Scrappy Binding

This year I’ve decided to make a resolution to use “Do Something Different” as a motto. One new venture I’ve tried is pattern testing for a few different quilt pattern designers. This has been so enjoyable, and I love promoting their patterns and getting a chance to create quilt kits for their designs. Check out Carrie’s Origins Quilt from Lifting Limits Quilting, and Amy’s Folk Eggs Quilt and Mountain Dweller Quilt from Ritual Quilt Company.

I got behind on the actual quilting part of the quilt process, and I received all three quilts back at the same time. I had a realization that it would be fun to try out different binding styles on these quilts.

Last week, I wrote a tutorial on how to make flanged binding. It’s a fantastic way to bind when using minky fabric with high pile. See the blog post here.

The Folk Eggs Quilt is a scrappy quilt using various fat quarters. I had extra scraps left from the quilt top, and I decided to make a scrappy quilt binding. Of course I want to share the process with you, and encourage you to try this fun binding technique!

I use interfacing as a base for the scrappy binding. Here’s why: as you sew scraps together, you can angle the pieces to make the scrappy look more interesting. By attaching it to the interfacing, you can tell if there’s a gap at the top of bottom of your 2 ½” width. It also makes trimming the final scrappy binding strips to 2 ½” easier. Since the interfacing is already cut, just flip the binding over and trim the excess along the 2 ½” interfacing.

Here are the steps I used.

Fabric Requirements:

                -interfacing strips 2 ½” wide x the perimeter of your quilt plus 10 inches

                -a pile of fabric scraps

Steps:

1.       Figure out how long your binding strips need to be. Measure the perimeter of the quilt and add 10”.

2.      Cut the necessary amount of interfacing strips, depending on your quilt size.

3.     Take a fabric strip and lay it right side down onto the interfacing. Sew a ¼” seam along one edge. Finger press open along the seam.

4.      Lay another scrap RST with the piece on the interfacing. Sew ¼” seam. Finger press open.

5.     Continue adding scraps. Be adventurous and use different lengths of scraps. Try placing them at angles as well.

6.     Once you have a bind strip long enough, flip the strip over right side down on cutting mat. Trim the binding along the 2 ½” interfacing.

7.      Fold binding in half WST. Attach binding to your quilt using your preferred method. See blog posts Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 here about how I attach binding to quilts. I attached binding to the front of my quilt and then hand stitch it to the back of the quilt.

This binding is a wonderful use of scraps and makes for a fun and vibrant edge to your quilt! Start going through your scrap stash and get busy!

Quilt: Folk Eggs Quilt designed by Amy from Ritual Quilt Company

Fabric: Egg Hunt Bundle and Icy Mint Pure Solids, both from Art Gallery Fabrics