It's me again- with more newbie questions.
The top of my quilt is 6 long strips, 9in wide, which, in retrospect, I would never do again, but didn't really happen on purpose... I can't tell if I'm getting them lined up correctly. How can I line them up to be straight not just to eachother, but as a finished product?
Next. Once I get that all sewn together, my batting/backing all lined up, where should I start pinning? in the center? I got basting pins- do I really need to pin every 4 inches or can it be further apart?
-I am machine quilting it, down the ditches between the 6 strips, then the plan was to ditch again every 9in or so (because of my blocks). That's why I'm wondering about pinning. Once that's done, I was going to do a little hand stitching, but not much.
Next next. I found pre-cut/rolled binding today at JoAnns in a patterned-not-plain-fabric. I believe it started at 2 1/2 inches wide, is rolled and pressed in half with one folded edge and one raw edge. I obviously have to fold the raw edge under- is there a 'set' size that my binding should be once it's finished? Do I fold and press that raw edge into itself until it touches or just about touches the center fold, or further out? Do I leave myself some extra batting/backing to fold in there, or not so much?
Thank you all. Sorry for all the questions, I know I'm just in the new-quilter-panic mode, but I am such a perfectionist. I don't want to find out later, DOY- wish I would have known that!- about silly, simple things.
THANK YOU!!!!