers
- Scissors
- 2 x 13mm/½” buttons per pennant (flag)
- 14mm/½” Cotton Tape to sew buttons onto
GAUGE & FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Each pennant (flag) measures:
4.5cm wide by 6.25cm high/1¾” wide by 2½” high, using a 3mm hook.
STITCHES USED & ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS)
ch – chain
st(s) – stitch(es)
sc – single crochet
trb – treble crochet
SPECIAL STITCHES
Magic Circle – an adjustable ring that can be pulled tight, used to begin crochet projects worked in the round. Alternatively, ch3 and slip stitch into the first chain to create a ring. Leave a tail if adding tassels.
Chainless Starting Treble Crochet (optional) – Tall treble stitches are worked at the top of the bunting flags to create a more open fabric. This is perfect for small buttons to slide through. This row starts with 4 chain which counts as the first Treble. For neater work, I recommend starting the row with the Chainless Starting Treble Crochet – see tutorial here: how-to-crochet-special-stitches/
NOTES
Pattern is worked in rows, turning at the end of each row. At the start of the increase rows (rows 2-6), we work 2 chain. BOTH of these chains are important:
- We work 1sc in the first chain made (this is the second chain from the hook). When doing this, I recommend you work into both top loops of the chain. This will make your work neater.
- The loop created by the second of these 2 chains made will be worked into at the end of the NEXT row. This creates a nice, neat increase edge. It may help you to use a stitch marker to mark this chain as soon as you’ve made it. This will make it is easier to locate later on.
Rows 7-16 start with 1 chain. This chain is a turning chain, and therefore does not count as a stitch.
At the end of each row you can find the number of stitches completed for that row in squared brackets, like so: “[12 sts]”.
INSTRUCTIONS
In a Magic Ring:
Row 1: ch1 (mark this chain to help you locate it at the end of Row 2). 2sc into ring.
[2sts] NOTE: Don’t pull the ring closed if you’re planning to adorn your flags with embellishments, for example tassels. The ring is handy to use to secure these added touches.
Rows 2-6: ch2 (mark the second chain made to help you locate it at the end of the next row). 1sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st to the end of the row. 1sc in ch loop we marked at the start of the previous row.
[+2 sts after each row worked]
After completing Row 6, you should have 12 sts.
Rows 7-16: ch1 (does not count as a stitch), 1sc in each st. [12 sts]
Row 17: ch3 (counts as 1trb – alternatively, for neater work, master the Chainless Starting Treble Crochet stitch), make 1trb in the next st and in each st across the row. [12 sts]
Row 18: ch1, 1sc in each st across. [12 sts] Fasten off and weave in this end using a yarn needle.
FINISHING OFF
Use a contrasting color of yarn to sew lettering. Lettering Charts are available in the printer-friendly pattern.
Button Placement: Buttons are placed at the top corners of the flags, 2 stitches in from either side. Sew each button with the holes aligned vertically. That is, one hole at the top and one hole at the bottom. The flag stitches sit more neatly behind the button this way. Make sure not to sew your buttons too tightly, otherwise your bunting will be difficult to attach and/or remove.
Tassels: Take a piece of card, 7cm/2¾” wide. Wrap some contrasting yarn around the card 10 times. With a small piece of yarn, tie all strands together at one edge of the card to secure them. Slide the wrapped yarn off the card. Snip the ends of the loops with scissors. Secure the tassel by holding all strands together. Take a 15cm/6” piece of yarn the same color as the tassel and tie the strands together, just below the tassel top. Snip tassel to your desired length.
ADAPTING THE PATTERN
Row 2 can be repeated as many times as you prefer, whether you would like a smaller or larger pennant. Repeat Row 7 accordingly, to suit your preferred size.
FOR A VARIETY OF BUNTING SIZES…
Play with different yarn weights and hooks. It is easier to find perfectly-sized buttons after you’ve made the pennants, so I recommend crocheting them up before sourcing your buttons.
Other ideas:
- Opt for mini pegs instead of buttons.
- Play around with embroidering the fonts and motifs you like.
- You can of course crochet them together too, if a more permanent result is what you’re after
LOVE TO SHARE?
Share your projects with other makers in our online crochet community, by tagging your picture with the hashtags:
#BUTTONBUNTING #CROCHETKINDLY
I hope you enjoy making these cute little flags as much as I did!
Happy Crocheting!
Love,
