Flange Binding by Machine

A flange binding offers a chance to use an accent colour around the perimeter of a quilt, plus it helps make binding by machine super easy.

Action shot!
Constantly rearranging the quilt to reduce stress and stretch at the needle helps my binding lay flat in the end.

If you would like to try this technique in place of a regular binding, here's what to do:

Choose one fabric to act as the binding, and one to become the flange.

Cut and join the binding strips into one long strip as you would for regular binding. Do the same with the flange fabric.

The purple will become the flange, and the brown will be the binding.

The binding fabric is cut narrower than the flange fabric.

Cut BINDING strips @ one-and-a-quarter inch.

Cut FLANGE strips @ one-and-five-eighths inch.
(Each black tick mark on the ruler is an eighth of an inch)

Sew the strips right sides together using a quarter-inch seam allowance.

I press mitered joins open to reduce bulk.

Press seam toward the BINDING fabric.

The ends don't have to align at this stage.
They will be trimmed when they are joined later.

Still at the ironing board, fold and press the entire thing in half along its length.
A flange is automatically created.

Purple flange, brown binding.

Sew the newly created "binding strip with flange" on the BACK of the quilt, exactly as you would a traditional binding. Use a quarter-inch seam allowance.

Be sure it is face down on the back so when it wraps to the front of the quilt, the flange will show.

Binding strip is FACE DOWN on the BACK of the quilt.
Cannot see the brown binding fabric or flange.

Join the ends in a miter just as you would a traditional binding.
(Here's how I do that.)

TIP: The strip you have just created measures two-and-three-eighths of an inch wide, so THAT is the amount of overlap you must use to create the miter join. (The overlap always matches strip-width for this process.)

Press the binding straight out from the back of the quilt like a wing.  Press up to the corners, but not into them.

Binding is pressed straight out from back of quilt like a wing.
Flange will wrap around to the front.

Wrap the flange binding to the front of the quilt, filling the binding but not pulling so hard as to cause distortion of the edge.

I use "Wonder Clips" to hold the binding in place, except for the corners where I use a strategically placed pin to hold the miter in place. Pins would work, too, but I find these clips convenient.

Instead of clipping all the way around the quilt (they would get dislodged anyway), I use three or four clips ahead of my needle. As I sew up to each clip, I rearrange the quilt so there is no stretching and pulling, take off the clip and move it forward to the next spot that needs one (like leap frog).

I match my thread colour to the FLANGE (top and bobbin), and then stitch-in-the-ditch on top of the flange, keeping my needle as close to the binding as possible (staying right in the groove).

Keep an eye on the right edge of the binding as you work. Folding the fabric over and filling it with a consistent amount of batting will keep the right edge nice and straight.

A stitch-in-the-ditch foot helps things go smoothly.

The foot will press down and squash the binding a bit.
Have faith that if you hold things firmly in place as you sew everything will work out!

Coming to a Corner

Fold bottom edge UP

Fold right edge in.
Manipulate the fabric until you are happy with the miter.

Pin to hold the miter.

Use a stiletto or an awl to hold the miter once the pin is removed.
One pin around the corner can be handy, too.
Pivot around the corner, staying in the ditch as best you can.

Once you've sewn all the way around, you are done!

Finished corners - back and front views.

It's Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Can I get a Whoop WHOOP???

Scrappy Plus is FINISHED!!!!

It was a very chilly -31 C (negative 24 F) when I awoke this morning. It warmed up to -23 C this afternoon but there was a nasty, little breeze that cut like a knife, so...no outdoor picture today. 

If it's sunny again tomorrow I may brave the weather for a shot, but in the meantime, these will have to do!

The precarious "chair" shot!

Also linking up with:

Fabric Frenzy Friday at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Show Off Saturday at Sew Can She

Small Blog Meet and Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Try, Learn, Grow!

Carole

Comments are welcome. Thanks so much for looking around!