People tell me all the time that they have a hard time mitering their binding and they mess it up. I know if I can do it, trust me, almost everyone else can do it to....because I'm just a middle of the road talented type quilter/sewing.
I'm going to show you how I do it with the CutRite Bind Up. I used a permanent marker and wrote the directions pretty much so it would be easy to follow along. If I was one of those spanky young quilt bloggers I'd have fancy typewriting over the photo....clearly you get the "old fashion" version here at IHAN :)
Then you press them exactly where they meet. Can you see I have the Left tail folded back and the Right tail folded back and I'm pressing the fabric right where they meet? If you can't see this....blink a few times and then open your eyes again or go get your reading glasses!
When I open the Left tail you can see that there is a crease in the center where I had pressed my binding but also there on the Left as well. I put arrows pointing to where the fabric was ironed and creased. Although my black lines are not very straight, I'm certain you get the drift.
Now this is where you take your CutRite Bind Up and place it over the tail with the L for Left facing upward just like the photo above. Where the two creases meet you center the ruler right where they two creases meet.
You then do the same thing on the Right tail but notice the direction of the Right tail and the template. The R is facing to the Right. Again you line up the ruler over the center where the creases meet and cut the fabric along that line.Then you take the CutRite Bind Up and match the notches to the ends of each tail clipping off each tip.
With right sides of the fabric together, they will now both meet up exactly as they need to. You sew a 1/4 inch seam from one end to the other.
And Wahhhhh Lahhhhh, "Magic Mitered Binding" all done. Now you just fold it over and stitch it to the quilt and you are now ready to hand stitch down your binding. I know, I know....some of you cringe at hand stitching the binding on. That is my favorite part as it gives me some time to separate from my project as it is coming to an end....my closure ritual.
This is what the CutRite Bind Up Ruler looks like without my funky handwriting all over the fabric. Pretty darn neat ay? I think so too. I bet you'll never guess where you can get one either....yes....you guessed it...IHAN....dang you are one smart cookie today. Guess some of us have neurons that are re-firing again.
A couple reminders before I close.
1. The FabShop is having a Shop Hop. You might want to consider joining them because there are lots of great prizes being given away. IHAN is participating so you will have to find the bunny at IHAN too. There is also a weekly special throughout the month of January for the hop. The specials are listed on the front page of IHAN each week.
2. Tomorrow night, Jan 12th (not the 13th like I wrote) is the deadline to get into the drawing for the Fab Five book by Abbey Lane Quilts.
I hope you are having a great day and have found several somethings to smile about and be grateful for.
Smiles,
Kelly
DISCLAIMER: I work alone and until Oprah or Gail loan me some of their staff, I'm the only editor there is. I write all of the posts and because they are my words I don't see most of the mistakes. I do use spell check but often times those mistakes are not caught. So if you find mistakes that are blatant....like dates or something that is not clear....feel free to e-mail me and let me know. The rest is minor and just pretend you don't see it. I'll be sure to return the favor :)