Have been promising several people to do a blog on binding. So here is my Quilt Aid binding hot off the press.
I cut my binding strips 2 1/4" x width of fabric. For my quilt I needed about 9. I usually measure the sides of the quilt (in this case 8m) and figure that it needs 8 strips plus one for luck (otherwise known as joins).
Then I join the strips on the diagonal like this... (don't look at where the sewing machine needle is - I don't stitch there, I stitch between the two intersections)
As this was stripy fabric I did fuss around a bit trying to work out how to align the fabric (sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't). I found in the end that if you get the fabric where you think it should be sew slightly on the seam allowance side of the diagonal and this tends to work better. I then trim away the excess fabric about 1/4" from the seam.
Once all the strips are attached together in a big long line. I then press the seams open.
And then iron the binding in half lengthwise, with the right side out.
Once the binding is prepared, I attach it to the quilt using 1/4" seam allowance and usually my walking foot (1/4" foot will do if you don't have a walking foot).
I usually start about 1/3 of the way up the left hand edge of my quilt. That is the most invisible area of the quilt, so people are less likely to spot your join.
I leave a flapping tail of about 10-12 inches.
The raw edges of the binding are aligned with the raw edges of the quilt.
So attach the binding and stop when you get 1/4" from the corner. I do a bit of a reverse stitch and then remove the quilt totally from the machine, cutting the threads etc.
I turn the bit that has just been attached so that it is at the top. Then I fold the binding up away from me making a 45 degree angle (see photo)
Then I fold the binding down. Making sure that the top is aligned with the top edge of the quilt, and the raw edge is aligned with the raw edge of the quilt.
When I'm happy that it's all neatly aligned I then start sewing again, starting at the edge or up to 1/4 inch in from the edge. I usually do a locking stitch at the start of this.
I continue with this method until I have gone round all 4 corners, and have gone along the last edge (the left hand edge of the quilt) until I have got to about 20" away from where I started attaching the binding. Then I reverse stitch a bit and pull the quilt out from under the sewing machine.
There are various different ways to join your binding - and this is the one I like the most as it gives the neatest finish. It is much easier to do if you have a big gap. If you only leave a small gap it becomes very difficult as the quilt fights you!
I take the quilt to the cutting mat.
I fold the flappy tails along the side of the quilt and hope to make the join about 1/2 way along. I noticed when I was doing this that there was a join on one of my pieces of fabric so I made sure that I was able to cut that piece off...
I cut off the selvedge which I still had left on one edge and then lay that piece flat with the ruler next to it.
I leave the ruler exactly where it is and I laid down the other piece on top and noted where the 2 1/4" overlap was. (I used 2 1/4" overlap as this was the width of my binding, if you use 2 1/2" binding, you need a 2 1/2" overlap).
I then cut the binding at this point by moving it slightly to the right onto the mat and cutting where I had indicated (if you don't have a great stripe like mine, draw your cutting line onto the binding).
Then you open out each edge and lay them out so that you can join them on the diagonal. Be careful not to twist your tails.
I draw a line and pin (!). I fold back the fabric just before I pin to check that it seems to be the right way. Then I sew on the line (or one stitch width on the inside of the seam allowance).
Before cutting off the excess. I stretch the quilt back out and fold the binding back in half to check that it is not twisted and is the right length.
Then I cut off the excess fabric from the seam allowance and take the quilt back to the sewing machine to stitch the binding on.
Then you need to fold your binding over the raw edges, enclosing them all and hand stitch the binding down on the back. This is almost the most enjoyable part of quilting for me. Sitting under the warmth of the quilt, the happy glow of a quilter who has almost finished (!) a project.
I have tried, unsuccessfully and unhappily to machine stitch binding on. But it just doesn't look good when I do it.
Wow - I think this is the longest post I've ever done. Hope you find the pictures helpful!
(Dig the pincushion. It's my 1970's pincushion made at Brownies - my first ever sewing!)
