Binding is the final touch that transforms a quilt from a collection of fabrics into a cohesive, finished piece. Corners are a crucial part of this process, as they define the shape and edges of your quilt. Mastering how to do corners on quilt binding is a skill that every quilter should have in their repertoire. Let's dive into the world of quilt binding and explore the art of perfecting those all-important corners.
Before we delve into the specifics of binding corners, let's ensure we have a solid foundation. Quilt binding is essentially a strip of fabric that encases the raw edges of your quilt, creating a neat, finished border. It's typically made from the same fabric as your quilt back or a complementary fabric. The width of the binding strip usually ranges from 2.5 to 2.75 inches, providing ample room to create beautiful, secure corners.
Understanding the Mitred Corner
The mitred corner is the corner of choice for most quilters due to its neat, professional appearance. It's created by folding the binding fabric at a 45-degree angle, creating a 'V' shape that fits perfectly into the corner of your quilt.
To create a mitred corner, start by folding the binding strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, to create a crease. This crease will serve as your guide when folding the fabric into the corner of your quilt.
Creating the Mitre
At each corner of your quilt, lay the binding strip along the edge, with the raw edge of the binding aligned with the raw edge of the quilt. The folded edge of the binding should be positioned about 1/4 inch from the corner of the quilt.
Using your iron, press the binding fabric into place, creating a sharp crease at the corner. This crease, or 'mitre', is the key to a neat, well-finished corner. Once you've pressed the mitre, you can continue sewing the binding along the edge of your quilt.
Securing the Mitre
After sewing the binding along the edge of your quilt, you'll need to secure the mitre in place. To do this, fold the binding over the edge of the quilt, creating a neat, folded corner. Use your iron to press this fold into place, ensuring the mitre is secure.
Once the mitre is pressed, you can hand-stitch the binding in place, using a ladder stitch or a simple whipstitch. This will ensure that the mitre stays in place, providing a secure, finished corner.
Dealing with Bias Binding
Bias binding, while less common, can also be used to bind a quilt. Bias binding is created by cutting strips of fabric on the bias, or at a 45-degree angle to the grain of the fabric. This creates a flexible, stretchy binding that's perfect for binding curves and irregular shapes.
While bias binding can create beautiful, professional-looking corners, it can also be more challenging to work with. The stretchy nature of the fabric can make it more prone to puckering and unevenness. To combat this, it's important to use a slow, steady sewing speed and to use plenty of pins to keep the binding in place.
Creating Bias Mitres
To create a mitred corner with bias binding, follow the same steps as you would with regular binding. However, due to the stretchy nature of the fabric, you may need to use a slightly smaller mitre angle, around 30 to 35 degrees, to prevent the binding from stretching out of shape.
Once you've created your bias mitre, secure it in place using the same method as you would with regular binding. However, due to the stretchy nature of the fabric, you may need to use a slightly smaller stitch length to ensure that the binding doesn't stretch out of shape.
Quilt binding, and the all-important corners, is a skill that improves with practice. Don't be discouraged if your first few attempts aren't perfect. With each quilt you bind, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the process, and your corners will become neater and more secure. So, grab your fabric, your sewing machine, and your iron, and start practicing those corners. Your quilts will thank you for it!