Backing and Binding Technique

I will be demonstrating this technique on our Hochanda show on Sunday 7th April for you, and also adding a video to the website to help you further, as soon as possible.

Backing & Binding

 

Process:

1) Make your patchwork quilt top (blocks all joined together)

2) Cut backing and wadding

3) Make your quilt sandwich with backing fabric – then wadding – then your patchwork

4) Quilt these layers together – using a running stitch

5) Finally trim the excess backing and wadding level with the patchwork top

6) Bind the quilt

 

 

Backing:

 

If your backing piece needs joining to make it big enough do this now and press the seam open.

 

Press the backing and quilt top well because you do not press your quilt once the wadding is in position.

 

The backing piece and wadding should both be about 2" larger all round than your finished top. This allows for any movement when quilting.

 

If you are doing this at home then use the floor but if you have access to a large cutting table they are good to use.

 

First lay the backing piece wrong side up, make sure it is smooth and then tape it to your floor or pin to your carpet – this stops it moving as you add your wadding and patchwork.

 

 Spread the wadding on top.

 

 Place the quilt on top of the wadding right sides up.

 

Pin or tack through all three layers smoothing out the layers as you go. It is essential at this stage to get all the layers free from tucks, ripples or fullness.

 

Pin or tack the sandwich from the centre outwards, forming a grid about 6" apart. Then you are ready to start quilting.

 

 

 

 

 

QUILTING:

 

This is a matter of choice, machine or hand, either quilt in the ditch (in the seams) to show up the blocks more, or do a totally different pattern all over the quilt like circles, it is a matter of choice, all I can say is the more quilting the better the finished quilt will look, and I much prefer hand quilting (the simple running stitch) It gives the quilt a cosy old look rather than machine quilting that flattens the finished quilt. But it is a matter of personal preference.

 

I ususally start by quilting in the ditch (seam’s) around all of the blocks, then go back to each block and add more quilting to  each block individually, sometimes in the ditch, sometimes echoing the shapes and sometimes totally ignoring the design and quilting lines or curves.

When all of your quilting is done, trim off the edges of your backing and wadding to the same size as your quilt top and take out any pins, tacking or tacks.

 

 

BINDING: Shown below

 

Your colours will be different but the technique is the same.

1. Take your 2 ½” binding fabric and fold in half, place the raw edges to the raw edges of the bottom of the hanging, on the right side of the work, and stitch in place using ¼” seam, cutting off at the start and finish level with the edges.

 

2. Fold the edge of the binding to the back of the quilt and hand stitch in place.

           

3. Add the top binding in the same way.
4. Next do the sides, line up the raw edges as before but this time leave about 1 ½” of binding at the start and end of the quilt, you then fold over this excess to the back of the quilt as you sew the binding in place, making the edge neat.

                   

 

 

 

5. Turn over and hand stitch down.

 

 

 

WELL DONE YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR QUILT WE DO HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THE PROCESS.

 

Thank you for your support.