We are on the last part of the Grand Canal Scrap quilt tutorials - the border. The only thing you need is for your mind to be flexible - you can make those scraps work!
These pixs show different fabric but it is exactly how I make these scrap borders. Time to gather your scraps.
I like the width of 2.5" since I have a ruler that size. I have done this method with a 1.5" measurement as well. Pick a width that works best with your size scraps. Lay your fabric any which way until you can cut that measurement. If it is too narrow on one side - flip it around. Don't worry about the length - just the width.
The scraps are now 2.5" wide. Time to straighten up the other edges.
Cut your scraps on both sides nice and straight.
Everything is straight and a consistent width of 2.5" Every length is different - that's great.
Time for the fun part - laying out all those different colors and patterns into ONE GIANT STRIP.
Go for a long piece next to a short piece - a yellow next to a green - it's so random you can't go wrong. Variety of size and color is key.
I like to put about 4 or 5 pieces together and then press. Take them all back to the sewing machine and sew those piles together - iron and repeat. Each time the strips get longer until you get that one huge strip!
It's always a surprise how long that strip will be. I had enough for a 'double' border. How did I know this? I lay the strip along the quilt top and it wound around the quilt almost 2 times. So I took that single long strip of Grand Canal, folded it in half and CUT it into 2 pieces - voila - enough for a double border.
I made a really long piece of 1.5" Kona white and sewed on one strip of Grand Canal. Ironed it and then sewed the other scrappy strip on the opposite side. Staggering the blocks so nothing matched if possible.
First - attach the border as you would a single piece of fabric on the top and bottom of the quilt ONLY.
Then take the remaining double scrappy strip and cut it into two pieces. These will go on the sides of the quilt. My strips were too short. I was expecting this - no worries at all. Time to add a piece of fabric to the scrappy border and fill in the gaps. (see circles in pix)
Measure the border width. Cut some fabric that exact width but a little longer in length than you need. (Above you can see the mosaic blue fabric is as wide as the strip border.) Sew that chunk onto your strip border.
Why add a few more inches to the length? See pix above. This chunk of fabric gave me the ability to move the whole strip up or down and position those end squares. That way when everything is sewn together I don't slice into a seam and end up with a tiny strip at the edge of the quilt when I square up. After positioning the border - sew on as usual and trim square.
As much as I like random - I also like balance. I put the blue mosaic fabric blocks that gave me the length I needed in the border - on opposite sides. Bottom 'left' - and upper 'right'. Just because your quilt is scrappy - doesn't mean it can't be balanced.
Lastly - I didn't use batting but some white muslin to make this lightweight. The backing is a voile I had that matched perfectly.
So that's it - a complete scrappy quilt with some great features. A granny square, a log cabin and a cool random border. Iron as you go, use starch and trim if something doesn't fit. Good luck and if you need any help - leave a message or send me an email. This is all very doable and something that can be fun as well.
Links to all tutorials: Overview Part 1 (here)
Log Cabin Tutorial Part 2 (here)
Large Granny Square Tutorial Part 3 (here)
Materials:
Grand Canal / Kate Spain
Kona white
White muslin on the inside
Backing: Chalk & Paint Dripping Voile by Art Gallery
Aurifil 50 wt. #2024 white
Size: 58" x 58"
October 2019
Agree totally that just because something is scrappy doesn’t mean we should forget about balance. I call quilts like this ‘Scraptastic’. I adore your quilt.
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