Quick-Tip: How Much Fabric For Binding A Quilt?

I always use 2 1/2" wide strips for binding my quilts. 

Here's a formula to figure out how much fabric to purchase to bind your, well, any project that requires binding really! 

(width of quilt in inches + length of quilt in inches) times 2 + 24" = amount of inches for total binding. 

Divide the total by 40 and round up, that = the total amount of strips. Times that total by 2.5 and that = the amount of inches of fabric needed.

Make sense? Here's another way to look at it:

(width of quilt in inches + length of quilt in inches) x 2, + 24" = amount of inches for total binding.

Amount of inches for total binding divided by 40 = the total amount of strips to cut (round this # up if a decimal). 

(Amount of strips to cut) x 2.5" = amount of inches of fabric needed

Tutorial: Thanksgiving Banner

In trying to make my own Thanksgiving decor, here's a banner I made to hang on the wall. I only spent $0.74 on the burlap since I already had the other supplies!

Supplies:

4" Cut of Fabric (for the letters)

1/4 Yard of Applique

1/4 Yard of Burlap

1 1/2 Yards of Ribbon

Here's how I made it:

1. I grabbed a fabric I liked and ironed on applique to the wrong side. 

2. In Microsoft Word, I used "American Typewriter" font, size 250, and in Text Effects I picked an outline of the font for easy cutting. 

3. Trace the letters backwards onto the applique and then cut them out.

4. I also made my triangle shape in Microsoft Word using the Shapes button.

5. Then I cut out the burlap using my triangle pattern and sewed a 1/4" seam around the edges of them to prevent fraying. 

6. Peel off the applique and iron on the letters to your burlap.

7. Cut 1" straight lines into your triangles for the ribbon to go through.

8. String through the ribbon and you're done! 

Tutorial: Scrappy Thanksgiving Wreath

This Thanksgiving wreath is quick and easy to make, especially if you have a lot of scrap fabric! I wanted to decorate for Thanksgiving but didn't want to spend any money, so this is what I came up with: 

All you need is a hanger, fabric scraps, and fabric scissors.

1. Start with your hanger, bending it into a circle.

2. Cut your fabric into strips - I used different widths but kept the length at a foot.

3. Tie your fabric onto the hanger in square knots (right over left, left over right). Switch between colors in a random order and continue until your wreath is complete.

Feel free to trim up your fabrics if you want, and you're done!