I spent most of today pressing fabric for binding; measuring, cutting, and stitching it into one long length; measuring the quilt and binding; then pinning the binding to the front of this quilt one side at a time and sewing to the front of the quilt. It should have taken less time than it did but I'm still a little under the weather so I work more slowly. (I know some quilters lay the binding along the side of the quilt at stitch it at the machine but I always end up with waffly edges when I do that, so I take the time to measure and pin each side.)
I wrote before that I was considering a wide binding, possibly 1", but I decided that a ½" binding would look better. I calculated then cut the binding fabric at 3" -- 1½" to go around once, then double that because I double folded the fabric. I thought about it several times -- will that be wide enough, should it be wider? -- but in my less-than-good-health state, I didn't think clearly enough.
You experienced quilters will immediately understand the problem I had. It would seem to be wide enough but it didn't leave space for the thickness of the quilt. Thank goodness I stopped to check it after attaching about 6" of the binding. It was too narrow.
I knew I could cut the edge a little narrower but instead I unstitched the 6" and began stitching a little left of the ½" line. It worked. The binding will be narrower than ½" but at least I'm ready to begin hand sewing it to the back of the quilt. Hooray! I have hand stitching again.
The binding fabric I finally found came from JoAnn. I bought 5/8 yard of a grunge-style fabric and a yard of Kona Celestial. I cut the grunge fabric first knowing I would have no other use for it. When I realized I needed only about 60" more, I used a small piece of blue left over from the stars. Together, they were just long enough. I don't know what I'll do with the Kona but at least it's a shade of blue I like.
I'm looking forward to having this quilt finished!
If I have a chance to stitch on Sunday, this is what I will be slow stitching. Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Kathy.
--Nancy.
P.S. If you're wondering about the safety pins, they identify the sections in which I used Gutermann cotton thread after I ran out of the spool of (probably) rayon thread.
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Lovely work, Nancy. You seem to have a way of making things work out as if you had planned it all along.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. You are too kind to with your comment about things looking as though they were planned. If it's true, maybe it's because I have to pinch hit with my quilts so often that I have lots of practice!
DeleteLovely blue binding... glad you were able to get it attached and enjoy some hand stitching today!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy. Yes, I was pleased to be able to sit and stitch for a few minutes today. I hope to get a few other hand work projects ready to go soon. I miss not having something to stitch while I watch the news or sit and visit.
DeleteThanks for hosting Slow Sunday Stitching.
The soft blues and browns of this are so lovely, so I am glad you have got your binding sorted out. I hope you managed to get some stitching time in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kaja. I'm very pleased to have the binding sorted. As a scrap quilter it's hard when one runs out of scraps that will work for a specific need. But, it's done!
DeleteI would like to see your collected quilts Nancy.
ReplyDeleteAlso glad you sorted that binding issue.
One of these days I'll pull them out and take photos. Getting good photos is always the challenge for me, Jocelyn. I'm glad the binding problems were resolved, too!
DeleteIt's always so nice to be able to put those binding stitches in, but a little sad at the same time - sort of like finishing a great book. Looks just lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marie. I've had a few quilts that I've been sad to have finished because I enjoyed working on them, but not many. This is my first finish for 2018 so I'm really pleased to have it done!
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