BINDING QUILTS WITH DIFFERENT COLOURS BACK AND FRONT

Conventional quilt binding is made from a strip of fabric folded down the middle along its length, sewn to the front of the quilt then flipped and sewn to the quilt backing.


However, it is possible to use 2 colours in the quilt binding so that you have one colour showing on the front of the quilt and a different colour showing on the back of the quilt.

This can add interest to your quilt and can also allow you more choice in your backing fabric.



Cut strips of the 2 colours that you wish to use.  I used 1.1/4" strips, but could easily have used 1" strips.  Join them together along the length using a 1/4" seam.





Decide how long your binding needs to be:  the width plus the length of your quilt, double that number and then add a good 6" or so for the corners and the join of beginning to end.
To join lengths of binding together, place them at right angles

as shown, right sides together.  Stitch along the diagonal and trim the excess fabric about 1/4" beyond the seam.



When opened out, this gives a straight line of binding but with a diagonal seam so it is less bulky.  Fold the binding in half along the seam so that you have one side white, one side black.  Although you will need to open it out to sew it on, it is much easier to sew the 2nd side of binding on if the seam has been pressed.  With right sides together and leaving a few inches spare at the beginning, place the binding on the edge of the quilt and stitch in place.



At the corner, stop sewing 1/4" before the edge of the quilt and remove quilt from sewing machine.  Fold the binding up at right angles to the quilt as shown.  Put your finger on the edge to hold this fold and bring the binding back down in line with the next edge to be sewn.  Start sewing again from the edge and continue all the way round the quilt 




When you get back to the beginning, stop stitching about 2" from the first end of the binding.  Trim the ends of the binding so that there is about 1" overlap.  Fold under a 1/4" seam on the end of the left hand piece of binding and place it flat on the quilt edge.  Lay the right hand piece of binding on top of it, matching edges. 

Continue stitching to close up the binding.  Slipstitch along the join of the two ends of binding, then flip the binding over to the back of the quilt, turn under a small seam and slipstitch the 2nd edge of the binding (the white in the photo) to the quilt.





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rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk