Christmas Quilt Along - Quilting & Binding

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You should have your quilt top done. We're in the home stretch and almost done. Just a few last things.

Basting

Press your top and your back. Lay your quilt back right side down on a flat surface. Tape the edges so that the back is smooth and taut, but not tight. Lay your batting on top and make sure it is wrinkle free. Complete the quilt sandwich adding the top right side up. Again, make sure it is smooth and wrinkle free. Baste the quilt sandwich by pinning every 3 or 4 inches starting at the center and working toward the edges. In lieu of pins you could use spray basting (which is what I used). Basting tutorial by Crazy Mom Quilts

Quilt as Desired

I choose to quilt mine in a diagonal crosshatch grid every two inches apart. To do this I used my 24" x 6" ruler and marked my quilt with iron off chalk.

Binding

The one - step binding method.

This method of binding is attached by requiring only one pass with the sewing machine & will require a 1" (25mm) bias tape maker.


Traditional methods of binding is mostly 2 1/4" binding strips, The one-step method uses 2" strips. We begin by making contentious binding strips the length needed. Yes, you can use binding strips cut with the grain or on the bias with this tool.

Making the Strips

• Trim one end of the binding strip to a point for easy feeding through the 1" bias tape maker.

• Pull the tape maker while pressing the binding. Take your time to ensure that the raw edges of the binding align in the center of the strip & are of consistent in width.
• Trim off the pointed end.

• Press the binding in half lengthwise for a consistent 1/2" wide binding strip. Steam will help help set the folds.

Attaching the binding.

• With the quilt facing up and starting about a 1/3" of the way up my a corner, slip the raw edge of the quilt into opened binding. The biding should be the same on both the front & back if you have ironed the binding carefully.
• Leave about 5 to 10 inches of binding unsewn and stitch about 1/8" from the edge of the binding.
• Use your left hand to guide the quilt under the presser foot & your right hand to keep the binding snug against the quilt, sewing all the way to the quilt's edge. Left the presser foot & cut the threads.

• Hold the quilt with your left hand, place your right thumb inside the binding strip and fold it open, making a 45 degree angle on the front & back of the quilt.
• Fold the binding to the front of the quilt, making a crisp miter on the front and; back of the quilt.
• Slip the raw edge of the quilt snugly into the slightly open binding. You might wish to pin as you go, but with practice you can overcome this.

• Continue sewing down the next side of the quilt, backtack the miter corner to reinforce it before continuing on.
• On the last side of the quilt stop about 10" from where you began.

• Trim the binding so it overlaps 2" with the beginning edge of the binding.
• Open the binding all the way and stitch the binding tails together from upper left corner to lower right corner. Open to make sure stitching is right and trim to 1/4". This is the same as putting binding on the traditional way.
• Press seam open to reduce bulk.
• Continue sewing the binding until you the starting part. Overlap the stitching & backtack for added strength.

If done correctly your stitching will be even on the front and back of the quilt.

Some problems to watch for:

• Do not wrap the binding around the quilt, but instead insert the quilt into the binding. This could lead to the binding being wider on the back than the front.
• If stitching is missing on the back then you might have wrapped the binding or it was not snugly in the binding.

If you miss in a few spots that is fine the quilt police will not come and get you. Remember it's the back of the quilt who is going to look back there anyways? If they do look , they deserve to see it.

Add a quilt label and call it done.

Now lets go eat some fudge.

See you back her at 4pm (CST) for closing and wrap up.

Don't forget that you must post your fished photo to the flickr group before the end of the day on Monday, July 11, 2011 (midnight CST) to be eligible for a grand prize drawing of a $100 gift certificate courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop

Until next time,