Super Simple Strip Quilt ~ Day 6

As I mentioned in the past post, I decided to go ahead and quilt this myself. I "stitched (mostly) in the ditch" on the entire center panel and the thin yellow border. Then, on the large outer border, I used the masking tape method.

At this point, I was getting a bit tired. Looking to the left of my machine as I stitched sure did perk me up, though. Look at all of those colors!

One thing I've learned in my short life as a quilter is to run a basting stitch along the edge of the quilt. This helps so much to prevent the fabric from moving as you're sewing on the binding.

Before sewing on the binding, trim the excess backing and batting and create a straight edge.
Note: If your husband and/or children suggest buying a ping pong table or air hockey table, say "Yes!" It's a GREAT place to lay out and cut fabric. :)

Trimmed and ready for the binding.

Best use of a paper towel roll...

I start my binding about a quarter of the way down one side. I usually clip it to the quilt just on the first side, and then I just match it up as I'm sewing.

Want perfectly mitered corners? It's much easier than you think. Measure the finished width of your binding (the part that you'll see from one side after it's all sewn on, or the measurement when it's double folded. Mine was 3/4" . As you're sewing, stop that distance from the end of the side. So I stopped sewing 3/4" from the end of the first side. Spin the quilt to the next side, and fold it like this....

It's hard to explain, but basically you fold it back up on itself. Underneath you should have an angle at the corner.

and then fold it back down again. Start sewing up there at the very top of the new side.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

There are several methods to use when sewing on your binding. The method I prefer takes a bit longer (and puts a slight cramp in your hand), but I love the way it looks. There aren't any visible seams. I like to sew it on the top layer with the machine, and then I fold it over and slip stitch by hand on the back.

I love it when the corners turn out like this!

All done!!

Doesn't the red border just finish it off? Thanks so much to my sister-in-law, Ann, and

one of the employees at the quilt stop for helping me pick the two borders and the binding.

I love the back, too!

I always wash my quilts after they are finished, rather than prewashing the fabric.

I have a terrible time getting all of the wrinkles out of washed fabric, and I love the way it looks after it's washed and dried. It'll crinkle up due to the quilting.

The quilt's in the washer now...I'll post just a couple more photos once it's out of the dryer.

Then, just in case your all tired of looking at this fabric, I'll blog about something else. :)

My favorite moments of this process have been...

~watching Emma as she sits at the kitchen table and watches the fabric move.

~hearing my son's compliments (although he'd prefer it to be blue and orange)

~the numerous times Bob asked, "And this is for us, right? We get to keep it?"

~last night after I finished hand sewing the binding, I curled up under it with a book and enjoyed the fruits of my labor.

~

Linking to Skip To My Lou