Tutorial - How to do a Fold-over-to-Front Binding with Sewn Mitered Corners Using the Back Fabric

Here is how to make a binding using the backing fabric and folding to the front, but at the same time, having some lovely sewn mitered corners.

1. Begin with cutting the backing edges 2x the size of binding you want on the front. In this case, the client wanted a half inch of the back fabric showing on the front, so I cut 1" from the front fabric. In this case, it was a jean quilt, but this method could work for a two sided table cloth, a table runner, or any number of things.

2. Fold each side so the raw edge of the back fabric touches the raw edge of the front. Pin or clip in place.

3. Repeat for all sides.

4. Fold a corner at a 45 degree angle and pin or clip in place.

5. As you can see in the picture above, the two edges will match up.

6a. Fold the back edge at a 45 degree angle from the edge which will also make the extra back fabric be perpendicular to the raw edge line where the front and back fabrics meet.

6b. Another way to mark that line is using a square ruler, lining up one side with the front folded edge and lining up the raw edges with the 45 degree line on the ruler, then marking on the other side.

7. Mark a line along that folded edge. That will be your sew line.

8. You are ready to sew.

9. Sew carefully along that line.

10. Trim leftover 1/4" from the sew line.

11. Clip the corner to remove the bulk. Repeat steps 4-11 for each corner.

12. Fold the entire binding to the front one more time to hide all raw edges.

13. Sew close to the folded edge around entire perimeter and you're done.

Emerald's Scrappy Octagonal Medallions Quilt for Refugees

Last year, my sister, Emerald, pulled together some scrap fabric from my donated fabric to make two quilts for the refugees. After making those two, she had plenty more fabric and made more to try and use up the scraps. She made a total of 5 different styled quilts from that scrap fabric. Here is the fifth and final quilt she made from those scraps.

I had some fun quilting this and in the process was reminded that crosshatching looks fabulous but is not easy to mark when on the quilting frame. It really needs to be marked completely before putting it on to quilt. After completing half the crosshatching the hard way, I took the quilt off, spent a few hours marking it, put it back on the frame and quilted it. The second half went so much easier.

 

Here's a close up on the quilting which I did with Glide cream thread. To put it in perspective, the crosshatching felt much more difficult than the intricate swirls, but I love the contrasts of curves and straight lines and big and small. All in all I really like how this turned out.

The back is also from the donated fabric bins. It is from Michael Miller several years ago, and don't remember the name of the line.

Marilou's Falling Triangles Quilt for Lucy in White and Black

Marilou made this quilt top for her granddaughter, Lucy. The pattern is called something like "Falling Triangles," I do not know who the designer is.

I free motion quilted it with squiggly lines and circles, the idea comes from Christina Cameli's book, "Step-by-Step Free-Motion Quilting." I used White Glide and Glide 60 thread.

Marilou will trim and bind it. All I can say is, "Lucky Lucy!"

Elaine's Auction Quilt in White, Blue, Green, Appliqué, Needlework

This is a quilt Elaine put together and is planning to auction it off at her church's fundraiser. The quilt has raw edge appliqué and needlework. Someone worked hard on this, so I hope it sells for a good price.

Using white thread, I quilted it with an all over large loop design. She will trim and bind it.

Lola's 2nd Green/Blue/Purple Scrap Refugee Quilt

This is another quilt top Lola made to welcome the refugees in St. Louis. I quilted it with leafy meander. 

The thread I used was Irish Spring Glide and Glide 60 (top and bottom respectively).

I was surprised how much I liked it.

The back was fabric donated to me. All in all, it turned out well.

Karen's Star Wars Quilts for Siblings/Grandchildren

I debated posting these all separately, but since they are so similar, from the same person to the same family, I'm lumping them all together. Karen made these for 4 grandchildren (siblings) as Christmas presents, using their favorite colors in the flannel backs. All are Star Wars themed, with subtle differences in the fabrics, binding, backing, and even thread color. The kids LOVED them!

Helen's is pink, pink thread and "Diamonds Are a Forever" pantograph (Urban Elementz).

Adam's is yellow with yellow thread and the "Labyrinth" pantograph (Urban Elementz).

Philip's is green with gray thread and the "Hall of Mirrors" pantograph (Urban Elementz).

Max's is blue with gray thread and the "Argyle" pantograph (Urban Elementz).

Gideon's Insulated Pot Holder Table Runner for Monica's Christmas Gift

Insulated Table Runner/Pot Holder made by 14 year old Gideon for his sister Monica who wanted a table runner like mine. We simplified the design to squares instead of hexagons and the quilting was something that a newbie/one who is not thrilled to sew could do quickly and easily.

My kids, at least while they're living at home, have to make the Christmas present for the sibling they give to. This was Gideon's gift to Monica. After finally piecing the top, I made the back and told him he had to quilt it. When he said he wanted me to quilt it, I said that if I quilted it, he would have to bind it.

After describing the binding process, he said he would quilt it, which he did in less than an hour. I bound it and it was ready to send home with when she came for Thanksgiving. When we went to visit her after Christmas, we were delighted to see it on her table.

 

Thimble and Thread Quilt in Pink, Blue, Yellow, Beautiful Butterflies Pantograph

Charity quilt for my quilt guild, Thimble and Thread, which will be donated to Home Sweet Home. I quilted it with a pantograph I designed myself called Beautiful Butterflies. (Yes, the name is a nod to the caterpillar in the movie "A Bug's Life.")

I quilted it with Tabriz Orchid Glide thread on the top and white Glide 60 on the back.