Mitred binding part 2

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moving on from yesterday…..

We finished our stitch about 15” from where we started along one edge of your quilt top.

Take the quilt away from the machine and lay both ends of your binding strip on top of each other.

make a pencil mark where they meet on the edge of the binding strip.

Open out your two ends both right sides up and mark the 45 degree line with a ceramic pencil or blue washout pen.

Place your ruler on the marked line and cut the strip 1/2” longer than you marked line (this is where you are likely to make a mistake, make sure you cut longer than the line, not shorter)

it can be a bit fiddly – that’s why we wanted at least 15” to play with.

Okay now we need to bring the two ends together right sides together – yes its fiddly so use pins to hold for stitching

Stitch along the pinned edge using a 1/4” seam allowance as normal. Finger press your seam to one side and refold your binding strip back in half nicely.

Lay the strip back along your quilt top now and it should fit perfectly! Finish stitching from where you ended until you reach your start point – remember, backtack to secure at both ends.

Okay, now we trim, turn and stitch.

Firstly we trim off our batting and backing fabric. Remember my binding was 1” finished and I want it nice and stuffed so I am going to trip back to 3/4” from the edge of my quilt (or 1” from the stitching line)

Trim off the triangle bits at your mitred corners

now use the point of your scissors (or some other implement) to turn this corner through to the other side so the seams are inside. wallahhhh – look a perfect already sewn mitred corner – and yes its the same on the back!

Now we tuck in everything at the back and pin ready for hand stitching the binding down.

Now just a little note here for new users (or lazy ones who don't use a square corner to check) – if you don’t have those 3 dots in the right place and your angle isn't a good 90 degrees your corners will not be square – they will stick out like this!

To stitch my binding down I use a hand needle and a thread which matches the binding fabric. This is my favourite part of a quilt (almost) as it means I am about to view my finished creation and I can sit in front of the heater at night and quietly finish it. The stitch you use is like you use for hand appliqué – the travel of the thread should be inside the fabric and the only bit you see is where it enters the binding and goes back into the quilt.. Hope you can see this below.

well there endeth my tutorial – of course there are many other ways to skin a cat  bind a quilt – this is just one that I use quite often.

I am going to try and do some short video tutorials in the next few weeks once I learn how to – I am thinking of:

the binding blind stitch as above

Cutting your binding strips and mitred joins

Needleturn appliqué stitch

Transferring iron on transfers and

Gluestick appliqué

anything else you think I could help you with?

I hope you think of me one day with a smile on your face as your next binding comes together perfectly

hugs, Helen

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