This quilt also took it's turn with binding.
If you are interested in my methodology for sewing the binding by machine to the front and back...read on but be aware! I took a lot of pictures as I explain this.
First, I cut my bindings at 2.5 inches.
I sew with a 2007 Brother QC 1000. Stitch length set at 2.5 to make the binding. I use a 90/14 Quilting needle and Permacore thread either 30 or 40 weight (this is what I run through my long arm)
Second, I join my binding strips on a diagonal.
Third, I trim the excess.
Fourth, I press the seam open and them press the binding in half...wrong sides together.
Fifth, I wrap it on my binding baby for safe keeping until I am ready to use it.
When I am ready to bind, I start on the bottom of the quilt right side up approximately in the middle and cut off the selvage of the binding.
Next, I use wonder clips to hold the binding at the start and leave about an 8 - 10 inch tail. I also set my stitch length to 3.0 on my Baby Brother machine.
I match my top thread to the binding and the bobbin to the color I quilted with. I pull up the bobbin thread and take a locking stitch. I try to keep my binding and presser foot line up with the raw edge of the quilt top. This is about 3/8 of an inch from the needle to the raw edge of the quilt.
I continue around the quilt, mitering the corners as I go. When I come to the ending/beginning join, I use a 2.5 inch cut square I keep by my machine to measure for the join. I line up my square with the bottom edge of the binding. I then measure the top binding. Some cut at exactly matching but I choose to fold and cut the top (or end) binding 3/8 of an inch shorter than the measuring square.
Bottom binding piece is down, top is up so right sides together and rotate for a 45 degree sewing join.
I finger press the seam open and then finger press the binding to smooth it out. I also check to make sure 'it looks right' before I trim. I then finish the seam to attach the binding.
Next, I change the bobbin thread to match the binding.
I flip the quilt over, pull the binding to the back, use two wonder clips to secure the start of my sewing. When I pull the binding to the back, I try to match the edge of the binding with the sewing line of the binding. That way, I know that I am sewing close to the front edge of the binding.
Every so often, I check the front to make sure 'it looks good'.
I sew along and do the miters like I am hand sewing but use wonder clips to hold in place.
I pivot at the corner and continue sewing down the quilt. I do use the open end of the lobster pick as a stiletto. I brought the lobster pick at the grocery store Pick n Save when I lived in Wisconsin. I have NOT found as nice lobster pick here in Michigan.
I continue around until I reach where I began and lock the stitches in.
Is it perfect? No...but I do like this look better than the other ways I have experimented with. It takes me about an hour or 1.5 hours to bind as opposed to much longer when I hand sew the binding back. :)
Thanks for coming along with my binding method!
