Angelmerritt

I tried to put on my binding before trimming but ended up catching some of the corner fold in my cutting blade and decided NEVER AGAIN. So now I trim first then attach my binding, without stitching around the edges (unless the borders are only lightly quilted). I do use a tool by Martelli that helps a great deal. I use continuous bias binding and love the outcome as I have little waste. I do press the whole continous strip in half and then roll up on a half empty roll of toilet paper. Then I slipped some mardi gras beads through the center, safety pin to another strand and put over my head. This way I can pull off a few feet at a time and don't have the pile of binding on the floor getting all tangled. Also, many times I make my binding well in advance of finishing the quilt (sometimes I get creatively stuck and need a short distraction) and the binding stays perfectly preserved all wrapped up. Perhaps make a set of practice placemats to try different techniques until you find one you feel works for you. I put my latest binding roll on my son for the pic so you can see better what I'm trying to describe.

salemmm

OMG!!!! How cute is that little guy?! AND he's such a good helper!!! That is the best advice and makes sense to me too!! I will definitely do that- maybe have my hubby substitute for your boy--haha Thanks again- melissa from Az.

salemmm

I have a curious george t-shirt too!!!!

CoriAmD

great idea! I had to look at the picture to know what you were talking about.... mind wasn't getting it until the eyes saw it.... LOL THANKS FOR SHARING

adrianlee

I hand baste the edge, then sew the binding on the back, come around the front and use a decorative stitch to finish. One of my sewing machines has a nice feather stitch.

katei

Thanks for this great tip - I usually end up nearly hanging myself with the binding slung over my shoulder!! :roll:

fireworkslover

What a super idea! I'm going to try that on the current project, when I get to that point.

bearisgray

I square the quilt up and then I pin baste it, quilt it, and then trim the three layers neatly.

Then I use the longest straight stitch and sew about 1/8 inch from the edge to keep all the layers together.

I pin and then machine baste the edges of the binding together before attaching it to the quilt.

I do not press the binding in half because - when it gets folded a few times, the "center crease" is off by a few threads.

I like to sew the edges of the quilt before putting the binding on because then I don't need to think about whether I have all the layers included.

salemmm

I can't figure the math on my binding.... I thought to end up w/ a 1/2" binding- you start w/ a 2 1/2" strip-- fold in half- press- line up the edge w/ the edge of the sandwhich and sew it on 1/4 ". When I practiced this-- I end up w/ 1/4" on the front and bigger on the back. What am I doing wrong????

bearisgray

Practice sewing it on with a wider seam - I would suggest a "scant" 1/2 inch - for starters - you may need to fiddle around with what works for you