A few years ago I discovered a technique that I think is the easiest way ever for joining the beginning and ending tails on a binding. You don’t need a special ruler, an iron, or math. It’s done with a 2″ piece of Dritz Wash Away Wonder Tape™ (which I now keep next to my machine at all times 😊).
As I was using this technique to bind Josiah’s quilt, the teacher in me knew I had to share it once again; for newer viewers and as a reminder to the rest of you 😃. It’s the only one I’ve used for the past 3 years and I highly recommend it. It’s really this easy:
Leave an opening between your beginning and ending tails about 10″ long:
Fold one tail back to create a 45 degree angle. No math is required because you can check it by putting a square ruler in the inside corner that’s created:
Place a 2″ piece of tape along the fold and rub with your fingernail to be sure it sticks:
Remove the paper from the tape, leaving the glue strip along the crease:
Lay the other tail in place along the edge of the quilt, and over the tape on the crease:
and finger press to secure tape to this second strip:
Lift the strips to reveal the inside of the crease:
Gently pick the entire piece up and stitch in the crease:
Lay the binding back on the quilt to make sure it fits:
Once you’re sure, trim off the tails:
Lay back in place and sew this last portion of the binding to the quilt:
Voila. I just leave the tape in place since it will wash away. Turn the binding to the back of the quilt and finish as usual. I hope you’ll give it a try!
***********************
Correction!
In spite of the fact I like math ~ it was brought to my attention that I have oft repeated a counting error. Doris sent me an email after watching my Quilt as You Go lecture at the Great Wisconsin Quilt show saying that she could only come up with 6 layers when sewing the front and back sashing on, not 7. She’s exactly right and I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Fortunately the technique remains the same 😊. Thanks Doris, for letting us know!
judy says
Thanks for the post. Always look forward to your techniques
Beverly Havelka says
thank you for your posts, never to old to learn….
Cari says
I needed this reminder, I have the tape and now a reason to use it. Thanks!
Shelly says
Clever! I read as I was about to join my binding. I didn’t have that tape, but I had some made for making bias tape. It worked great, but needed to be fused. Thanks for sharing this technique.
Louise says
This easy method of joining binding edges is wonderful! Thank you for sharing this!
Winnie says
So clever, glad to learn this
Geraldine Sharp says
It seems I know so little of what there is to know. Thanks for your past, present & future help. So many ways t0 accomplish a task.