I've had a thing for gingham for as long as I can remember.
It's simple, a little playful, it adds a bit of a vintage flair, and it is really versatile.
I've used gingham on quilts before (my Scrappy Pine Trip has a gingham backing too!), so when I was choosing a backing for my green and white Knitty Needles quilt, I went straight for the checks again.
Gingham makes a GREAT quilt backing
I love how gingham can add interest to the back of a quilt without competing with everything that's happening on the front. And there's something about it that just feels extra cozy – perfect for a picnic quilt.
The straight lines are also quite handy when you're layering your quilt, as you can use them as a guide to keep everything reasonably straight.
Will it stay absolutely perfect through quilting, trimming and washing?
Probably not.
Will anyone notice while they're curled up underneath it?
Also probably not. 😄
Should I cut binding fabric on the bias?
Yes, when it comes to gingham: Cut it on the bias!
You can absolutely cut gingham binding on the straight grain. That will give you little squares and rectangles running around the edge. But it's a lot harder to get it to look neat, because even if it's only slightly off, it will be very noticeable. Cutting gingham on the bias is just so much more forgiving! And if you use the same fabric for both backing and binding, the diagonal squares on the binding make such a nice contrast to the straight lines on the back.
It's such a simple detail, but I LOVE the effect.
And if you've never made bias binding before, I have a blog post showing you how: My step-by-step bias binding tutorial (Note: The blog post is on how to make rounded corners on a quilt, so scroll all the way to the bottom to find the bias tutorial).
So next time you find a gingham you love, buy a little extra. And if you get a whole bolt, you can make a gingham dress, too, if you like – I used this Simplicity shirtdress pattern for mine, with a few tweaks including shortening the bodice.
The quilt shown here is Knitty Needles, my newest scrappy quilt pattern inspired by traditional Norwegian knitting. You'll find the pattern in my shop!