Make It Scrappy: Use Up Your Stash to Make Binding!

By Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill

Most quilters I know have scrap collections. Since we tend to acquire fabric that we love and cherish, it can be difficult to throw out our leftover scraps. A great way to use up our leftovers and a fun scrap-busting project is making scrappy bindings! Making scrappy binding with Chroma by Alison Glass Photos via Whole Circle Studio

Here are a few strategies to help you decide what scraps to pull.

1. Use the scraps you have left over from the quilt you’re making the binding for.

If the fabric is used in your quilt top, consider using it for your binding. You want scraps that are at least the width of the binding you’re making and at least 2½” long. Keep in mind, the longer your scraps, the fewer scraps you’ll need (and the less time it will take to piece your binding). Hand sewing binding on my Shutter Snap quilt. Pattern by Whole Circle Studio I recently made a version of my Shutter Snap quilt using Chroma by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics. After making the quilt, I had lots of small scraps measuring approximately 3″ wide and 2½” to 10″ long that I couldn’t bear to throw away. I decided to piece the scraps together to make a binding. As an added detail, I arranged the colors in the binding strips so that they would be near where those colors appear in the quilt blocks. You can see the finished quilt below: Shutter Snap quilt. Pattern by Whole Circle Studio

2. Take inspiration from the general color scheme of your quilt.

Is there a prominent color or color spectrum in your quilt? If so, pull those colors out from your scrap stash. Place them on the perimeter of your quilt and see how they look with the overall design. Take photos of the arrangements that you’re auditioning and then try different options and arrangements with some of the same scraps. You can then go back through the photos and decide which options you like best. Little Fishies quilt. Pattern by Whole Circle Studio For example, if I wanted a scrappy binding on my Little Fishies quilt (the one above), I might begin pulling blues from my stash. If I select prints for my binding, I typically like to use small or medium scale prints, like these: Testing out blue scraps for a quilt binding. I also might look at other colors in the quilt. Here I did a quick color study to see what the binding might look like if I added in swatches of orange fabric from my stash to pick up on the colors and prints I used for the fish. Testing out blue and orange scraps for a quilt binding. Experiment! If you have a quilt with lots of colors and contrast in your quilt top, large-scale prints may work well with your overall quilt design.

3. Use leftover binding from previous quilts

Hang on to those binding scraps from quilts — they’re pre-cut and pressed and perfect to use for a scrappy binding! I like to store all of my extra binding in its own container. When I’m in the mood to make a scrappy binding, I can just pull pieces and join them. Leftover quilt bindings from previous quilts saved to assemble new binding.

When you’ve got your scraps organized, what’s next?

Joining the scraps

There are two options for sewing your scraps together — this depends on the size of the scraps:
  • If you have strips that measure at least 6″ long, you can join them on the diagonal.
  • If your pieces are smaller than 6″ long, you’ll want to join them end to end, as you won’t have enough fabric to join on the diagonal.
One advantage to joining on a diagonal is that the seams are typically less bulky. Since you’re wrapping the binding around the quilt, the seam is distributed along the perimeter. Typically, binding pieced on the diagonal is also more sturdy. However, I do find if I use a short stitch length (2.0) and a neutral or matching thread, there aren’t any issues joining fabric end to end. If you decide to join your scraps on the diagonal, think about changing up the direction of the diagonal or having some fabrics not on a diagonal. When your binding is all the same color or print, you typically want the seam to be less noticeable. With a scrappy binding, celebrate the differences and consider switching it up! Detail of scrappy binding. Alternate direction of seams to make a fun binding! Keep joining your scraps until your binding is the length of the perimeter of your quilt plus 18″. I regularly measure the length of my binding as I sew my scraps together. Scrappy bindings are fun and are a great way to use up your scraps! Don’t be afraid to play with you fabric placement. The great thing about using scraps is if you don’t like sections, you can cut them out and replace with other scraps.

About the author:

Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill is a designer, pattern writer and award-winning quilter. With the help of books and the internet, she taught herself how to sew and discovered her love of designing and making quilts. As a trained and practicing graphic designer, her quilts start with a concept and research shapes the design. Her work is inspired by her everyday life and experiences. Sheri strives to make beautiful objects that inspire others to make and learn by providing clear instruction and encouragement. In 2016, she was awarded the first annual Craftsy Quilt Designer Fellowship. Learn more about Sheri and her work at wholecirclestudio.com.

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

No Responses to “Make It Scrappy: Use Up Your Stash to Make Binding!”

No Comments