How to Make a Scrappy Quilt Binding
Whenever I finish a quilt, I put the leftover binding into a shoebox in my closet. When I’m ready to bind a scrap quilt, I start by checking in the shoebox. Last weekend I wanted to bind my scrappy green and teal Patchwork Forest quilt, which I’ve named Can’t See the Forest for the Trees.
Can’t See the Forest for the Trees by Diane Harris
It seemed like the perfect project for a scrappy binding. I found about six binding strips of various greens in the shoebox and dug around the studio until I found some long, skinny scraps to cut a few more. I joined them end to end with diagonal seams.
This quilt is such a jumble of all sorts of green and teal, and it mixes light, medium and dark values with such wild abandon, that I think it can support a binding with a similar personality.
I didn’t worry about evening out the lighter or darker sections of binding. (Usually, if I have a very long strip, I cut it into two or three sections and sew in other fabric strips to break up the patterns a little.)
This time I just let them be whatever length they were and it seemed to work out all right.
I cut my binding strips 2-1/4″ wide, or if I want a slightly narrower finish, 2-1/8″ wide. I used my Quilt Binding by Machine technique to finish it off, and I’m happy with the results.
Be sure to check out Amy Smart’s improvisational tree quilt block tutorial. She’s over at Diary of a Quilter. It’s a brilliant method and this is the second quilt I’ve made from it. Here’s the first one.
Besides the colors, the main difference is that I lined up the blocks and the rows in the pink and green version. In the blue and teal quilt, there are vertical rows but the blocks within the rows are staggered for interest.
I can’t remember ever making a quilt twice. This may be the only time! If you try these blocks, you’ll see. They’re addictive.
These quilts are part of two different trunk shows. They work well in Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts, but they’re also a good fit for my Jingle Bells trunk show of Christmas quilts. I’d love to bring a program to your quilt group. Get in touch today!
Tags: Amy Smart, Diary of a Quilter, improv piecing, improvisation, jingle bells trunk show, make extraordinary scrap quilts, modern Christmas trees, patchwork, scrap quilts, stash sewing, tree quilts
Kaye Mattson
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I like both of your tree quilts but the blue and teal one is my favorite. I think the staggered setting is more natural,like trees in a forest!
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Diane Harris
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I think you’re right! Thank you for being my faithful commenter, Kaye. 😊
Jan
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Thanks for all the helpful and interesting things you put on your blog. I look forward to them. I like both of the tree quilts.
We’re having Donna Lynn Thomas for a trunk/lecture July 13th here in Marysville, KS. She has a web site, and her lecture is Patchwork Palette, but maybe you know all about it. LOL
Your quilts do use a lot of fabrics, and always look great. Jan
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Diane Harris
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Hi Jan, thanks for your comment and your kind words! I’ve heard about Donna but haven’t had a chance to see her programs. I hope to catch one someday. I’m speaking in Belleville and Wichita this year, and twice in the KC area, so I’m excited to meet some Kansas quilters in the process!