finishing

There are a couple of ways to finish a quilt, you can quick turn it, or if you prefer you can use binding. Myself I prefer Binding quilt, and it works well even if you plan to tie the quilt. I actually prefer to tie my quilts rather than quilt them.There are instructions for each method below.

1. Layer the following items on a large surface such as the floor or a bed: The batting, the        backing face up, the quilt top face down.

2. Pin through all three layers all around the outside edge of the quilt top (which should be        slightly smaller than the two items below it. In the middle of one side, leave an opening        of about twenty inches.

3. Pin through all three layers in different places around the quilt to help keep the three            layers together.

4. Using your sewing machine, sew along all four sides about 1/4" in from the edge of the        quilt top starting at one side of the opening and ending at the other.

5. Trim around all four sides so that the backing and batting are even with the edge of the        quilt top. All three layers should be sewn together.

6. Now remove the pins you put in the center of the quilt. Lay the quilt back out on the            floor or bed and starting at the two corners farthest from your opening, begin to roll up      the quilt toward the opening. Now, flip it through the opening. Proceed with turning it          inside out.The batting should in between the backing and the quilt top. Pull and tug at the      quilt until all the layers are lined up with each other. You may want to baste with straight     pins or safety pins to keep the layers from moving around.

7. Blind stitch the opening closed. You are now ready to tie the quilt.

Supplies:
You will need your quilt top, a piece of batting that is a little larger than the quilt top, and a backing fabric that is also a little larger than the quilt top, pins, and your sewing machine.

Note:
When choosing your backing fabric, make sure that it matches the fabric on your quilt top, because it will be seen from the front.

Piece together enough three inch strips until you have a long strip about 12 inches longer than the perimeter of your quilt.

Fold this strip in half lengthwise, right side out, and iron.

After your quilt is tied, or quilted, you may wish to pin or baste the three layers on the edge of the quilt.

Beginning at the middle of one side, line up the raw edges of the folded binding with the edge of the quilt top. Starting about five inches from the end of the binding, sew it on with a 1/2 inch seam allowance through all three layers using your sewing machine.

Stop 1/2 inch from the corner and backstitch. Fold the binding at a 90 degree angle so that it lines up with the next side of the quilt. Then fold the binding 180 degrees so that it is ready to sew on the next side. Insert the needle 1/2 inch from the edge of the quilt, backstitch and start the new side. Repeat at each corner.

About five inches from where you began, cut the tails so that one nests within the other, turning under the edge so that it is "finished" and continue sewing to your starting point.
Trim the edges of your backing and batting to meet the quilt top and binding. I use a rotary cutter.

Turn the folded edge of the binding to the back of the quilt and blind stitch into place. It should just cover the line of machine stitching. As you turn the binding back at each corner, it will form a miter on the front which you should echo on the back side of the quilt