Help! I cut binding too short at the end...
 

I was following a youtube video and when she said to cut the tail to 3 in. I didn't even think about checking the other end to make sure they met. SO, the ends just meet, luckily one is cut on an angle while the other is straight, BUT there's no way I can join them with a seam. Do I dare sew them down without a seam? Would fray check work? or do I have to patch in more binding? This is my first binding, and it was going so well until the end. :(

I would definitely patch. You should be able to seam rip a few inches, sew a 1/4 inch seam with a a me piece, press allowances and keep going. Otherwise you will end up with a hole in the binding eventually and kick yourself for not getting it right

Yes add to the remaining tail. You will thank yourself later when it comes to wear.

I would cut the blunt end binding back a ways and add a new strip. You'll be happier when you do it correctly.

I have been there!! I ended up patching mine

Walk away from it for a day, then go back and cut another piece of binding and "do it right" -- you'll be glad you did. :)

Always patch while you have the fabric. 3 years from now, when the "frays" get out of control, you will never find matching fabric. Besides, how can you regret putting 30 min more into a quilt that you already spent 200 hrs on?

Yes, take all this advice and add more binding. Short cut will not work in this case. Live and learn!

Thanks ladies! I will look at it again with fresh eyes tomorrow. I didn't think there was a short cut, but just wanted to be sure!:P

i totally agree! But take a break and do it tomorrow!!:D

Cut an end and add more binding so the two seams won't be too close together.

Patch in some more binding.

It only takes a minute to do it right and add in another piece. Happens to me all the time...

In this case, I would go back, add a piece of fabric and get it done or Tartan had a very good suggestion.

Yep, been there done that. You've got to add another piece of binding. It's really not a bad mistake to make. Easily fixable. Once you do it, you'll never do it again.

This is the method I use with plenty of fabric. It works and saves the "crazy's"!

I vote with MadQuilter, if you trim the blunt end back a little and put in a 3-6 inch piece with diagonal seams it will be fine.

Yes, cut it back, but be sure to add the new piece with a diagonal seam and press that seam open. All seams in a binding really should be on the diagonal and pressed open.

Don't have any more fabric? Do as Tartan suggests. That might work.

Whenever I've tried to do a quick fix, rather than take the time to just fix it the right way, I've always been sorry!

Time for a 'design decision'. I would cut a patch in a piece to cover the oopsie, and bind as you plan to. Use the odd section to embroider your name or the receivers name along it. Problem solved. You can fix it without too much pain.

I fixed it but not the way I wanted to. I did patch in a long piece and no one will be the wiser, but trying to join it one way I messed up again but at least had enough to join a different way. It looks fine and the stripes match, so I'm happy with it. Now to figure out the best way to sew it to the back. I've watched 3 youtube videos and they all use different stitches, so I guess it's personal preference. I can't believe it's almost done!

Julie, I use a basic hem stitch to attach the binding to the back. See The Ultimate Quilt Binding Tutorial by Jenny at MSQC. On YouTube!

Madquilter does what I have done, works very well.

Jeanette, I watched her video and couldn't tell exactly what she was doing - was she coming up through the binding and then going through the backing? So she was "tacking" down the binding. As opposed to going through the binding and then "tacking" the backing? KWIM?

My dentist has a quote in his office that says, "If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when will you have time to fix it the second time."

No worries, most of us have done something similar and had to patch in a second piece. I just did it on my grandson's quilt I have been working on for over a year. I unpicked about a foot or more so the new piece wasn't so obvious. Good luck. You will thank yourself for taking the time to "do it right".

I know, I have done this too. In fact on one particular quilt, I was such a ditz that I cut it too small not once, but twice! Can you believe that? There are some days that you need to just walk away from a project when you are in a hurry and making too many mistakes.

As frustrating and scary as it is, as everyone says just add an extra length of binding. If you are careful, you won't even be able to tell that it is there.

Don't know what video you were watching but I love Jeanie Doan's method! Always comes out nice and has a real finished look to it.