No pins no handsewing binding: A tutorial.

After a little encouragement from a friend, I've decided to write up a quick tutorial for the binding I used here. No pins used (ever), and no hand sewing.

As background, I do follow Amanda Jean's binding tutorial to prep my binding. I use 2.25" strips, although I think this may be easier with 2.5" strips (especially if your piece is as bulky as mine was).

Before starting be sure that your quilt sandwich is very neatly squared up. Those corners won't end up perfectly square if you don't. I've found that it also helps to keep things square if you've quilted the quilt a bit more densely (less for it to wiggle around).

1) Read Amanda Jean's tutorial. Cut strips (I use width of fabric, not bias) 2.25", join them as determined in the tutorial above.

2) Iron strip in half, using a spray bottle to steam for a very crisp edge. (I just use plain water, and use a spray bottle instead of the steam option since my iron tends to burn me with steam).

3) Starting an inch or two from a corner of your quilt, sew the raw edges of the binding to your quilt sandwich using a 1/4" seam allowance (binding layered on top of the top of the quilt - not the back). Fold and turn corners as Amanda Jean shows.

Step 4

4) Use your iron tip to press the binding off and away from the quilt top. Don't worry about folding it around just yet. Be sure to put tension on that binding so that it's ironed neatly at the stitches. You can use the tip of the iron pushed into the corners too. If you've folded and sewn the binding properly in those corners they'll lay just right.

Step 5

5) Now hold the corner of your quilt between your pointer finger and thumb and flip the binding over to the other side.

Step 6

6) Starting in the middle of any side, iron from left to right, pulling the binding around as snugly as possible (without distorting the layers of your quilt sandwich). Iron straight to the corner, which will end in a little triangle. Use your spray bottle a lot, steam the heck out of every inch of the binding. This will make it easier to sew without it shifting.

Step 7

7) Carefully fold the next side on top - still working left to right. As long as you've got all the layers of your binding creased right where the edge of your quilt is the fold should be just in the right place. If not, fiddle with it a little... It helps to use a pointy tool (chopstick?) or your thumb nail to keep the folded part as it should be. Again, iron the heck out of it. Use lots of water. Make sure this is really crisp. Continue with the rest of the quilt.

Step 8

8) Notice that when you're all done those folds stay put without any help.

Step 9 stitch in the ditch.

9) Now hold one of those perfect corners, and slide in your machine so that the quilt top is on top. Starting at the very corner stitch in the ditch using your right hand several inches in front of the needle to monitor that fold as you sew. I don't find that this requires much monitoring. ****If you're having trouble stitching in the ditch, err on the side of your needle being farther from the binding - it'll look less messy than if you hit that binding.

Step 9/10

10) As you approach the corner (2-3" from it) use your right hand to hold the corner folds exactly in place. Hold the folds until you get within an inch or so to the needle. Slowly approach the corner and remember if you have any problems with the folded edge you can put the needle down, and lift up the presser foot to straighten it a bit (use chopstick - with foot off the pedal!). I find that it doesn't really require much fiddling. Use hand turn/wheel thingy to put the needle in the down position right at the corner, lift presser foot, and pivot the quilt.

11) Continue around the quilt. Trim your threads, and enjoy the perfection!

sewn binding, top view.

sewn binding, bottom view.

Enjoy!! I'd love to see your finished projects if you use this tutorial! Please don't hesitate to leave me a link or an email about it! :) Let me know if you've got any problems... I'm sure there are parts here that are worded funny.