Box-pleated bunting adds a crowning touch to a gazebo or other outdoor structure. We trimmed the traditional flag design to highlight the blue-and-white part of the pattern. For crisper folds, iron the pleats as you make them.

Tools and Materials

12-inch-high roll of flag-pattern bunting
Scissors
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Wide pale-blue grosgrain ribbon

Gazebo Trim How-To

1. Measure the desired length for the trim. Roll out the bunting to a length that's about two times that measurement; cut.

2. Trim the bottom four stripes (red, white, red, white) along entire length of bunting.

3. Pleat the fabric: First, lay the fabric down, wrong side up so that the blue blocks of stars run along the bottom. To make a single box pleat, crease both edges of a red-and-white block (where the stripes meet the blue block), and then fold both creases so they meet in the middle, covering the stripes; essentially, you're matching blocks of blue to blocks of blue. Pin in place. At the same time, pin the ribbon in place, covering the top two stripes. Repeat along length of fabric.

4. Sew along the top of the panel, through the ribbon and pleats, using a straight stitch. Remove pins. Hang with nails or as desired.

Sources

Border at top of gazebo bunting: Rayon grosgrain ribbon, 50 mm (No. 8000), in color 23, from Mokuba New York, 212-869-8900.

12-by-18-inch classic-flag-pattern bunting (No. 501553), by Annin, from Apollo Flag, 800-458-8362, apolloflags.com.