One of the most important aspects of quilt-making is binding the quilt. As many quilters will attest, a quilt is not considered finished until it has its binding complete. The Fairfield Glade Fantastic Quilters will hold their July membership meeting on Friday, July 19, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Fairfield Glade Methodist Church, 231 Westchester Drive, during which time several members will present different aspects concerning bindings for quilts.
A quilt binding is defined as a strip of fabric that frames and protects the raw edges of a quilt. Oftentimes, it consists of a strip of fabric, that may be cut diagonally, across the width, or even along the length of a piece of coordinating fabric. It is usually double-folded, often referred to as a French binding, and is then wrapped and sewn around the edges of the three quilt layers — the top, the batting, and the backing — that have been quilted together. This double layer of fabric will protect the edge of the quilt as it is handled. Binding is usually attached to the quilt by machine and then the folded edge is sewn into place by machine or by hand stitching. To finish very small projects, a quilter will often use a single-fold binding as the binding bulk is reduced making it easier to work with small pieces.
Quilt binding is an important part of quilting because it finishes a quilt providing a durable edging to the quilt while giving it a clean, polished finish and making it usable. Binding also secures the edges protecting them from wear and tear over time, while also preventing fraying and batting leakage when the quilt is washed. Binding often adds a decorative touch — one that enhances the quilt’s appearance with color, different fabrics, or piping, and provides a visual or textural frame for the quilted project. But one of the most important aspects of binding is that it secures any quilting threads that were stitched off the edge of the quilt. There are many ways to bind a quilt, and the best method depends on the project’s size and needs.
For quilting projects that have curved or scalloped edges, the binding fabric will need to have some “give” in order to stretch around those curves. Binding used for curved projects is cut on the fabric’s bias at a 45° angle to the straight of grain. Although bias binding requires extra fabric and there may be some fabric wastage, the ease of application and the finished result on the curves is worth the extra effort.
Even though there are pre-made biased tapes available online and at many local fabric stores, the vast majority of quilters prefer to cut their own binding materials from fabric yardage. This gives them a greater choice of colors and prints to frame their project.
Because of the importance of the binding to any quilt project, the Fairfield Glade Fantastic Quilters will be devoting both their July and August meeting programs to the emphasis on all things binding. For the July membership program, the following specific topics will be discussed and demonstrated: the mitered corner, joining the “tails,” single-layered bindings, self-binding, and the use of one of several specialty sewing machine feet specifically designed for quilt bindings.
There will also be the monthly business meeting of the Guild, as well as a time of show and tell.
The Fantastic Quilt Guild is a local group of 150+ quilters who meet on the third Friday of the month at the Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church to further the art of quilting through education, sharing, community outreach, and social camaraderie. They have been meeting since 2002. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information, email fantasticquiltersffginfo@gmail.com.