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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Binding Part II - Knife edge

This is how I do it. I don't know if it is the "right" way or if there is a better way because I don't see too much written about knife-edge bindings. This is what I do when I want the quilt to end just the way it is without the frame that regular binding adds to the edge.

I cut strips about 1 1/2-inches wide and a couple inches longer than the side of the quilt.
Sew the strips to the quilt front using a quarter-inch seam,
starting and stopping a quarter inch from the edge.
Press the strips away from the quilt front.

With the back of the quilt facing you,
fold one binding strip over to meet the quilt edge, and press.

Fold the binding strip again along the quilt edge, press if needed,
and pin the binding to the back of the quilt.
On the front of the quilt, you should see only the quilt.
On the back, you should see only the binding. 


Hand sew the binding to the back of the quilt,
and trim the strip ends even with the quilt.
Repeat for the opposite side of the quilt, sewing the binding strip in place and trimming.
Now, trim the short ends of the remaining strips about a half inch from the quilt edge,
and fold it in on itself so the folded edge is even with the quilt edge.
Then fold the strip along the length to meet the long quilt edge and press,
like you did before. 

Fold the strip again along the long quilt edge and pin to the backing.
You should see only the quilt from the front, and only the binding from the back. 

This is what my end looks like with the strips folded, but not yet sewn in place.

Sew the binding strip to the back of the quilt.

Sew the binding along the short ends, tucking in the folded edges.
Hope this makes sense! If you have an easier or better way, please share.