Sweet Little Stitches Bunting

Hello lovely makers! Isn’t there something just so cheerful about a string of little flags? The mini bunting in the picture adds such a sweet, handmade touch to any space. Look at those delightful pastel triangles! This project is wonderfully suited for anyone just starting their crochet journey. Let’s dive in and put together your very own string of mini crochet bunting, just like the one shown. It’s easier than you might think, and oh-so-rewarding!

Gather Your Treasures

Before we begin fashioning these tiny flags, let’s get our tools and materials ready. You don’t need much!

• 🧶 Yarn: Choose a smooth DK (Double Knitting) or Worsted Weight cotton yarn. The bunting in the image features lovely pastel shades: light pink, mint green, off-white/cream, light yellow, lilac/light purple, and peach/light orange. Pick your favorites or use them all!
• 🪝 Crochet Hook: A size G/6 (4.0mm) or H/8 (5.0mm) hook usually works well with DK/Worsted yarn. Check the yarn label for recommendations.
• ✂️ Scissors: For snipping yarn.
• 🪡 Yarn Needle: Also called a tapestry needle, for weaving in ends neatly.

Your First Crochet Stitches Explained

We’ll use a few basic stitches. Don’t worry, they’re simple to pick up!

• Chain Stitch (ch): This is the foundation for most crochet. Make a slip knot on your hook. Yarn over (wrap yarn around the hook from back to front) and pull the yarn through the loop on your hook. That’s one chain! Repeat for more chains.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): This tiny stitch is used for joining. Insert your hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, and pull the yarn through both the stitch and the loop already on your hook in one motion.
• Double Crochet (dc): A taller stitch that builds fabric quickly. Yarn over, insert your hook into the indicated stitch. Yarn over again and pull up a loop (you’ll have 3 loops on your hook). Yarn over, pull through the first two loops on the hook (2 loops remaining). Yarn over one last time and pull through the final two loops. That completes one Double Crochet!

Making Your First Triangle Flag (Granny Style)

The charming flags in the image possess a lovely, slightly openwork texture. This comes from using groups of Double Crochet stitches, often called “granny clusters”. Let’s make one step-by-step:

Starting Your Triangle:

1. Make a slip knot and chain 4 (ch 4).
2. Join the chain into a ring by working a Slip Stitch (sl st) into the very first chain you made. Be careful not to twist your little chain circle.

Row 1:

1. Chain 3 (ch 3). This counts as your very first Double Crochet (dc) stitch – clever, right?
2. Work 2 more dc stitches into the center of the ring.
3. Chain 2 (ch 2). This makes the first corner space.
4. Work 3 dc stitches into the center of the ring.
5. Chain 2 (ch 2). This makes the second corner space.
6. Work 3 dc stitches into the center of the ring.
7. Chain 1 (ch 1). Instead of chaining 2 here, we’ll ch 1 and then join with a Half Double Crochet (hdc) to the top of the starting ch-3. (To make an hdc: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops). This positions your hook nicely in the middle of the side to start the next row. Beginner Tip: If the hdc join feels tricky, you can just ch 2 and sl st to the top of the starting ch-3, then sl st across into the next ch-2 space to start Row 2.

You should now have a tiny triangle shape with three groups of 3 dc stitches, separated by ch-2 corner spaces.

Row 2:

1. Chain 3 (ch 3 – counts as first dc). Work 2 more dc stitches in the same space you joined into (this is the middle of one side). This forms the first cluster of the row.
2. Now, find the next ch-2 corner space. In that space, work: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). This builds the corner point.
3. Find the next ch-2 corner space. In that space, work: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). This builds the second corner point.
4. Work 3 dc stitches into the same space where you began the row (alongside your starting ch-3 and 2 dc).
5. Chain 1 (ch 1) and join with an hdc to the top of the starting ch-3 (or use the ch 2, sl st method mentioned before).

Now your triangle is getting bigger! You have clusters along the sides and points at the corners. The structure you see forming is exactly like the white, yellow, lilac, and peach flags visible in the photograph.

Row 3 (and subsequent rows for a larger flag if desired):

1. Chain 3 (ch 3 – counts as first dc). Work 2 more dc in the same beginning side space.
2. Move to the next space between clusters along the side (there will be one on this row). Work 3 dc in that space.
3. Now you’re at the first corner (ch-2 space). Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the corner space.
4. Work 3 dc in the next space along the second side.
5. You’re at the second corner (ch-2 space). Work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in this corner space.
6. Work 3 dc in the next space along the third side.
7. Work 3 dc stitches back into the same space where you began the row.
8. Chain 1 (ch 1) and join with an hdc to the top of the starting ch-3 (or alternative join).

Finishing the Flag:

Continue adding rows in this manner (working 3 dc in each side space, and (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner space) until your flag is the size you want. The flags in the image have about 3 or 4 rows.

Once your flag reaches the desired size, do not join the last row. Simply cut your yarn, leaving about a 6-inch tail. Pull the tail through the last loop on your hook to fasten off securely. Troubleshooting Tip: If your triangle sides are curling inwards, your tension might be too tight, or you might need to add an extra chain in the corners (ch 3 instead of ch 2).

Fashion More Flags!

Now, repeat the process to make more flags! Use the different pastel yarns – the image shows a lovely mix of pink, mint, white, yellow, lilac, and peach. Decide how many flags you want for your bunting string. Five to seven flags usually makes a nice small garland.

Assembling Your Mini Bunting

1. Make the String: Decide which color you want for the connecting string (the image shows a mint string on top and a light pink string below). Make a slip knot. Chain stitch (ch) until you have a length that feels right. Make it longer than you think you need – you can always trim it later. A good starting point might be 100-150 chains. Leave a tail at the beginning and end for hanging.
2. Attach the Flags: Lay out your chain string flat. Arrange your finished flags in the color order you like underneath it. Decide on your spacing – maybe leave 5-10 chain stitches between each flag.
   • Method: Pick up your first flag. Insert your hook through a stitch on the top edge of the flag (near one corner) AND through a chain stitch on your string. Work a Slip Stitch (sl st) or a Single Crochet (sc) to attach the flag. Work a few more sl st or sc stitches evenly across the top edge of the flag, attaching it securely to consecutive chain stitches on your string. (Single Crochet gives a slightly thicker attachment).
   • Once the first flag is attached, chain the desired number of stitches for your gap (e.g., ch 5).
   • Attach the next flag in the same way.
   • Repeat until all your flags are attached to the string.
3. Fasten Off: Once the last flag is attached, chain a few more stitches if you like, then cut the yarn, leaving a tail, and pull it through the final loop to secure.

Finishing Touches

The final step is to weave in all those yarn ends! Thread each yarn tail onto your yarn needle and weave it back and forth through the stitches on the back of the flags and string for a few inches before snipping off the excess. This prevents your beautiful work from unraveling.

Hang Your Handiwork!

And there you have it – your very own Mini Crochet Bunting, put together stitch by stitch! Wasn’t that a lovely way to practice your new crochet skills? Find a special place to hang your sweet string of flags – perhaps above a desk, on a shelf edge, or decorating a nursery wall like in the picture. The gentle colors and handmade charm are sure to bring a smile.

We’d absolutely adore seeing the buntings you make! Feel free to share photos of your finished pieces. Happy stitching!