How To Face A Quilt Binding ~ Tutorial

Here is my tutorial for how I faced the binding on my

My Dream Big Quilt

The hanging tube for this quilt was  also constructed with the facing strips

that bind the quilt.

I started by squaring and trimming my quilt with the edges even.

There is no need to leave any extra batting or backing fabric when facing a quilt. 

Then I cut by my facing strips: 

Two 3.5" wide strips (sides)

and

Two 5.5 " wide strips (top and bottom) 

Length was determined by the length of the sides of my quilt plus 3"

I used the extra 108" backing fabric strips,

but any color may be used as it will not be seen on the front of the quilt.

I decided to make a hanging tube top and bottom of my quilt.

If I only wanted a hanging tube at the top I would have cut only one 5" strip 

I sewed a 1/4" seam attaching the 3.5" facing strips to either side of my quilt.

Right Sides Together

I used wonder clips to secure the pieces in every step and removed as I sewed.

Then I pressed the facing strips over the edge of the quilt
pressing toward the outside.

Then I "stay stitched" the seam by stitching a line 1/8" away from the pressed fold.

This stitching line is very important to the turning process.

You can see the 1/4 seam allowance under the presser foot if you look closely. 

This stay stitch line secures the edge.

It will not be visible on the front on the quilt as it will be turned to the back.

Then I pressed a 1/2" hem on the raw outside edge, carefully turned, pressed and clipped the facing strip as I went along.

Then I hand stitched the facing strip to the back of the quilt.

You can see the 1/4" of the quilt front turned to the back of the quilt.

Here is my first side faced.

You cannot see any binding fabric or stitches on the front of the quilt.

The outside edges of the side can be cut even with the edge and do not need to be stitched 

as this edge will be closed when attaching the top and bottom facing. 

Clip strips to the top and bottom of the quilt,

right sides together

allowing 1 1.5" overhang on either side.

This will turned under after the next step.

Sew strips to top and bottom of the quilt

leaving the overhang open.

Press the facing strip away from the front on the quilt,
pressing toward the outside edge.

Stay stitch the top and bottom 1/8" from the pressed edge
securing the strip to the seam allowance on the back.

Press a  1/4" hem and then press the overhang inward to finish the raw edges.

Machine stitch securing the overhang to the facing seam.

 Machine sew hem on tube to secure.

Secure all overhang edges in the manner.

Machine sew a 1/4" hem on the outer edge of the facing tube strip.

Turn the facing to the back.
This also turns 1/4" of the front of the quilt to the back.
Use Wonder Clips to secure.

Ready to hand stitch the facing and hanging tube to the back.

Leaving the ends of the tube open ... 

Hand stitch the hanging tube facing to the back of the quilt.

 Katniss was my quilty kitty supervisor for this process.

My finished facing.

My new wall quilt!
I really like this facing alternative to the traditional binding
as it does not add an additional design element to the quilt.

I hope you find this quilt facing tutorial useful.

If you have an questions, please contact me.
My email address may be found in my header under
"Contact Me".

Happy quilting! 

Two Fabric Flanged Machine Binding Tutorial

This is a detailed tutorial of how I sewed the
Two Fabric Flanged Machine Binding
to my
Ruffle Flowers Table Runner Quilt

I saw this type of binding online and
those bindings looked too small and thin for me,
so I developed my own cutting method
to make a full, standout binding.

I have had many requests from readers for a tutorial of this binding method

Sew here it is ...

Audition and choose your binding fabrics.

I used to have a difficult time choosing just one,

so using two fabrics is a win-win for me!

Trim the edges of the quilt to 1/2 inch from the edge.

I run a line of stitches around the edge of the quilt during the quilting process and use this as a guide line for aligning the cut edge of my binding on the back of the quilt. 

Cut 1 and 1/2" strips of the main binding fabric fabric,
and
2" strips of the accent (flange) fabric.

Sew the strips together end to end.

Trim the selvedge and press open.

Sew together lengthwise.

Press to the main fabric.

Press in half making a sharp edge on the flange.

I like to use a large Binding Baby to hold me prepared binding.

This cutie sits very nicely on the second thread spindle on my machine.

As you can see I match my binding thread color to the flange color.

My bobbin color is the one I used for quilting the back of the quilt.

Machine stitch to the back of the quilt 1/2 inch from the edge of the quilt,

leaving a ten inch tail at the beginning.

I place the cut edge of the binding on the guide line of stitches

that I run around the very edge of the quilt during the quilting stage.

You can see that line of stitches ... 

visible here, as I stop to turn the corner.

I backstitch off at an angle to the corner.

The I fold my corner at a right angle and put a clip where
I want to start sewing on the next side.

I remove the clip, needle down and up and pull up the bobbin thread,
take two stitches and backstitch two stitches
so my corner is closed and secure.

To finish my binding, I stop my stitches leaving about a ten inch opening.

Then I fold the fabrics to meet in the middle of the opening
and finger press.

I mark the place where I want to start stitching with an erasable fabric marker.

I cut both ends about an extra inch long.

I open the binding and with right sides together,
I match the flange edge carefully an pin

I mark a line with the erasable fabric marker
and sew along the line.

I hand press open the closing seam, trim to a quarter inch seam
and turn it right side out sand flatten it.

Then I sew the opening closed.

Then I fold the binding to the front, tucking in the batting edge,
and use binding clips to secure around the edges.

The flange will just cover the line of stitches that secure the binding to the back.

Here is the corner fold.

Here is what the clipped binding looks like front and back.

To stitch the binding to the front of my quilt I use my zipper foot.
This little foot fits snugly into the narrow flange.

To turn the corner, I open the binding and stitch right up to the line
that attaches the binding to the back.

Then I fold the corner and clip.

I resume stitching at the corner and continue all around with the help of the paw.

This is a close up of the binding on the front.

Close up of the back.

You can see the line of stitches that secures the binding to the front
just inside the turn.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

If you use this method, I would love to receive feedback to

scrapatches@gmail.com

Here are some of the other recent flanged bindings I have sewn.

There are also how to photos for the scrappy binding on my
  Fat Quarter Cubes Pillow
which has a gray ombre flange.

For more examples,

I have also added this binding to these quilts:

This striped and silver grey binding is on my

Goodnight Moon Bookworm Quilt

This two color also appears on my

Jolly Bar Jazz Quilt and Pillow

Every time I use this method,

I love it more and more.

It is now my favorite go-to method of binding.

May you enjoy it, too.

I have entered this tutorial in the 

Voting open June 16-20th.

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