Friday Finishes - Braided Cording for Binding. . .

I needed to finish this small raw-edged strip quilt that I began in my Itsy Bitsy Quilt Club last week.  I discussed this on my Bigfork Quilts, Etc. site, but will describe in more detail here.

Having finished a previous quilt with a cording for binding, I decided to use the same finish for this quilt.  Once I determined which cording I wanted to use, I realized that it was too thin.  I tried to double it up but it was unmanageable to try to keep along the edge of the quilt as I zigzag stitched it.  So, being a quilter that can sometimes think outside the lines :), braiding the cording came to mind.

I doubled the cording length needed to go around the quilt and cut it.  Another piece was cut to the single length size.  The cording was pinned into my cutting mat to hold the cording while braiding.  I didn't become overly concerned with the tightness of the braid.  I just braided as was comfortable.

 Once braided the cording was thick enough to use for binding.  It was stiffer than a fabric cording which made it easy to hold against the quilt while stitching.  

 For the zigzag stitch, I used a 2.5 width and a 1.0 length.

When rounding the corner, because of its stiffness, I held it gently to the quilt and let the stitching catch it as I went around.

Once complete, I was satisfied with the result.  The braiding closed off the raw edges and added a dark border without changing the look of the original quilt.  When you try this for yourself, I recommend a small quilt as this one is (about 8" x 11") to enable you to have good control until you get a full understanding of how this works.


Happy Friday,

Friday Finishes - Binding Endings. . .

It's been a busy and short week.  I realize I haven't posted since last Friday Finishes.  I hope everyone enjoyed the 4th.  I did if for no other reason than I took time off to spend some quality outdoor time in the beautiful weather.

When last I posted, the "Ladybug" table runner was quilted and ready to be finished.  The outer borders will now be put on.  They are being put on after the quilting so that I don't have to quilt them other than the seam line which will be sewn through all three layers.  This method is used so I can keep the quilting amount equal without having to actually quilt in the border itself.  I begin by placing the one outer border rights sides together with the red inner border.  Sew the usual 1/4" seam allowance.

Press seam to outside.

Here is the seam quilted through to the back.  The remaining borders were added in the same manner.

Now is the time to add the binding and I am auditioning a few different colors.  

Here is the same red as used for the inner border.

This is a batik from my stash whose colors match the background and flowers.  I really like the texture on this so this is it.  Remember, there is no right or wrong, just what you like.

Three strips were cut at 2 1/4".  This is my preferred binding width.  I join the strips in the following manner.  The first strip is laid right side up horizontal on the sewing table.  The second strip is laid at a right angle with wrong side down.  Sew on the diagonal.  Mark diagonal line as needed.

Chain piece the strips.

Because I eye the diagonal line, I check the seam to make sure it lies correctly before I trim it.

Using scissors , I trim to approximately 1/4" and clip and the dog ears.

With the strips joined, fold the binding in half.  Leaving an 8 - 10 inch tail, begin sewing the binding approximately 1/3 from the table runner end to the front of the table runner, raw edges together.  The tail will be used to join the binding's end.

For corners, stop sewing 1/4" from the end, backstitch, and end sewing.  

Fold binding at 45 degree angle as above.

Keeping the angle, fold the binding back down and begin sewing from edge.

As you turn the fourth corner, sew the binding toward the binding's beginning until you get approximately 12" from the seam line.  Backstitch and end stitching.  The two ends will now be joined with a diagonal seam.  I begin by making a line on the tail left at the binding beginning about 1/4" in from the end.

Lay the binding ending tail over the chalk mark and finger press.  

Opening up both strip ends, I make the chalk line stronger on both.

The strips are laid at right angles as before. . .

. . .lining up the chalk lines as shown.

 Sew on the diagonal, keeping the chalk lines in place.  Pin if necessary.

Pull the binding straight to make sure it lies flat on the table runner.

When satisfied that binding fits, trim seam allowance with scissors.

Beginning where the binding seam line ended, begin stitching by backstitching and then sewing to the beginning seam line overlapping the stitching and backstitching to end.

Here is the completed seam line.  It looks just like the joining strip seams.  

Now no one can tell where the binding begins or ends.  If this all seems a bit confusing, please feel free to comment with a question and I will do my best to answer it.


Happy Friday,

Friday Finishes - My Final Word on Bindings (as of today). . .

