Today I am super excited to share with you how I have updated my scrappy towels, giving them a new lease of life with scrap fabric bias binding. But first today is the beginning of waste week 2017, I am proud to be a blogging ambassador for zero waste week.
Why? I make no secret of how I like to reuse and use what I have for my creativity, I am passionate about trying to use what I have rather than using more of the worlds finite resources. Spirituality and faith are not something I talk about (it’s personal) but it is at the core of who I am and therefore impacts how I perceive the world. I believe we each have our own responsibility as to how our lives impact the world. We need to look after our world for future generations. Zero waste week focusses my mind on waste, on what we throw away as a family. If you are inspired to find out more visit the home of zero waste week, you will be sure to find inspiration.
This week I will be blogging with a focus on zero waste week. Today is all about make do and mend. As you can see this towel is very frayed. I am going to share with you how you can update it with scrap fabric bias binding.
How to make scrap fabric bias binding
This tutorial is broken down into sections, I suggest reading to the end before you start.
- Fabric scraps
- Bias binding tool
- Iron
- Cutting mat and rotary cutter or tailor’s chalk and scissors.
- Quilters ruler
- Optional spray starch
Let’s start by ironing your fabric scraps. Sort them into pieces with the grain running straight.
Pin right sides together along the grain, then stitch.
Press open the seams on the wrong side.
Cut your fabric on the bias. As my cutting mat does not have bias marking as a guide I have created a paper guide by simply folding a right angled piece of paper in half. The original edge is placed along the grain, the folded edge is your bias guide.
Cut strips along the bias 1 3/4″ or 4.5cm. I started with a cutting mat and rotary cutter but changed the method to tailor’s chalk and scissors due to the limited size of my cutting mat.
Join your strips, place your strips right sides together at right angles. Sew diagonally across from top left to bottom right (as per the pin).
Fold the outer edges in. I have used a bias binding tool, pull the fabric through and press. There is a knack to this, the more you do the easier it will get. Spray starch can help the folds press good and strong!
How to edge a towel with scrap fabric bias binding
Calculate the volume of bias binding required for your towel. Measure the edges of your towel, my towel measures 182 by 41cm. Therefore I need 182 + 182 + 41 + 41 + 5cm – the extra 5 centimetres is to be on the safe side and to allow surplus for the join.
Open your bias binding folds out, pin the raw edge along the edge of your towel.
When you reach the corner fold your fabric at a 90 degree angle away from your towel. This will give you a diagonal 45 degree angle at the corner. Press with your finger so that you form a crease, then open out.
Sew along your fold until you reach the 45 degree crease line, back stitch and finish your threads.
Fold your tape to create a 90 angle, with your tape running down along your towel’s edge, pin and then stitch.
Continue around until you reach the starting point. Fold your bias binding so you have a neat folded edge underneath your first piece of bias, stitch over.
Fold your bias binding over to the other side. Pin from the front in along the seam of the towel and bias binding, ensuring you are holding the bias binding on the back. At the corners fold so you form a neat diagonal as on the front and hold with a pin.
Stitch all round along your pinned line. One transformed towel…. I love the result.
Personally, I have had a towel shall we kindly say borrowed from the side of a swimming pool, never to be seen again…. I am trusting no one will dare borrow my unique towel. I’m tempted to edge all my towels whether they are fraying or not! If you love using fabric scraps check out my fabric scrap clutch tutorial. Or if you are on a repairing spree these posts may appeal:-
- How to replace the zipper on a backpack
- How to replace the zipper in your jeans
- How to repair the inner thigh of jeans
What can you make do and mend at the beginning of zero waste week?
Pat
Saturday 1st of April 2023
Very pretty on the towels, but not sure why you use bias binding since the edges are straight. Thanks for the tutorial though, I will use it for projects that need bias binding.
Emma Joyner
Saturday 23rd of January 2021
I don’t know about frayed towels, but I’m going to start making some bias tape!! That is such a fabulous idea!! Thank you for the push!!
Vicky
Sunday 24th of January 2021
Thank you - enjoy, its a great use of fabric scraps.
Taina
Monday 19th of October 2020
Love this idea Vicky. I lost both my grandparents and my father over the last two years and we have closets full of clothes that are dated and sometimes stained. Certain patterns bring back memories for me. This is a lovely way to put those items to a good purpose. Thank you!
Vicky
Monday 19th of October 2020
What a lovely idea to use their clothes in this way, what a great way to remember them day to day. Vicky
Kitty
Friday 24th of January 2020
Vicky, this is the best idea I have seen for bias tape making. I have had a set of the tools for making bias tape for years and this gives me a great idea. I make quilts occasionally and this sure would be great for that binding!! But for towels, wow, I am sure I can find towels of all uses at our house - bath, kitchen and ever other use. Thanks to you. I am so glad I found your web site. Kitty
Janice Parker
Monday 21st of October 2019
Hi Vicky, that looks fabulous. I thought of doing something similar before but didn’t. Thought it would be pretty ordinary as iI was thinking just one fabric pattern. I just love the patchwork look from the assorted fabrics. Going to do this.
Vicky
Sunday 27th of October 2019
So glad you like it, enjoy the making.