Suggestions Needed For a Binding
 

I made this sample cathedral window to work out any problems before starting on a larger one. I'll probably put an embellishment in each intersection. My quandry is how to finish the edges.

There are too many layers of fabric to do a knife-edge binding. The edge is too thick with fabric layers to turn under, and I don't want to cut off the outer windows trying.

I hesitate to do a traditional double-fold binding because adding four more layers of fabric to the edges may be impossible to sew through. I don't think it would look good either.

Is there some sort of embroidery stitch that can be used to finish the edge? What type of thread/yarn would work best? What kind of needle? Could beads be added?

I'm glad that I made a sample. It's alot of work and fabric to make this pattern, and I'd be very frustrated if I couldn't figure out an attractive edge on a larger piece.

Its a beauty as is............... This girl put a binding on and it worked ok.......but yours i would leave plain or do a decorative blanket stitch around the edge.

Many cathedral windows quilts do not have any additional edge finishes. There's no backing or batting, and the edges are already enclosed. If you don't like the white thread accent on the print fabric, I would use invisible thread.

Incredibly well done!
The colours and fabrics are beautiful in it.

I like how you have it laying on top of another fabric (or is that batting?) ... as a border.
Perhaps try some different fabrics, and border it up.
Then you would have fewer labels and could do a knife edge border.

Sometimes a traditional binding just is so wrong ... and I agree with you in this case.
Let those Cathedral Windows show themselves off.

If you put on a binding it will cut off some of the design around the edges. I'd leave it without.

This one has raw edges on the outer triangle shapes. It also has batting and backing. I need to bind this one.

As QuiltE noted, I also like the look with the light fabric behind it. It really sets up the windows. If you have any more of the "petals" fabric I would put the windows right onto a bigger piece and then stitch the edges down at the same place you have already edge stitched. Makes a border. Then you can bind that.

It's a beautiful piece and the colors are striking!

The "light fabric behind it" is the batting. Unfortunately, I don't have any more large pieces of the window fabric, but I could use another fabric.

How would you "put the windows right onto a bigger piece..."? Applique with a satin stitch? Then I would have a single layer of fabric around the edges. How would you bind that?

Duh, if I had looked more closely at the photos, I would have noticed. I remember seeing a sort of scalloped binding on a quilt. The edge of the quilt was straight, the binding was cut on the bias, and every few inches the binding was gathered a bit so that the binding itself was scalloped. I just spent some time on google trying to find either a photo or the tutorial but was not successful. I'll continue to look as now it's bugging me. Maybe I saw it in a book. Anyway I hope my poor explanation gets the idea across maybe something like that may work.

I saw that scalloped binding too, and I bought the book, The Devil is in the Details by Bethanne Nemesh that explains her method. Unfortunately, it was put on a knife edge. I'd have to turn the edge under in order to use it. There is too much fabric on the edge to do that. Bummer...

Thanks for brainstorming with me! :)

Yes that's the book!
Another thing to think about. Too late for this quilt, however, is to oversize the triangles on the edges so that they extend half inch or so beyond the petals. then you could make some short vertical seams to join the edges of the triangles. This would give you a small border around the quilt and could attach the binding to that.

For the larger version, I would not cut the outer squares off to triangles. They could be trimmed to 1" beyond the edge of the quilt, the excess pressed in half, then folded to the back like a single-fold binding to finish the edge. If you cut them larger (sort of like oversizing a setting triangle), then the corners will overlap, and you can seam them together to get a continuous bias binding.

For this little one, you could use bias tape to finish it. It will give a finished edge with less bulk than a double-fold binging. A satin stitch would also work.

What to you plan to do with this sample? If it was mine, I would look at getting a picture frame and displaying it that way - I think it's gorgeous! You could use a dark frame with a white or cream mat; this would give the white border look that a couple people have mentioned. You might have to put some batting behind the mat to get it to sit correctly, and I probably wouldn't use glass in front of it.

Interesting method that I had not thought of. I may take out the stitching on the outside windows of this sample and replace the triangle fabric with larger triangle fabric to see how it would work.

I think a 3rd fabric would be best anyway. The same as the windows, would not let the windows show to their best advantage. I would start by auditioning with a tonal blender of the same as the darker shade in your cream print fabric.

