I love this method of sewing on your binding because it is virtual seamless! No more 'lump'.
1. Sew you binding on as you normally do but leave about a 10 inch tail 'above' where you start.
2. When you come close to the end or corner, stop and measure 1/4 inch from the bottom to where you will need to stop sewing
(mark with a pin if you like).
3. Back-stitch once you reach that point and pull your quilt and cut thread from machine.
-Then fold binding over so that it aligns with the quilt (dotted line) it should you followed step 2 correctly.
4. Then fold the binding back over checking to make sure that the 'side' is aligned with the quilt (dotted line).
5. There is your fold you just did in step 4. Pin in place.
6. Now start sewing right from the edge down the other side.
7. All your corners should look like this:
8. Once you have come to the starting side and are about to meet up with your 10'' tail stop within 10''-20''.
9. Lay the starting binding strip flat and aligned with the raw edge of quilt. Repeat with your ending tail. Crease the second tail where it meets the first tail's straight cut end. Measure the distance of the binding strip's cut width. So I cut my binding at 2.5'' and that's how I know where to measure then cut.
10. Might want to mark with a straight line and then cut.
-Should look like this after you have cut it:
WARNING!
The following steps get a bit tricky. But don't worry. You can do this. Go slow and no worries if you sew it wrong the first couple of times...believe me I have. You can always pull out your trusty 'unpicker' and try again.
11. Open the end tail and lay flat. Leave there and move to step 12 working with the starting tail.
12. Open the starting tail of binding.
13. I want to word this right as not to confuse you but it's a little tricky...here we go...looking at the image above; 'rotate' the "TOP of strip" towards you and then lay down on quilt top as shown in image below.
14.Now lay the end of the binding tail on top of the starting binding tail.
15.With right sides together align at a right angle and mark with a pencil. Pin in place.
CHECK! 'Pull' your binding to see if it lays correctly. If it is twisted then unpick your stitch and go back to Step11 and repeat. BUT if it look good then you're a Rock Star!
16. Measure 1/4'' from stitch line and cut. Bye bye 'ear'.
17. Iron that seam open.
18. Pin your joined binding in place aligned with raw edge and sew down.
When you fold over check out how BOOTIFUL your biding is!! Practically seamless...flawless...ah.
p.s. I know have 18 steps for this tutorial, but I did that in case you have any questions you can go by that very specific step. Please don't be shy and ask for help if needed.