Over the course of the last few months I have discussed many aspects in considering what type of binding to use to complete your quilt.  My final discussion on this subject (at least for right now) is for machine sewing binding to the front and back.

The two types I will discuss are the one used here of sewing the binding to the back and wrapping it and sewing it to the front, and

the one shown here of sewing the binding to the quilt front, wrapping it to the back, and sewing in the ditch from the front.  Machine sewing bindings on is fast.   It can also add another design element to the finished quilt as evidenced in the quilt below.

This binding style was done with 2 1/2" strips that were joined together and sewn to the quilt right sides together with a 1/4" sew allowance to the back edge of the quilt.  I then pressed the binding forward.  Pressing is done for two reasons:  1) it helps the fabric create a memory to make it easier to be pulled to the front; and, 2) takes up the slack lost in the seam fold.  Once the binding is pulled to the front, I select a decorative stitch that compliments the quilt front and sew it down.  In the quilt above, I selected the same stitch and thread I used to quilt with.

This is the binding stitching from the backside.

The stitch used for this binding is a modified stitch of the quilting stitch with a variegated thread, not the thread used for the quilting.

Stitching the binding to the front in the ditch as shown here allows a quick binding finish without adding to the quilt's design.  The technique for this binding is to sew the 2 1/2" binding strips right sides together to the quilt front, press the binding seam, and pull the binding to the backside.  From the front, begin sewing the binding in the ditch, continually pulling the binding to the backside.  Make sure the backside binding goes beyond the 1/4" seam line as stitching.  This ensures that the ditch stitching is catching the backside binding fabric.  You can also elect to secure the binding before sewing by gluing the back binding or pinning it from the front.

This is what it looks like from the backside once sewn.  Tagging the corners with the stitching is the most difficult part of this style.  If I miss the corner (which happens sometimes) I will go back and put a hand stitch in.


While these styles are part of my binding repertoire, it is not the binding of choice if a quilt's border has any wave to it.  A wavy border needs a binding style to help relax the wave.  A hand sewn biased binding is recommended because machine sewn binding does not have any give to it.  Just something to keep in mind.


Happy Friday,

Friday Finishes - Binding Basics. . .

Several Fridays have been spent discussing binding styles and when and why to use them.  The time has come to give instruction on how to sew them on.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I found this wonderful website that I HIGHLY recommend, Jaybird Quilts, for the how-tos.  This site has lovely photos, detailed instructions and video on calculating binding fabric, making traditional and bias bindings, and other miscellaneous facts you might want to know.

While on the subject to other recommended sites, I have to sing praises for the Modern Quilt Guild blogs and websites.  While I REALLY love the quilting style of these quilters (making me a bit biased), I have been impressed with the professional look and information provided by these sites.  The majority of them work hard to give detailed instructions with clear photos.

 Watch for sites with this button and visit their main website http://themodernquiltguild.com/ to follow their blog.  The blog highlights quilts and sites by various quilt participants.


Happy Friday,

Friday Finishes - What size do I cut my binding strip?

When last I wrote about bindings here, the discussion was about using traditional vs. bias binding.  Now that you've selected the binding style that best fits your quilt, how wide do you cut your strips?  Yes, you do have choices.  

My go-to width size is 2 1/4".  This gives me a fair amount of binding fabric to see and I can sew at 1/4" and have my binding be full.  Many quilters use a 2 1/2" width binding because it is easy to pull around and sew to the backside.  If using this wide size, consider sewing the binding on at 5/16" rather than a 1/4."  This will keep the binding full.

When I first began quilting, I was taught to use a 1 7/8" wide binding.  This binding width ensures a full binding if you are submitting a quilt in a juried show.  It is a struggle to bring around to the backside and sew beyond the binding sew line but looks good for judges when done and believe me, it is plenty full.

Take into consideration what the binding can accomplish beyond just finishing the quilt when deciding your strip width.  As a design element on this quilt, the binding was cut to 3" so more fabric would show.  Of course, to ensure a full binding, the binding was sewn on with a seam allowance of 1/2."

I will often use a 2" strip for binding, as in this case.  I wanted the binding to pick up the colors in the quilt but I didn't want it to overpower it.  Binding has the potential to be a strong design element to completing your quilt.  Consider the various options and have fun putting your signature on the quilt you've taken such care to make.


Happy Friday,