Cambridge: Cry Baby Bunting...

Flying the flag of independence

Roisin Vaughan
localsecrets.com Monday, 28 May 2012

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Let's face it - no true British street party could ever be complete without bunting. And with 9,500 road closure applications granted for Jubilee street parties across England and Wales, we can expect to see an awful lot of the stuff hanging around over the next few days.

 

With its naval origins bunting has become the standard way for the masses to sport their patriotism at times of royal celebration, reminding us as it does of our colonial past.

 

Patriotic though we are, do we really want to see nothing but yards and yards of homogeneous pre-manufactured triangular Union Jacks lining our streets over the Jubilee weekend?  Hats off to the Chatteris volunteers who flew the flag of independence by creating their own bunting sporting paisley, stripes and spots.  Their reward? To be accused of creating something reminiscent of Granny's washing line.  Your point being.?

 

The Queen - a Granny several times over, might have a view on that. And as the Council rightly retorted, not only did the volunteers save the town a great deal of money at a time of austerity, but they also displayed that great British make-do and mend post-war mentality we're all so fond of. Look at our love of vintage, DIY shows and Netmums Frugal Living Coffee House Club.

 

Surely we should all be uniting to make ends meet at a time like this and encouraging innovation and cottage industries?

 

"We need something to brighten up our society, and there's no better way than hand-made crafts where local people have put a lot of love and care into them," says Sharon Kiliti, whose central Cambridge home and giftware market stall is doing a roaring trade in hand-made vintage bunting.

 

If you're really wedded to pre-fab, then be prepared to shop around. Only one central Cambridge market seller had any left on Saturday, (the nasty cheap stuff I'd be ashamed to see my street wearing), while the one other souvenir-seller admitted to not foreseeing the high demand.

But if, in the spirit of Chatteris, you want to do it yourself, follow Sharon's top tips:

 

"Use any old piece of fabric -  mens' old work shirts with checks or stripes or pretty children's clothes are perfect. Cut triangles with pinking shears which leave a crinkled edge on the fabric. Stitch round the edge. Leave 3 inch gaps between each bunting flag and stitch onto some form of tape or ribbon." As for the kids, they can join in by cutting out paper triangles, decorating them, folding in half and gluing over Jute string.

 

Long live the great British washing line...