Scallop Binding

Have you ever wanted to try doing a scalloped edge on your quilt. But didn't know how? I have put together a tutorial, showing how I do a scalloped edge binding. It's fun and easy.

1- There are so many tools on the market to help give you a scallop edge. Here are a few.
But, the tool I like best is this one.

Yes that's right adding machine tape. Do you want to find out how I use adding machine tape? Well follow along.

2- Once your quilt has been quilted cut away the excess. (If your quilt was quilted on a long arm most likely the edges have been basted. If you quilted your quilt at home it would be a good idea to baste around the edges. This is very helpful with this technique)

3- Measure the width and then the length. My project today is square, so my number is 44 1/4"

Here is the formula chart for finding out how many binding strips you need to cut. And here is the fraction to decimal chart.

OK, are you ready for a little math?

This is my formula for this project. Did you notice that I added 20 extra inches instead of just the 10 as shown in the formula chart up above. Here's the reason when you're doing a scalloped edge you need a little extra to cover all of those hills and valleys. On a larger project I would change the number to 30.

OK back to the math my answer came to 4.925 I would round it up and cut 5 strips. Often I cut my binding 2" wide. Lately I have been doing 2 1/4". Whatever the width you like cut the number of strips needed for your project.

4- Time to sew the strips together.

Put the first strip down right side up and then the second strip right side down and sew across diagonally, bring the tail of the second strip up and place it right side up and then the third strip right side down and sew. Continue until you have all of your binding strips sewn together. (Doing it this way will insure your diagonal seams will all be going the same way.) Cut the excess corners off leaving a 1/2" seam.

Press seam open and then fold your binding in half and press.

5- OK now take the adding machine tape and roll out the length of your project and cut the tape at that point.

Now fold the tape in half-- and then fold in half again -- and once more. (the idea is to fold the tape in half until you come to the size that looks good to you.)

Now open up the tape and cut off a section of about 2 or 3 folds. And then re-fold it. Now draw the shape of your scallop, Start with a valley and then go up to a hill and down to a valley. Now cut on the drawn line.

Unfold it and place it on your project. If it's not quite what you want then fold it and do a little more cutting until you get the shape that appeals to you. Because my project is small I'm going to do a small gentle scallop.

6- Now for the corners, go to the kitchen and get some dinner plates. I have a couple of different sizes here. The dinner plate would work well for a larger bed quilt. The lunch plate would work well for a medium size quilt. I think I will use the saucer for this smaller project.

Now lay the plate on the corner of your quilt and draw around the top part of the plate with a wash away pen.

Remove the plate and lay out the adding machine tape. Now you will have to do a little adjusting or fudging to bring the lines together. Mark a few hills and valleys.Then go to the opposite corner and mark with a plate and lay the tape out and adjust the line and then do a few hills and valleys. Working to the middle.

Just keep marking. You might need to adjust a little as you go. Remember it doesn't have to be perfect. Once you're done no one will know where or how you marked it. :o}

When you get to the center -- adjust the hills and valleys until they come together. You can free hand it that might help bring it together. It doesn't have to be perfect. :o}

7- Now take your quilt to the sewing machine and put the binding on the drawn line and start sewing. Adjust the binding to the drawn line as you sew.

**Side note this is where the needle down feature and a walking foot come in real handy. You want the needle down to make adjusting the binding and quilt a little easier.

Just keep sewing and moving the binding around on the line drawn. Oh! it's OK if you go of the line a little remember it washes away and no one will no if you missed it a little. The idea is to stay close to the drawn line. :o}

8- Now when you come back close to the start point stop about 10" from where you started.

lay your quilt on your table and gently lay the binding on the line.

Cut the binding at the mid point.

Lay your binding tool on the binding, this is on the right side of your quilt. (Now I try to lay my binding on the line making sure I have it following the valleys and hills)

Bring the left binding up following the hills and valleys and lay it on top of the binding tool and fold back on the line that is the width of your binding. Today I'm using 2 1/4" binding so I will fold back the left side on the 2 1/4" line. (If you should purchase the Fons & Porter binding tool they have a great instruction brochure that comes with it.)

Cut the left binding on this fold.

Now go to your machine and take the left binding right side up and the right binding right side down. I like to put a pin on the corner to hold it in place until I get it under the machine ready to sew a diagonal line.

Cut the excess off and finger press.

Now you're ready to start sewing the binding on the drawn line.

9- Now you're ready to cut away the excess. Trim to the binding edge.

10- One last thing take your quilt to the ironing board and press your binding forward. This will make finishing so much easier. Then fold to the back and hand finish. :o}

Now you're ready to hand finish to the back. :o}

I hope you find this tutorial helpful. If you don't understand a step you can email me with your question and I will try to help you. (quiltfever3@gmail.com)

Also, I need to tell you that my sweet awesome son helped by taking the pictures for me. :o}

I hope you have a great day. And let me know how you do with your scallop binding.

Regena