Binding Tutorial, Part 1

I like to cut my binding strips 2" wide for double-fold binding.

I like this size because finished double-fold binding sews on smoothly with a l/4" seam allowance, hugs the edge of the quilt, makes a neat miter fold, and covers all stitching when it is turned over the edge of the quilt. 

Many quilt patterns call for a 2 l/2" wide binding, but my preference is 2". DON'T cut your binding on the bias unless it will be going around a curve.

If you have a smartphone, Robert Kaufman has a great app for calculating the yardage needed for the binding on your quilt. 

It is better known as The Quilters Little Helper.

All you do is add the dimensions of your quilt and the width of your binding and the app will calculate exactly how much yardage you need for your binding.  It provides lots of other calculations as well!

Here is my mini granny mini quilt. I posted about his quilt here.

Since the mini quilt is so small, it wasn't a bother to hand quilt around the mini granny squares.  I have always loved this look and decided to use embroidery thread that matched the color of each square.  I used DMC floche.  The cotton thread has a lovely, silky feel to it.  I always use this thread when I smock.  
I thought about machine quilting inside each square, but the blocks are so little they don't really need it.  It might also detract from the hand quilting.

Cut off the excess batting and backing, flush with the quilt front.

Whenever I attach binding to my quilt, there is always some leftover.  When I was making my Swoon quilt, I pre sewed the binding.  When the quilt was quilted and ready to be bound, I changed my mind and used another fabric for the binding.  I save all my bits of binding, some longer than others.  I'm just going to pick some bright colors out of my binding basket and sew a scrappy binding.

I think these ones will look fabulous!

Now I need to join my binding pieces together.  I would do this even if I were using 45" long strips of the same color.  

Place two strips right sides together, crossing the ends at right angles, leaving a l/4" overlap on two sides.

Sew a straight line from point to point.

Trim the seam to l/4".

Press the seam open.

Now fold your binding in half, wrong sides together.

I sewed all my binding strips together, pressed the seams open and folded them in half and pressed again.

Avoid starting to sew the binding exactly in the middle of a quilt edge.  Each time you fold your quilt in half, it will weaken at that spot.  This is a mini quilt (15" X 15") so that rule doesn't apply.

Don't pin the binding to the entire quilt before sewing.  As you sew, the binding may "bubble up" between the pins and cause little tucks. 

As you sew, concentrate on the 3" of binding directly in front of the sewing machine needle.  Lay the first 3" in position and sew, then go on to the next 3".  Before long, these 3" lengths will add up to the entire quilt!

Place one end of the binding 6" from one of the corners.  Align the cut edges of the binding strip with the cut edges of the quilt.  Start sewing 4" from the beginning of the binding. 

 Use a l/4" seam allowance, there is no need to backstitch when you begin to attach the binding.

A straight pin will help you mark the place l/4" away from the edge, to stop stitching.  

Fold the binding so that it extends straight up from the second edge of the quilt.  You'll be creating a diagonal fold, which will create the miter. 

Fold the binding down, aligning it with the second edge of the quilt. The fold should be even with the first edge of the quilt.  

Sew the binding to the quilt from the top, using a l/4" seam allowance.

Repeat these steps for the remaining corners on your quilt.

Stop sewing the binding approximately 6" away from the starting point.  

Cut the end of your binding with a perpendicular cut so that it overlaps the beginning end of your binding.  The length of the overlap must equal the width of your binding strip.  I use a 2" overlap for 2" wide binding.  You would have a 2 l/2" overlap for 2 l/2" binding, etc.  

There is a 2" overlap, because my binding is 2" wide.

Open the folds of the two strips and overlap them at right angles with right sides together as shown.  Pin them together.  Draw a diagonal line between the two points where the binding strips intersect as shown. (I've done this so many times that I don't draw the line anymore)

Here is a diagram that might better illustrate the directions.  

Sew the ends together on the marked line (from point to point).

Trim the seam to l/4".

Press the seam open.

Refold the seamed section of the strip, return it to the edge of the quilt.

Finish sewing the binding in place, it is a perfect fit!

Trim all the threads from your corners and the little triangle bits.

Congratulations, you are now ready to sew the binding onto the back of the quilt.

I will share that with you in Part 2, Friday's post.

Kindle Fire Cover

My son in law won a "kindle fire" at work, and I made a cover for it.  Have you ever tried to choose "masculine" fabric at the quilt store?  lol.......It is possible!

I found the tutorial here, on Skip to my Lou's blog.

The directions were very simple to follow.  It called for white elastic to hold the kindle in place. I kept the elastic in the top left corner to show you what it looked like.  I didn't really like the look, so I purchased some black elastic instead.

Do you like the "masculine fabric"?  I really like the chevron!

I cut a piece of cardstock the dimensions of the kindle to make sure it will fit in the corner elastic holders.

