What are my binding options for a Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt?
 

So, I started this quilt a few months ago as something to do while my mother was in the hospital. I am sewing together the outside sections with the borders at this point, but I have no clue of what I am going to do for the binding. It's a large queen or a smallish king size quilt (I'm not really sure I just started working on it without any directions) made with ~2800 1" hexagons. I was thinking about just binding it as is, but I am not sure it that would work since the hexagons are so small. I don't really want to cut it down to make it square or appliqué on another border. What are my options?



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No answer but it's gonna be pretty...I have a top like this someone gave me (her mother died) and I'll be interested in the answer too as I've been afraid to finish it because I wasn't sure of the binding either. I guess I could use the birthing method and topstitch the edges?????

Sew on additional half-hexagons to make it square
Applique the edges onto a border fabric to make it square
Bind as is

If you want to go crazy, make bias binding and prepare to fold and stitch all the way around. I've seen larger hexagons done this way. I would make hexagons of a solid finishing color, stitch them onto it all the way around, then cut them off straight and bind it like any other quilt. Or....

You can trim the backing to the same shape and fold the seam allowance in on each hexagon and whip stitch.

You have the patience of Job!

generally the options for grandmother's flower garden quilts are:
use 1/2 hex's to fill in the edges- making it square/straight- then bind as normal
use bias binding & carefully stitch (clip at the inside points, miter the outside) time consuming- but nice finish
or
make a facing to finish the edges- stitching on right sides together- clip inside points, fold to back & press
or
since the edges are already turned under all the way around you can simply applique the top to a background (either leaving whole or trimming away all the fabric under the flower garden- just leaving a border around the top-which can then be squared, sandwiched, quilted & bound normally.

you might sew a very wide 'border' face to face with your top. then turn that to the back and tack it down. or totally birth the quilt.

here's a google search of GFG's and you might get an idea from them. https://www.google.com/search?q=imag...w=1017&bih=648

I would just make the 1/2 hex's, and sew them around the edges to make it square, then bind it.

On one I did I made a row of hexes the length of the side.(it was a small quilt). I layered the quilt keeping the backing just slightly past center of outer edge hexes then put the row I did along the side like a facing right side to the back. Picture two hexes placed wrong sides together. I stitched the outer edges made sure the backing was under the row of hexes, basted and then quilted. Kept the shape of edges and made a nice accent row of hexes around the back of the quilt. Clear as mud right?

I think that facing the edges makes a much prettier quilt than any other method. Here's a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwPe_84GBfY