Binding and finishing demos

     Last Monday night at our guild meeting, my co-program chair and I did a workshop on binding and finishing. We showed a lot of examples and gave lots of ideas. It was not a step by step how to, but ideas and ways to make our quilts that much more special. No slab-o-borders to make things bigger. Elizabeth had lots of border samples and ideas. I had bindings and finishes. We have a video camera and projector so they can see on the wall a large version of what we are demonstrating. Works wonderful.
    When I was putting away my demo samples, I took some photos and will share some. Ask if you have questions. Maybe something here will intrigue you to try.

This small sample shows how I glue all my binding (Washable Elmer's) on and only use one pin. It is ready to sew. Quilting done on my Singer 301. I glued and ironed as I explained.

Twill tape sewn on edges. Learned this in a David Taylor lecture. It stabilizes the outside edges absolutely and piece hangs flat.
Use 1/4" Polyester twill tape- it is under the binding in the photo above. When the binding is sewn on, it is all covered. Opposite sides are cut exactly the same size and when sewn on, fabric has to fit the cut tape. No more waves.

Adding rick rack or trim under the binding for a custom look.
I glued it first with the same Washable Elmer's that I use for  binding.

I made a small placemat for the demo, Granddaughter claimed it. Rick rack or trim idea would be great on a quilt.

Hanging sleeves- Top has raw edge at top (misaligned at left so you can see it) that is sewn into top binding with a basted fold part way down for the fullness of a rod. After sleeve sewn in and after handstitching the sides and bottom, remove basting.
Bottom sleeve is sewn wrong sides together, seamed at raw edge. Seam pressed open and then sleeve is rotated so seam is at middle of back. The basted fold is done at the bottom and then rotates to front when back seam goes to middle of back. Handstitch all around or I use a machine blindstitch.

One of my favorites- Striped binding. I collect striped fabric for this. Sample of fabrics used, a binding cut, and one applied to a quilt (how it looks on the front and the back). I use 2 1/4" binding, sewn on the front, taken to the back. I machine sew everything.

Another favorite- Faux piping. Two strips of fabric- one 1 1/2", one 1 3/4" (the piping fabric) sewn together and presssed in half. On the back of the quilt, the Skinny flange fabric faces up when you sew it on (I glue and sew). Flip to the front, secure (I glue) and sew in the ditch of the skinny fabric and thicker one. If I am concerned about the stitching showing, I will use Monofilament.

Hanging Leaves in Winter

     It is very much winter here. Snowing right now and over the weekend we lost power for 17 hours due to high winds. My attention span has been short due to a lingering virus, neck pain, and weather disruptions so I concentrated on small projects. 
     I started this applique leaves piece way back in a quild retreat last March. I don't like tablerunners, so I made a wall hanging. We used fabric Modge Podge to stick the leaves down (my own leaf design) and I sort of graffiti sewed black lines on all the edges to hold them down. I used scraps to sew made fabric to connect the leaves. The border seemed to incorporate the colors and movement of the leaves.
      I find it real fun to quilt with perle cotton. My mother in law used to sew huge quilts with an X stitch using crochet thread to hold together polyester knit scraps on a backing, so it probably reminds me of those treasured quilts. Since my guild co-chair for program and I are presenting a borders and finishes program March 18th, I decided to make a faux piping binding. 
     I cut the dark blue 1 1/2" and the gray fabric 1 3/4". After sewing long strips of the dark blue and long strips of the grey, I seamed the two colors and then pressed in half. The gray extends over the fold. I glue basted the binding on the back of the quilt with the dark blue facing the quilt, gray side up, sewed 1/4".  Then I pressed, folded, glued again to the front and sewed in the ditch between the gray and the dark blue. All I have left is to put a sleeve on it and I just found the tutorial to do it by machine, which is what I will do.

Finished comfort quilt out the door

The finished crumb quilt went out the door yesterday to a woman named Sandra. Prayers for her as she is having difficulty with treatments. Sewed on 301s. Purchased bag, pockets sewn inside and out.

Crumb quilt with Faux piping binding

Bag with book