Remember this post? Well it is finished.
I think I need to rename this quilt as the if it can go wrong it will quilt. Everything was great when I put together the top of the quilt but once I started putting it all together (batting and bottom of quilt) things kept going wrong. I had to un-pick so much of it because of bobbin problems and because I put on the walking foot on wrong, I didn't realize it until I had done alot of the "quilting". I broke 4 needles while "quilting" this quilt (I have NEVER broken needles)I can be so dumb sometimes, I admit it. But after having my sewing machine in the shop for almost a week, I think that I finished this quilt in great time, it ended up being 44 x 64.
Another issue that I did not think about was the binding. Can you see in the picture how the dots show and then it is plain red?? That was not supposed to happen, but I kinda like it.
My favorite part is the back, I love the black & white dots!
This quilt is for me so it is ok that it is not perfect. I really had a hard time with sewing the binding on this quilt, I don't know why. I am so glad it is done, actually all 3 of my quilts are done now, time for the next one huh?
I did want to finish my tutorial. I did this continuous bias binding and it was really the easiest way to do it. Here is how you do it.
Step 1: Determine how much fabric you need for your binding strip. Measure the perimeter of your quilt and add 12". Divide this number by 42 (assuming about 42" of usable fabric on a 44/45" wide fabric) and round up to an even number. Then multiply this number by your strip width (including seam allowances). This final number is the length of the rectangle needed to make your continuous bias binding strip. Here's an example:
* Quilt measures 71" x 90"
* Perimeter = 71+90+71+90 = 322 and add 12" for a total of 334"
* 334/42 = 7.95 Round up to 8
* 8 x 3 (for 3" binding strip width) = 24
* You'll need 24" x 42" piece of fabric for the binding
Step 2: After cutting the rectangle to size, fold down one corner of the fabric to create a right triangle (A) and cut along fold.
Step 3: Sew A to B using a 1/4" seam allowance and press the seam open.
Step 4: On the wrong side of your fabric, mark cutting lines parallel to the bias edge that are the width of your binding strip (e.g., 2.5" in the above example).
Step 5: Cut 6" down the line at the "pointy" end of your fabric. Then fold the fabric into a tube (approximately in thirds) so that the * and all of your marked lines are aligned. Pin if needed, and then sew a 1/4" seam to create a long tube. Press seam open.
Step 6: Continue cutting the fabric along your marked line, which will now be a spiral running the complete length of your fabric. Be careful to only cut one thickness of fabric at a time. This will result in one long bias strip of fabric, with all of your seams perfectly aligned!