I chose this pattern, because of the pockets.  Two full depth pockets on the front, and one on the side.

I used the chevron print for the tab and sewed on some navy velcro.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any brown.

I looked into my button jars and found a really nice vintage one to finish the look. 

I'm pleased with the results.  I hope he likes it!

Peppermint Pizzaz

Peppermint Pizzaz is a 43" X 43" table topper by Cotton Way.

The cutting instructions are simple, as well as the sewing instructions.  Because of the pinwheel stars and flying geese, I would call this an "intermediate" level pattern.  I enjoyed sewing it, but am not pleased with the colors I chose.

I love the fabrics in the peppermints, they are from the Vintage Modern line, designed by Bonnie and Camille.

The peppermint sticks were supposed to be sewn a different way.  The pattern says to cut six strips of fabric, sew them together, and then cut them on the diagonal for the peppermint sticks, with skinny borders around them.  I thought the red and white striped Vintage Modern fabric with little polka dots was perfect for the peppermint sticks, so I just cut the fabric into peppermint shapes instead of using the method stated in the pattern.  

I prefer the peppermint sticks in the pattern, versus mine!

The star quilt block is one of my favorites, and I especially like this one with the pinwheels in the middle :)  

The fabrics I chose for my table topper are much too faint.  

There should be some popping of color going on.....some rich reds.

I like my background compared to the one in the pattern, it is from the Ruby line.

It took a lot of sewing hours to finish this table topper.  Too many just to have it sit on the kitchen table.  

It would make a pretty wall hanging but I don't really need one.

I'm really not that thrilled with the results, mainly because of the colors (or lack of color) of the stars.

I have a confession.......as I was sewing the rows of the table topper together, I was watching TV. I guess I wasn't paying attention and sewed the rows together without the sashing. Ugh! I had to do a lot of seam ripping......ouch!

I still need to purchase some fabric for the back so that I can machine quilt it, and will show you the finished product.

Did I mention that I'm teaching this class at the quilt shop?

Modern Vintage

I think this is the coolest story of two Moms (mother and daughter) who share the love of sewing and the look and feel of fabric. 

 My mom taught me how to sew when I was a young girl. 

This photo was taken of my mom and I, about six weeks ago :)

 For a very small amount of money (fabric used to be inexpensive), I could make a beautiful pants suit.  Yes, they used to be in style!

I remember one particular pants suit....the fabric was thin for the hot, humid Montreal summer.  Pink with small flowers, similar to a Liberty of London print.  I made the pants with wide legs (elephant pants in the 70's) and sewed a simple elastic waistband.  The matching top was a mini dress length with a scoop neck and big puffy sleeves.  I loved that outfit, it made me feel very fancy! lol..... I was 13 years old.

Forty years ago, my mom made my youngest brother Paul, who was four years old, a quiet book.  She only finished 2 l/2 pages.

Here they are....

A hippopotamus with a lot of personality....unbutton his mouth,

An elephant wearing rollerskates that unbutton with an elastic loop.

Do these calico prints from the 70's bring back any memories for anybody?

The yarn was sewn on a strip of fabric for the lion's mane, and the body and head were cut out and embroidered.  I had a terrible time trying to turn the fabric tail inside out, so I just bought some cord and braided it.  I sewed the body pieces to the fabric and stitched down the ribbon. I used the blanket stitch on my machine.  ROAR!!!

I made the turtle myself, I love the way he turned out.  The fabric is very thick and soft, just like a real turtle!  lol  The flowers were made out of craft foam and his eye is a "googly eye" button.

Don't you just love his "puffy" little heart?  

I sewed the snaps on with a double thread, but the thread kept breaking.  I used quilting thread, and it still broke!  Finally, I tried buttonhole thread and it was the strongest, it didn't break.  The large  snaps are really easy to open and close.

I thought that purchasing trim was much easier than trying to make the giraffe's mane out of yarn.  I used grosgrain ribbon for the ties because it is stronger and doesn't fray if cut on the bias.

Out of all the pages in the book, this turquoise polka dot fabric is the only one that is modern, and not vintage.

I used decor weight (heavy) iron on pellon for the backing of each page.  The letters are backed in the interfacing, and I just stitched around each letter with a raw edge.  I sewed on teeny little buttons for the dots on the "i"s.

I made the book for my grand daughter Maisie's birthday.  She just turned two.  

I just think it is so cool that this quiet book is Modern Vintage.

It was started 40 years ago and finished for my grand daughter.

I hope she will appreciate it when she gets older and can pass it down to one of her children.

Maisie makes the funniest faces, she is a character!  She is also a parrot, she repeats everything you say.  Her mom says she has to be very careful what she says......lol 

I think Maisie may be thinking, "Grammy, are you serious?"

"You chose me to give the modern vintage book to?"

Here is the finished book, grommets and all.

I hope she likes it ♥ dirty face and all!

THE END