Binding Time

We are still just staying home so nothing is really new to report, but I have made some small progress in the sewing room.  Although I was told not to expect them until next year, the Fed Ex guy brought me the six small quilts I sent out to be quilted a few months ago.   I have always put the binding on my quilts myself, and I was dreading it this time because hand stitching is barely possible for me these days and, even when I try, it is not pretty.  It always seems like such a shame to put so much effort and money into a quilt and then mess up the binding, which I have done repeatedly.  But the quilts are not much good to anyone with unfinished edges, so I decided to just get them done and over with machine binding.

Quilt number one went the way they always do.  Not well.  Although it doesn't look bad "from the back of a galloping horse," as they say, the machine top stitch is not only messy but, in some cases, had to be doubled.  I have set it aside for now, but this is a binding that I need to consider ripping out.  Although I am toying with the idea of just going over it with a contrasting decorative stitch instead, to obliterate the mess that I've already made.  Or just leaving it alone.

But then I found both a new product and a new tutorial, and now I have the first three machine edged quilts EVER that I am pretty happy with.

The product is called "chenille-it" and it creates a cute, fluffy edging that I love.  I simply sewed layers of the 5/8" flat binding onto both sides of the quilt edges (which we first serged to prevent fraying), tossed it in the washer and dryer and voila, a pretty cute result.

(WHAT was I thinking when I chose that blue backing for this orange and yellow quilt?!  I was looking for a bright pop of contrast and I sure got it!)  I like the old fashioned cozy look that this binding gives the quilts.  It comes in lots of colors and I will be experimenting with it more going forward.

I also found a tutorial on flange binding and am really happy with the result of this binding, too.  The prep work takes more time than a regular binding would, but my first effort wasn't half bad.  I like the look of it and plan to use it again.  It doesn't show so well in the photo because the navy edge blends in too much with the brown chair, but that little pop of color on the inner edge of the binding makes me happy.  Best of all, it hides the machine stitching pretty well.  

I wish I had discovered these techniques before I finished the Grands' Quarantine quilts because those, like every quilt before them, have sloppy edges.  But at least the quilts I make for next year's Christmas will hopefully show some progress.  :)

Aside from sewing, it's been a slow week.  Jack sent flowers again, they do add a bright spot in these more dreary days.  The florist has been trending to red and white this month, with touches of red berries, pine branches and pine cones, which I especially enjoy.   And I made the pancetta-broccoli quiche recipe that I got from my friend Barbara at Cat Patches -- we both loved it and it will be a welcome addition to our supper routine!  No danger of us starving any time soon.  :)