Now, in return, tell me --- has this ever happened to you?
You know the drill.
You cut your strips. You place them at 90 degree angles to each other, right sides together. You sew across the corner . . . the graphic is all over the interwebs:
(That one is from Janet Wickell, at About Quilting)
But doesn't it frustrate you sometimes when the result is not quite as precise as "they" say it should be?
Well, it frustrated me. In fact, I've been known to throw things when it didn't turn out like I wanted it to. (Grin)
So, I went on a search and found this kind lady's video, and took her advice. So, if you would like to know how to get this kind of results:
instead of this kind:
then listen up!!
The first thing you need to do is lay your strips down along lines on your cutting mat, right sides together. See?
Then take your ruler and mark a line for stitching, on the diagonal, like so:
Next, without allowing the fabrics to move around a lot, pin so that they will remain still and submit to being stitched. Sometimes you have to threaten them, but other times they are quite cooperative.
Once you have stitched, you can trim to a quarter inch seam, and press open.
Then I pressed the binding in half, and I'm ready to bind my project!
Ahhhh, I love it when a plan comes together!
I hope to show you my finish soon --- not in time for the Lovely Year of Finishes party, but hey! Better late than never!
I'm linking up today with the lovely Katherine at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop! (And her equally lovely co-host, Karren, at OhMyHeartsie!)
Love,
I hate it too when it isn't perfect. Should have thought to line it up on the cutting board and mark the sewing line. The stripy binding looks great, now I wonder what it will be binding?
ReplyDeleteLol, so easy yet such an aha moment
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me all the time and the answer is to be a little more careful? Wow, what a concept! I'm going to try it, thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh this is awesome.. now if I can just get the rest of my seams to line up perfectly all the time..
ReplyDeleteSee? You sound like a gangster in an old movie. Is that Dragondrops influence or Padsworths?
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! Thanks for sharing! I have many times done the "Padsworth stitch" and "ribbet"! The seam ripper is my BFF.
ReplyDeleteThat is how I do mine- using the grid on the cutting mat- because I am quite OCD ha ha... That's why it takes me so long to make my sample quilts...
ReplyDeleteI have heard of that method. I am one to not sweat the small stuff. If is is under an eighth of an inch, I continue on!
ReplyDeleteThrow things!? Yikes ;). Great binding tut!!
ReplyDeleteMy theory with sewing is that the imperfections just mean it's homemade! Nothing would get done if I did not embrace that theory. It's actually a good practice for me and my perfectionist tendencies. =)
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought to use the grid on my mat for this! Thank you for the tip!!!
Very cool! I do have that happen to me once in awhile and never understood why...I will definitely have to try your method and see how it works :)
ReplyDeletenever seen it done like this before. thanks for the tut!!
ReplyDeletedo u know what I still don't know how to do is join my binding up properly at the end... pathetic I know!
ReplyDeleteYup, it is that sneaking a little out of where they should be staying before being stitched that is always the problem. I learned that "pinning" lesson myself recently. Glad I'm not the only one that had to learn the hard way.
ReplyDeleteCool! Found you on Thursday Favorite Things! I'm kicking off a brand new blog hop on Superbowl Sunday called the Creative HomeAcre Hop! I would love to have you join the fun at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html
What a wonderful tip! Now I'll never have mismatched binding edges again =D
ReplyDeletecool! Hugs and thank you for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things :-) P.S. The new giveaway started today!
ReplyDeleteThat is great, thanks!
ReplyDeleteUmmmm - the answer to your question would be 'YES'!!! I hate it when that happens! And your solution is a great one - thank you very much! Now if I can make myself follow through with that advice - I'm so very much the type of person who wants to just grab the fabric, stick it in the machine and be done! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely try your tip the next time I make binding, as a lot of times mine turn out like your example of how-not-to-look. Also admired how you lined up your stripes so when it was all sewn together, your stripes would match up! Most awesome!
ReplyDelete