nanna-up-north

I'm working on a vintage grandmother's flower garden quilt and as most all know, it has curved sides. I've done a lot of quilting and binding but never a curved one. Could anyone give me a few suggestions on the best way to do this?

I always do bias binding. I know it's essential for a curved edge. And, I can do the outie points. It's the innie points I'm worried about. And, should I try to keep this pointy or should I just go with the curves?

Thanks.

ktbb

I've not been real successful at bindings like this. However..in looking at your picture it looks like the green outer pieces already form a border - have you thought of facing it? it's a lot simpler and it leaves the green hexies fully visible to form the border.

nanna-up-north

Thanks for that suggestion. I hadn't even thought about that.

juliasb

One of my favorite quilts is the GMFG when I made the one in my Avatar I used of course a bias binding and did each angle. I worked as if I were doing squared edges but didn't have to make a full squared corner. Same thing with the inner turns. It just comes sorta natural. I pinned them in place and stitched them down. I also did both sides by hand because each piece was so small. Mine was a King size too.

nanna-up-north

Thanks Julia. That's a big help.

dunster

I agree with Kate that facing would be nicer than binding.

Tartan

Lovely top and I second the recommendation of using a facing. You would quilt the whole top and then cut strips that (match the backing) wide enough to sew the edges. You sew the facings to the front following all the angles, clip the seam allowance where needed and fold the facing to the back. You then hand stitch the facing on the back to the backing fabric.

quiltedsunshine

Or just do a "knife edge binding." No facing needed. Just turn 1/4" under on each side and ladder stitch.

jacqueck

Your quilt is lovely. When I made my GFG I backed the edges with another hexie. Wrong sides together and ladder stitched them all the way around the edge of the quilt. LOTS more green hexies to make but makes a really nice edge and the green hexies around the back looks nice. Any way you finish will be such a nice edge.

nanna-up-north

Well, I got some ideas from a friend and finished the edge with a binding. I just feel like quilts should be bound. I don't think I'd like a facing or anything like that.

But my friends suggestions were to treat the side edge like it was a zig-zag instead of curves. I turned the outie points like I normally do corners and the innie points were done by clipping and spreading to make a straight line. I think it turned out really nice. Here's a picture of how the edges turned out.

Thanks for all the ideas though. I always can count on you all to help me out when I need it.