Learn how to create scrappy quilt binding like I did for my rainbow star mini quilt – a great way to use up the scraps from your quilt piecing.
Remember this Rainbow Star Mini Quilt I made last year? It is one of my favourite finishes from 2016 and is destined to hang in my entrance hall – as soon as I add the hanging loops! (Note to Self: You should do that later today.)
With all those gorgeous rainbow colours and lots of scraps, it was crying out for a scrappy rainbow binding. I love creating scrappy quilt binding. I often use up the extra fabric from the quilt itself in the backing or binding rather than adding those extra bits to my stash of fabric.
In this case, I used a rainbow batik jelly roll to create the quilt. The extra pieces of fabric were already 2.5″ wide – perfect for binding.
How to make Scrappy Binding
- Gather your scraps.
- Decide on the width of your binding. I usually use either 2″ or 2.5″ wide binding.
- Cut your scraps to the width you need.
- Decide whether you want all your scraps to be the same length or a variety of lengths. I cut mine all to the same length so that I would have a good mixture of colours from my quilt, but I have sometimes just used various lengths of each fabric. It just creates a different look.
- Trim scraps to length – if you decide to go that way – and make sure all the ends are straight across.
- Sew your scraps together into a long strip. Place two scraps right sides together and sew along the short side using a quarter-inch seam. Press the seam open. Add each scrap to the strip, being careful to always add them with right sides together as you sew.
- Lay your strip around your quilt to measure that you have it long enough. (Or use a measuring tape to measure your quilt if it is larger.) You need to have an overlap of at least a few inches for joining the binding.
- Fold the strip in half lengthways and press with the right side out.
- Join the binding to your quilt and finish.
Find my quilt binding tutorial here
Check out how I turn corners here
My rainbow jelly roll came in a QuiltyBox, a lovely box of goodies each month, and I highly recommend Craftsy online quilting classes if you want to learn more about quilting from your home. Click below to find out more.
Fun and easy idea! Thanks, I will pin and give a try.
Best,
Rhonda
i’m very interst to learn
Is the fabric for the scrappy binding cut on the cross.????
Yes. I know some quilters like to cut their binding on the bias, but I never have. It is just a personal preference.
Can binding strips be cut along the length of a fabric?
Yes you can