Question about binding/hemming a quilt?

Question

my grandma and i have been quilting and im tryng to find a different way to hem the edges. we usually just use a flat sheet and bring the edges of the sheet onto the top of the quilt top and hem it that way..

is there any other ways we can do this to add a different touch? i cant find any sites to help me out.

thanks!

Answer 1

'About.com' has one of the best quilting sites on the net.

http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbystepq...

The way I usually finish the edges on my quilts is by applying a separate binding. You can make your own or buy it anywhere that sells fabric. You can choose a color to blend with the rest or one that really stands out - different quilts need different edges. If you've used bias binding before, you already know how, but in case you haven't, here's what I do.

Trim the edges of your quilt straight and even, including the seam allowance appropriate for your binding. I prefer to sew it on the front, then roll it to the back and stitch by hand. 'About.com' has good descriptions of the details of applying binding, including mitering corners - check them out.

What a wonderful way for you and your grandma to spend time together and have something beautiful to show for it! Good luck!

Answer 2

Prairie points?? fold a squares to triangle shape, baste it in place between the top and bottom then stitch through all layers.

zig zags and scallops work too. depending on your quilting pattern near the edges.

then there is the "quilt binding". take the double fold bias, the widest you can get. stitch it to the back, fold over to the top. This takes a bit of care to fold the corners so they come out really sharp and square. There is one of those pesky pivot points in there with folding the tape just right and bringing it around so there is a mitered corner. HGTV - Simply Quilts had several shows on this. And so did the Quilt in a Day lady.

I have also done some really cool looking edge blind stitching. Fold both sides to where they meet at the edge of the quilt, and slip stitch it together so that the seam line is almost hidden by the edge of the quilt.

enjoy quilting!! It is one of the more fun things I do. Pulling out my hair trying to figure out what my husband's mother meant to do with the edges of one quilt her mother pieced and Mother quilted and left in a bag in the closet without the edges bound or finished. cotton batting!!