Double Four Patch Quilt Binding

My Double Four Patch quilt came back from my friend Eleni. So grateful to her for her quick and wonderful long-arm quilting!

I chose a dark blue fabric for the binding.

I prepared the binding strip. As I was in a hurry (my sister was coming soon to Greece to take delivery of it), I had no time to proceed as usual : machine sewing on the right side and then hand sewing on the back, so I decided to try, for the first time, machine sewing on both sides. For this I proceeded the opposite way from what I usually do :

I have been sewing the strip on the wrong side and then turning it on the right side, sewing very carefully on it. The end result is quite satisfying from my point of view.

Monday's Meeting

Pastafiore tart

Kaffe Fassett blocks and tablecloth

Kaffe Fassett bag

Kaffe Fassett bag

Embroided belt

You have often seen in my posts Kaffe Fassett creations, so you understand that several persons in this group, me included, are fans of Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Here is a wonderful tablecloth and a bag done by Eleni. Agnes is preparing her spool blocks with KF dots.  

Last monday Eleni was helping Michele for the binding of  her friendship signature quilt. The marvellous belt is a work  from Chantal. Some of us are sometimes alternating quilting, knitting or embroidering activities. But whatever we do, we share the same love for handmade crafts and the same pleasure to be together!
Of course after work... coffee and Greek pastries as pastafiore, melomacarona...
Hoping everybody enjoys such a nice group as ours!

Blue Binding

2" strips

My blue Log Cabin quilt shown HERE came back from the long arm quilting of Eleni, who did a wonderful job again.

I chose an aqua fabric for the binding and I sewed it as explained HERE.

You can see a close photo of my presser foot, and as several persons asked me what kind of sewing machine I use, I wished to give you a little explanation : this is an industrial Singer machine that my husband gave me after he closed his factory almost 20 years ago. 

I had never used a sewing machine before as I was piecing all my quilts by hand. This big machine was quite impressive for me in the beginning, but when I got used to it I really appreciated, it's a dream of a machine that never needed any service all these years! It allows me to sew without ever pinning anything, which is time saving!

Now I'm going to handbind on the reverse side of the quilt, quiet in the garden... summer came back here!

Greetings.

Christine

My First Tutorial

 The first tutorial I posted last March on my blog (Easy Quilt Binding) has been featured on FaveQuilts. It is now one of the most popular binding techniques on FaveQuilts!

Learn an essential quilting technique with this Easy Peasy Binding Tutorial. You've never read a quilt binding tutorial like this - it's so easy... READ MORE

A wonderful week-end to all of you!

Christine

Hand Binding Baby Quilts

Last sunday I gave the last touch to my two baby girl quilts (shown Here and Here), by hand sewing the binding on the back. This is something I like to do, and in general I enjoy finishing the details of my works by hand. I find this stage relaxing. Are you feeling the same when finishing a quilt? The house is quiet, the windows big open, I listen to Dave Brubeck playing jazz, I prepare a nice and warm mug of coffee... and this is... happiness!

Happy stitches!

Christine

String Top Finished

Here is my finished top. I chose a neutral tune for the sashing, and for the binding I will use a fabric left from the blocks. The backing will as well be neutral. The size is 1.75/2 yards. I will offer it to my daughter for her new appartment. She loves joyful colors!

Not easy to take pictures in the wind!

Behind the hanged top is a fig tree, and in the corner you can see a little cat passing by.

Focus on my rose tree, a little spoilt by the high wind. 

I wish everyone a wonderful sunday and a happy Mother's Day!

Christine

Tutorial for an Easy Quilt Binding

The double border : my favorite method!

Baby quilt

This is the method I find the best, and that I use every time I have to bind a quilt.

For a finished border of 8mm width, cut stripes of 5cm width. The length of the strip

will be equal to the perimeter of your quilt + 30cm (for the corners and the ending).

Put two strips perpendicular on each other, right side against right side :

Sew them diagonally :

Trim seam at 1/2cm

Open and press seam :

Fold the angle :

Cut a 1/2cm :

Fold the strip on the whole length :

To start, open the strip and sew it on the right side of the quilt,
 in the middle of one side, for about 7cm :

Then fold back the strip and sew it all along the quilt :

Stop at 1/2cm from the edge, cut the thread, 

turn and go on sewing as shown :

To stop and start again, I use the smallest stitch possible,

instead of a backstitch.

At the end, I push the end of the strip inside the place
left open at the beginning :

And I go on sewing, backstitch to stop.

It is not important if there is a little fold on the wrong side

as it does not appear on the right side :

To finish, I turn the border on the wrong side,

and sew it by hand.

Finshed border

I hope my explanations have been clear enough, and will have been of help for those who need. For the beginners, next time I will give some tips on how to hand sew this border on the back side.  

Have a great week-end. Greetings from me.

Christine