How To Sew Scrappy Quilt Binding

Scrappy Binding | Quick Column Quilts | Nancy Zieman

How To Sew Scrappy Quilt Binding

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Scrappy Binding | Quick Column Quilts | Nancy ZiemanAre you notorious for saving fabric scraps? Use those scraps to make variegated bias tape, trim, or binding by choosing three or more compatible coordinating fabrics. Sewing the strips together in a staggered or offset fashion creates a Barber Pole binding effect. This technique transforms even small fabric pieces into eye-catching finishes.

Cutting Guidelines

Stagger the Strips

To get the maximum use from the fabric, offset ends of each strip to an approximate 45° angle when joining. We’ll show you how.
  • Fold the short end of the first strip down to meet the lengthwise side. Finger press the fold, creating a perfect right triangle.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 1
  • Position the second strip even with the first strip’s triangle point.
  • Use a 1/4″ seam allowance to join strips.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 4
  • Fold the short end of the second strip up to meet the seamline. Finger press the fold, creating a perfect right triangle.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 3
  • Add the third strip at the edge of the folded second-strip triangle.
  • Repeat these steps to join and stagger all fabric scrap strips.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 5

  • Press seam allowances toward the offset strip.

Cut Binding Strips

  • Align the strip set along a horizontal line on the cutting mat. Place a long, rotary cutting ruler at a 45-degree angle on the strip set, positioning the ruler to trim off only the staggered ends of the strip sets. 
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 7
  • Trim off the staggered ends, even with the long rotary cutting ruler.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 8

  • Align the ruler along the cut edge of the fabric. Make all subsequent cuts 2-1/2″ wide.

Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9Join the Binding

  • Join the cut strips at the short ends.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9b

  • Align strips right sides together, offsetting the seam edges by 1/4″.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9c

  • Join using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9d

Prepare and Apply the Binding

  • Press the long scrappy binding in half, meeting lengthwise edges and matching wrong sides.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9e

  • Align the two cut edges of the binding with the quilt edges. Use a 1/4″ seam allowance to stitch the binding to the quilt back.
  • Fold and sew the binding at each corner to create a miter. Join the cut ends of the binding. More details on binding application can be found in the Fearless Quilting Finishes three-part series on Sewing With Nancy.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9f

  • Working from the quilt back, press the binding away from the quilt.
  • Fold the binding to the quilt front. Pin or hold binding with Wonder Clips.
Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9g
  • Stitch the binding from the quilt front to finish.

Nancy Zieman Scrappy Binding Tutorial 9hDid You Miss the Heartbeat Table Runner Blog Posting?

The instructions for the featured quilt pattern can be viewed at Heartbeat Table Runner.
How To Sew a Heartbeat Table Runner | Quick Column Quilts by Nancy Zieman

Watch Fearless Quilting Finishes on Sewing With Nancy online.

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Fearless Quilting Finishes with Sewing With Nancy/NancyZieman

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Happy Sewing!
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21 Comments

  • KathyinMN
    April 25, 2015

    Well, just wow-that seems so easy, and what a great way to use up scraps!

  • Mary
    April 25, 2015

    Love it! Always looking for new ways with bindings and border options. Also great way to use bits and pieces with the high cost of fabric we all hate waste, another way to cut down on the dreaded waste. Now if someone could come up with ways to use all those little triangles when “snowballing” a quilt square, all would be well!!!!

  • Patricia-Ioway
    April 25, 2015

    Thanks so much for the directions on how to cut a scrappy quilt binding. It’s so lovely and your method of joining strips seems to save, rather than waste, fabric.
    Again, thanks. I don’t know what I would do without Nancy’s ideas and show.

  • Ilana
    April 25, 2015

    Thanks for these wonderful, clear instructions. I have a few quilts which are great candidates for this binding.

  • Marilyn
    April 25, 2015

    I’ve done scrappy binding before, but now that I see how you did it, that will be my only way from now on. Thanks Nancy for another good tip!

  • Leslie
    April 25, 2015

    Wow! That is cool!! Definitely using it on a future quilt. Thank you!!

  • Anna Maria
    April 25, 2015

    thank you Nancy for this tutorial ! Good idea !

  • Gail Beam
    April 25, 2015

    Really neat tutorial! Love the fun scrappy bias strips.

  • Marty
    April 25, 2015

    Thanks for sharing this: I wanted to try previously and hadn’t figured it out on my own as yet!

  • Jennifer Fried
    April 25, 2015

    Dear Nancy, I really like the look of the finished edge. Kinda like my life a mix master mess ! Variegated bias tape is really nifty. Thank You for this demonstration. Jenny, the old sew and sew.

  • Judy G
    April 25, 2015

    Love the ideas I get from your blog! They help take me out of the “Type A-Traditional” box for quilting that I grew up with.

  • Berenice
    April 25, 2015

    Great way to do away with that bulging bag of scraps under my sewing machine. Can be used on lots of projects, not just quilts! Thank you Miss Nancy!

  • Rosa Maria Faria
    April 25, 2015

    WOW this is a great idea. love it as I love a lot of your work. Congrats from Brasil

  • Starla
    April 25, 2015

    love ideas for scraps!

  • Diane S.
    April 25, 2015

    Hi Nancy. I would love it if you would show us how to cut a continuous binding making one very long strip. Your instructions are the best! Thanks.

  • Ronit
    October 5, 2015

    Really nice tutorial, just what I was looking for.
    Thank you!

  • Danny Schmerge
    April 5, 2018

    It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Fantastic read.

  • Ruth
    April 30, 2019

    What a great idea.

  • Cindy Postma
    January 11, 2020

    Thanks so much, Nancy. Perfect & easy.

  • Nanette langton,
    April 19, 2020

    What a great way to use scraps

  • Martina Ryan
    October 10, 2020

    I looked up scrappy binding and came across this.A fabulous clear tutorial and I am just delighted with how it looks,Thank you

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