I plan to show you my finished Double Wedding Ring Quilt on Saturday but decided to sneak in here and post the scalloped edge binding tutorial. Here is a sneak peek of my quilt. You can read the tips and tricks for making one HERE.
The quilt has a scalloped edge binding. Many people shy away from it but it’s really not hard at all. The trick to it is to cut your binding strips on the diagonal.
To do that, take your fabric, typically about 3/4 of a yard of fabric for a queen sized quilt and fold it on the diagonal as shown.
Line up the edge of your ruler on the fold and cut.
Now cut your strips as you normally would. For this I cut 2 1/2″ strips. By cutting on the diagonal, or bias, the strips have a give or spring to them allowing them to flex.
After cutting strips, I cut 10 for my quilt, I went to the machine and sewed the strips together like this…
Then it was time for a trip to the ironing board to press the seams and then press the binding in half. Sadly, I don’t have a Third Hand Binding Tool. I have grown to really love the tool. You can read the review about the Third Hand Binding Tool HERE. The only draw back with the tool is that you need one for whatever size you are cutting your strips at. Typically I cut my binding strips at 2 1/4″. These I cut at 2 1/2″ so…I need to but the 2 1/2″ size.
If you’re interested, you can order them HERE. Heather at Purple Hobbies has extended a discount code to my readers. If you type in JoSentMe (all one word) you get 20% off your entire order.
Me, I’m heading over to buy one for the 2 1/2″ size.
Back to the machine…for the most part, I attach the binding strips like any other binding strips.
I work to follow the curve of the scallop.
The tricky part is the inside of the scallop. I follow the curve in…then when I get to this point, I put the needle down.
I pivot a bit but also pull the quilt a bit to “straighten out the curve”.
Then I keep going all the way around following the curves….
and pivoting/straightening at in the inside of the scallop.
One it is all tacked down, I take a scissor and clip the inside of the scallop clipping through the binding, batting and backing fabric.
At this point you can hand sew the binding down but me…I used my machine.
I typically don’t pin anymore when I sew binding down. For a scallop, I do pin. The inside of the scallop in not hard to deal with all. Remember me telling you I straightened the curve to take the binding down. Sewing now, I do the same thing…I pivot slightly and again, straighten the curve.
It really isn’t hard. It’s just slow going…It took me about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish and a typical quilt only takes me about and hour or so to do.
Seeing the pretty scalloped edge makes it totally worth the extra time.
Patience is your friend in a project like this.
If you have questions, ask away…it really isn’t hard.
Thanks for explaining and showing how you bind the scalloped edge, Jo. The quilt is stunning.
Thanks for all that great info Jo!!! I absolutely LOVE that quilt!! Where could I find the original post about the DWR Quilt??
Hi Debbie. You can find info on the quilt in this link https://www.joscountryjunction.com/double-wedding-ring-instructions/
Thanks, Jo. I really need to finish cutting out my DWR. This has me inspired to get a wiggle on it.
Great tutorial! The quilt is absolutely beautiful and the scalloped edges add so much. Thank you for sharing another one of your finishes.
I love seeing this quilt whenever you show it! A beautiful finish!
Thanks for sharing that!!! I have a scalloped edge binding to do in the near future and am glad for this advice!
Hi Jo, Is there a blog post on this double wedding ring quit. How did you decide what fabrics made it into this quilt? I just love it!!
Hi Stacie…
Check this out https://www.joscountryjunction.com/double-wedding-ring-instructions/
That quilt is one of the most stunning quilts I have ever seen! I never get sick of seeing it and would love to add it to my bucket list! At this point, however, my bucket list is currently overflowing my bathtub!!! Thanks again for all you do, we do so appreciate you. Good news about your testing too, but you will continue in my prayers-just in case! Hugs,
Hey Jo…I was one of the probably many who asked for the scalloped edge tutorial, so thank you so much. Watching you do it, and reading your explanations made it so very clear. You make it seem very doable! I needed that encouragement.. I think I will try it first on a small project, then on a quilt.
Thanks, Jo! Great tutorial….In all the years I have been quilting, I have only made one quilt with a scalloped edge. If I ever do another one, I will use your tutorial for sure!!
I like the close-up pictures because I get to look at the individual fabrics that way! Did you use mostly reproduction fabrics?
There will be LOTS more pictures in the quilt finish post coming on Saturday. YES…95% reproduction fabrics are in this.
That quilt is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing your amazing talents with us!
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I absolutely love your DWR quilt! I can’t stop looking at it and the beautiful fabrics you used. The scalloped binding really adds so much too. I’ve never done one but have always admired them on other people’s quilts. Your tutorial was great. I am tempted to try this one myself. Thanks so much for all of the inspiration and photos.