Last week we constructed our blanket so there is just one thing left to do and that's to bind it.
(Warning: This post is extremely boring. You might just want to save yourself the agony of reading through it for when you're ready to actually put a bias binding on your quilt - there is no entertainment value in this post what so ever!)
You'll want to start with a piece of ribbed Minkee (about 27" by 60") and fold it on the bias, which is at a 45 degree angle across the center of the piece.
The reason for a bias binding is that there is more stretch across the bias and with ribbed Minkee, bias cuts create a rope effect around your blanket. Just too stink'n cute!
Bring the corner up like this to fold a kind of triangle (kind'a like folding a diaper for my bratty Minkee baby...baby!)
Then start cutting at the fold through all four layers, making your strips 2 1/2" wide. You will need to cut enough strips to equal the measurement around your finished blanket plus about 18". It's better to have too much rather than not enough (good advise with most things in life I always say).
Helpful Hint: Put a new blade in your rotary cutter if you need one. Cutting through four layers of ribbed Minkee is brutal with a dull blade.
Once all of your strips are cut it's time to sew them together into one long strip. Start by laying them out like this and sew them together with right sides together from the upper left to the lower right corner at the illustrated line. Once all strips are joined trim the excess fabric away leaving about 1/4" seam allowance.
Helpful Hint: You will be using your walking foot exclusively throughout this project.
For this project we are going to use a single binding because the Minkee is so bulky.
Beginning in the center of one side of your quilt, place the right side of your binding strip against the edge of the back of your quilt, aligning the binding's raw edge with the edge of the quilt back. (It is important to leave a tail of extra binding beyond the point where you start stitching). With your walking foot, sew through all layers, using the edge of your walking foot as a seam guide.
You will sew until you come to the corner. Stop just short of the corner, a distance equal to your seam allowance.
Clip your threads and remove your quilt from the machine and fold the binding strip upward, creating a diagonal fold.
Holding the diagonal fold in place with your finger, bring the binding strip down in line with the next edge, making a horizontal fold that aliens with the quilt edge.
Start sewing again at the top of the horizontal fold, stitching through all layers. Sew around the quilt, turning each corner in the same manner.
When you get to within about 8" of the spot you began, stop and remove the quilt from the machine. Pin the binding around the edge to be bound, overlapping the strips. Mark the upper edge of both ends at the center point where they'll be joined (on the wrong side of the Minkee).
Measure half the width of the binding, (1 1/4") on either side of the center marks and draw lines at right angles to the edge across the binding to form squares. Trim away excess binding.
Mark a line between the upper left and lower right corners on the left hand end of the binding strip. Place the binding strips right sides together, with ends perpendicular to one another, and pin. Sew along the marked line.
Trim seam allowance.
(The diagonal line to the upper right of the seam is a boo boo. Pretend it's not there). = )
Finish sewing the remaining unsewn seam, joining the binding to the back of your quilt.
We're almost done.
Now, just fold the edge of the binding to meet the raw edges of the quilt
and wrap and pin the folded binding to the front of your quilt.
Using a zig zag stitch or on a Bernina stitch number four (lengthen it to 3.0mm and reduce the width to about 4.75mm) sew with clear thread top and bottom to attach the binding.
As you come to the corners use your awl or seam ripper or scissor point to coax the corners into a nice mitered point. Hey, it's fluffy and hides any imperfections.
Your top stitching should be right over the stitch that you made to attach the binding to the quilt back and your binding should be a consistent 3/4" wide.
Helpful Hint: Never sew on Minkee with a clean house...in dark pants.
So that's it.
Tap. Tap.
Hello... Are you still with me?
It's not as if I didn't warn you!
Next week something a little more fun.
I promise!
In the mean time I hope this helps. Let me know if you have questions and please share your successes. It's what keeps me going (and staying up until midnight doing this for you all). = )
Encourage one another,
