The old adage, "Practice makes Perfect" is proving true with this Continuous Binding Technique. I have done it a dozen times in the last week or so and did it right 3 times today without unsewing any stitches. So I must share in hopes that it will help you too!!!
Start by making binding your favorite way. I cut straight 2-1/2" strips and sew them together with a straight sem instead of on the bias. The press the connecting seam open and fold the 2-1/2" strip in half wrong sides together. To start putting the binding on your quit, select a spot at least 12" from a corner and start sewing with a 1/4" seam allowance leaving a 6-8" tail on your binding. Take your ruler and mark 1/4" from the corner with a pin. Sew up to the pin and remove from your machine.
Once your quilt is removed from the machine, take the binding and flip it "up" creating a 90degree angle with the remaining binding & pin in place.
Then take the same binding and pull "down" towards yourself. Re-pin to hold in place. Continue to sew at 1/4" seam allowance down this side.
This will give you a nice, neat mitered corner when your binding it turned back and hand stitched in place. Mine is just held in place below but gives you an idea of what it will look like.
Continue this method on all 4 corners. When you get to the last side, turn the corner and stitch a few itches leaving yourself plenty of room to attach the two tails of the binding together to create the continuous binding.
The next step is a little tricky but you feel so achieved when it works out correctly. Take the two tails and lay them out so the overlap. You are going to cut them so the only overlap by the width of the binding, in this case 2-1/2". I use the one end of the tail as a measuring guide.
Next take the tail on the left and lay open, wrong side up. Draw a 45 degree diagonal line from the bottom right corner to the upper side. It will be 2-1/2" from the top right corner.
Lay the tail on the right, up with the right side facing up. I am sorry, its hard to explain but hopefully, the pictures will help lay this out correctly.
Layer the left hand piece with the diagonal line on top of the other piece. Sew on the drawn line.
This should give you the continuous binding. Before you cut, let it lay and see if it falls correctly. It is easy to get a twist in it so if you do, don't get discouraged.
Trim the extra off and finish stitching the binding down. When it is all connected continuously, flip it over and hand stitch on the back.
Good luck!! I receive more questions on binding then just about anything. Hope this helps!!
Wow! I've learned a lot of complicated ways to do this, but this looks easy! thanks!
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