As some have suggested, you could stitch the piece you have now, down to the background/border fabric with the raw edge exposed. That would mean you would have a double row of stitching. Personally, I don't care for seeing the raw edge, but that is just me. Especially when it is such a beautifully done piece. Although, you maybe don't have much choice, as to seam it, even an 1/8", you are going to cut off some of the edge of the perfection you have achieved.

Binding, I think I would stick with a knife edge ....... clean and does not detract from the beauty of the windows.

I am working on a Cathedral Window quilt and don't have the raw edges. What technique did you use for yours? Mine is like this one:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/machine-stitched-cathedral-window-tutorial-t35742.html

As you can see it does not leave raw edges but a folded edge. I also did a "test run" and made my sample into a pillow but yours would be beautiful framed as Jennifer23 suggested, then you would not have to worry about the edges. I also am doing the "windows" by hand, not sure if I will ever get a quilt or not, maybe a bed runner. Wish I had done it by machine now that I am so far into it.
Love your colors.

I started with this YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u8AT6lJK_c&t=191s
In this version the half-square triangles on the outside are raw edges. I also added batting and backing. If I left off those things, my cathedral window wouldn't have raw edges to bind like yours.

OK, now for plan C (or are we up to D or E?). What if first, before adding the triangles around the edge you trimmed the backing & batting flush with the folded edge of your background fabric. Then instead of triangles, use squares a bit larger than the ones in the center of the quilt. Before inserting them, turn 2 adjacent sides in 1/4" and press well. Now put the raw edge corner into the window, stitch as usual, then turn the loose part of the square to the back & hand stitch down. This will bind the edge and give you an interesting look on the back too.
Hope to see a pic of the idea that works best!

I like this idea, however, I would probably use invisible thread so as not to detract from the design. I prefer edges finished in some way.

Excellent job! I am no help with the binding though.

Wow! If you are able to get those outside triangles larger, that would be the way to go. A very much lot of work, but your finished product would be sooooo much better. I can't figure out how you can do this, but maybe you can.

The only other way I could figure out would be to sew a single layer of binding strip to the front with a very small seam and follow the curve and then into the triangles a little. Then turn that binding to the back as if it were a facing, but a very small line of it will show on the front, also. You'd have to stitch that from the back, following your lines of sewing on the front that you can see. Or make a line of sewing there to follow from the back.

I don't have any solutions but looks like with all of the ideas from all of these great members you will figure it out. I just wanted to tell you that your sample is beautiful. I love the fabrics you chose. Amazing!

Very pretty. My first thought was to do a modified satin-type stitch in a heavier thread. Almost like a floss. The other thought was something like a ribbon that has a finished edge and could be attached to the fabric but slid under the white 'window' edge.

I made my cathedral window quilts the traditional way, folding squares without any batting and there were no raw edges, so I did not use any kind of binding.

Do you have enough space at the edges that you could slip in some piping? Then it would be "bound" but you'd only have to sew through through one extra layer. I think solid reddish orange piping would be great and let the windows get all the attention.

It is true that most cathedral window quilts do not have borders. Could you do a facing finish on your quilt. You stated that it has to have some kind of finish because of the construction technique you used. To do a facing finish you would stitch on a strip of about two inches (could be more or less) on the edges and turn it to the back and slip stitch it in place. Your quilt is beautiful; I really like the strong colored fabric you used.

Trim Edge
 

Here is how I ended up finishing the edge. I cut the batting off flush with the edge... trimmed the backing to 1/2" and folded it 1/4" and brought the backing up and around to cover the raw edges. I zig-zagged some trim to the mock binding and called it a day. I'll probably put some buttons in the intersections of the windows.

I'm going to use some of your ideas to construct the next one. Thanks for brainstorming with me.

I would use a thick red embroidery thread (or yarn) and do a large blanket stitch edging. You could add a crocheted border around it with or without beads.

Ha! That's what I get for not reading to the end. That is a very pretty choice for edge treatment.

Nicely finished off!

Instead of buttons .... how about staying small and delicate and go with some tiny beads?
If you have some more of that edging, perhaps you could unthread some of it, and use the same beads?
Otherwise, my thoughts would be to stay small and delicate with either a coordinating pearlized bead, or a sparkly diamond like bead.

Always good to do a pilot project, when trying a new technique, just to see if it will work.
Or what challenges come ones way!
Looks like you have been able to think through your next and bigger project
and have ideas to spare now! :)

Here's a link to an article and instructions for a knife edge binding on "The Spruce" website:

https://www.thespruce.com/sew-knife-...inding-2821319