Binding by Machine

Machine binding is faster than stitching by hand, and sturdy enough to stand a lot of wear and tear.  I use this technique whenever possible.

Today I snapped a few photos of the process as I bound Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin. 

My binding strips are cut 2 1/2 inches wide. Once they are joined end to end, I press them in half lengthwise to make a French Fold binding. (Here is Missouri Quilt Co's basic binding tutorial if you need it)

Sewing the Binding Onto the Quilt:

I sew the binding onto the quilt in the usual way, except that it goes on the BACK of the quilt and wraps around to the FRONT for finishing. 

Sewing binding to the BACK of the quilt.
Notice the foot and needle position.

I use a regular foot, and move my needle two notches (on my machine) closer to the edge of the quilt. I use the edge of the foot as a guide for the seam allowance. This seam allowance is larger than a quarter of an inch, yet slightly smaller than three eighths.

By using this combination (foot and needle position) the binding will be full, yet when the binding wraps to the front of the quilt, there is still enough fabric to cover this stitch line so it won't be visible.

Measure the exact size of your seam allowance. Use this measurement to determine where to stop when approaching corners. This is the same procedure as for basic binding, but the measurements have been adjusted to match the seam allowance so you get a nice, sharp corner.

Mitering the Final Join:

I like to join my binding ends using a miter. This hides the join so you can't tell where the binding began and ended.

Both binding tails are long and loose at this point. Leave about 12 inches of working space between the beginning tail and ending tail.

Trim one tail and lay it on the quilt in your working space.
Place a ruler on top, as shown.

Trim the second tail, leaving an OVERLAP of 2 1/2 inches (same as binding width).

To join the tails, they will need to be sewn right sides together.
Place the LEFT tail as shown here.

Scrunch the quilt a bit. Place the RIGHT tail as shown.

Pin the tails together so they don't move.
Peek under the top tail to find the corner beneath.
Draw a line from corner to corner, as shown.

This is where I draw the line! Ha!

It is important to TEST your join before you sew!!!
It's easy to accidentally add a twist into the binding. If you check now, you could save wear and tear on your seam ripper!

No twist.
The binding will lay nice and flat once it is sewn.

Stitch exactly on the line you drew.
(Needle is centered)

Trim seam allowance to a quarter inch.

Press open to reduce bulk.

Position the binding and press it nice and flat.
See the lovely mitered join?
PIN the binding in place so it won't ripple as you sew it down.

Sew it down!

Finishing by Machine:

Lay the quilt face down on the ironing board.
Being careful not to distort the fabric, press the binding out to the side like a wing.
Press close to corners, but not into them. They will be taken care of later.

Flip the quilt over so it is face up.
Here is what the binding looks like from the front.

Fold corners into miters.
Fold the rest of the binding to the front of the quilt.
Pin to death.
I pin all the way around the quilt so I can sew without stopping. I pivot at the corners.

This time I have moved my needle to the LEFT of center.
Use the edge of the foot as a guide.
Stitch the binding through all layers.
MATCH your top and bobbin thread colour to the BINDING.

This is the back of the quilt.
I don`t mind the stitch line along the binding. It is nice and tidy.

Nice finish!

"NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S LOG CABIN" IS FINISHED!!!
February Finish for A Lovely Year of FinishesSee my February goals here

Whew.

Linking up with: Sew Can She, for Show Off Saturday, Stitch by Stitch, for Anything Goes Monday, and Such a Sew and Sew, for A Stitch in Time February Finishes.

Try, Learn, Grow!

Carole

Comments are welcome. Thanks so much for looking around!