Pattern Gal Express
Pre-Binding or Birthing Quilts
By: Melanie Capener 1998
- Be sure to trim away any writing on the selvage edges of fabric. Especially on white or light color fabrics. If you don’t trim it away you will probably be able to see it in the edge of the finished quilt.
- Press your wall hanging at this point. Be sure to press out the fabric bolt folds in the center.
- If you wish to add picot, eyelet, lace or ruffle to the edge of your quilt do so now.
- Sew picots, ruffle or eyelet lace onto the top edges of the quilt with the raw edges to the outside and the finished edge toward the center of the quilt top.
- Layer quilt sandwich
- Place batting on the table.
- Next place quilt top face up on top of batting.
- Lay quilt top face down on the top.
- Place right sides together, with the front on top face down, the back face up and batting on the bottom.
- Pin through all three layers at each corner in two or three sections on all sides or about 1 foot apart.
- Begin in the center of one of the side seams. And Leave about a 6” opening for turning your wall hanging.
- Sew through all layers making sure the lace lays flat facing the center. Sewing just on the inside of previous edging seam line.
- Trim off excess fabric at corners if needed, and turn reaching your hand between the front and back of the quilt and pulling each corner out the opening you left. Don’t pull on the lace too hard or you will ruin it.
- Whip stitch the opening shut and quilt. Or if desired, pin the opening down and sew along the inside of the lace as closely as possible to the edge about 1 needle width from outside seam. This is top stitching or stay stitching to hold the binding in place so it doesn’t roll.
This method of binding the quilt before you quilt it is easy and very fast. It works especially well on smaller quilts.
Copyright © 1998 RaMel Enterprises Inc. for M. Capener All rights reserved. You may copy this for limited personal use. No part of this publication may be reproduced for commercial use without prior written permission.
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