Working with my leftover quilt binding scraps here and here has been great fun, and also good for my frugal heart because I love to use what I already have.
Today I'm sharing another tutorial that will reduce your box of binding remnants!
You'll need :
two 8" x 14" rectangles of co-ordinating fabric
One 18" length of leftover quilt binding that also co-ordinates with your fabrics (this would be 2-1/2" then doubled over for a 1-1/4" wide strip of binding)
One 7" length of quilt binding that matches the fabric you have chosen for your lining (this would be 2" wide then doubled over for a 1" wide strip of binding)
One 9" x 15" rectangle of remnant quilt wadding
One vintage button
Some Perle #12 thread for hand quilting
I chose the longer blue length of binding from my scraps first, then sorted through my fat quarters for fabrics that would 'shine' with the blue.
The strip of pink check binding was made from one of those fat quarters...
The main fabric was perfect for cross-hatching, so I pressed the fabric onto the quilt wadding and drew lines with a heat erasable marker...
Simple hand quilting with running stitch and grey Perle #12 thread...
Trim the excess wadding from the sides, fold the quilted fabric in half across the middle, and sew down both sides with a 1/4" seam...
Line up your ruler with the seam line at the bottom corners and cut out a 1.5 inch square...
Open out the corners and flatten across the cut edge. It kind of looks like an odd smile!
Sew a 1/4" seam across both corners...
Now you have the outside of the basket made...
Repeat these steps with the lining (omitting the wadding and quilting)...
With the outer basket turned the right way round, place the lining basket inside - the wrong side of the lining and the wrong side of the basket will be facing each other. Pin the two together around the top raw edge...
Sew the two parts together around the top edge with a scant 1/8th inch seam...
Turn your basket inside out.
Pin the blue binding strip around the lining side of the basket, the raw edge of the lining and basket flush with each other...
As with normal binding on a quilt, fold one end of the binding inside the other to close.
Turn the basket right way round again.
Press the binding over to the outer basket...
Slip stitch in place. This won't be seen so don't worry about perfect stitches...
Fold the top of your basket over so the lining shows...
I actually loved the basket just like this, but I also wanted to show you another use for leftover binding so let us continue!
Flatten your 7" length of binding open, and sew both ends together with a 1/4" seam to make a ring.
Fold it back again and with needle and thread sew a line of running stitch around the circle, close to the raw edge...
Pull on the thread when you have completed the circle and gather tight.
Make a knot to secure the gather...
Choose a button that blends with your fabric colours.
I found one remaining 1960's blue from my vintage button collection and it was perfect for this project...
Place the gathered flower on the front of your basket, and sew the button to the centre.
All done!
I filled mine with old cotton spools...
What would you put in yours?
