Hope everyone is using their quilts as they quilt: warmth and progress at the same time! That is what I am doing! I am completing the quilting on a 68 x 92 inch quilt and am wondering about the binding. The middle of 3 borders on this qult are "piano keys" (6" x 3") of various fabrics -- a splash of color. The center of the quilt is 9 patch blocks on point. My question is: can I use some of the fabrics of the "piano keys" and make up my own binding of these fabrics? That is the first question. 2nd: how long would I cut each strip for the binding? The entire quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted. In advance, thanks for all your help and have a happy week-end. Phyllis Carol

I think that would make a cool binding. If you are using straight grain strips for binding, why not decide how many strips you need for the total length and then make one strip of each colour from your piano key border. For example, if you need 8 WOF strips then choose 8 colours or 2 each of four colours. Clear as mud?

I can't use mine and keep it on the frame at the same time. I have to wait for binding time to use it.

I use continuous binding on mine and I have used scrappy binding made up of assorted colors in the quilt. One thing to remember is that every seam will make the binding have a slightly thicker part and you do not want that seam at a corner. The longer you leave the pieces, the fewer seams you have to contend with.

Thanks Janie W for the suggestions. I will now look through my stash and see what colors work from the "keys."

Thanks for the help. I will heed your advice when I lay out the pieces.

I think that would be beautiful. Set off that border to perfection. Post a pic when you're done.

Dear Madd Quilter,
What a wonderful word of caution re. the corners. I am thinkiing of making the strips either 16 or 20" long. Before I attach the strip, I will lay out the complete binding around the quilt and adjust accordingly. Thanks.

I use scrappy bindings all the time and I like to vary the length of the pieces. Another way I do scrappy bindings, I use leftover binding pieces I store in a large pretzle jar.
Post a picture of your quilt?

Thanks for the good advice. I had been thinking of uniform sizes for all the pieces. Maybe, in order to avoid having the seams at the corners, I will reconsider and make them uneven. What a good idea.