The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Binding

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along.  Today, we are talking about binding.  Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

• August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
• September 2nd - Quilt Along begins:  Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
• September 16th - Cutting 
• September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on).  The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.  
• October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
• October 28th - Quilting ideas
• November 11th - Binding
• November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here.  Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

I have noticed that all quilters bind differently.  Therefore, I thought that I would show you my "binding process".  First, we need to add the "corners".  This is where the rod will be inserted, so we can hang up our advent calendar.  Just take the 4.5 inch squares and fold them diagonally.  I attached them using an 1/8 inch seam allowance.  Elizabeth Hartman uses the same process in her tutorial, which you can find here.

I decided to bind my quilt in the red snowflake, which I also used for the hanging pockets as well.

I find that the corners are the hardest part to go around.  I position the binding so it will fold over nicely just like you would wrap a present for Christmas.  Yes I am particular on my corners.  Also when you come to the two open ends, I open the binding up so it lays flat and sew the two ends together and then refold the binding back over, so it looks like one continuous piece.  (I wish I would have gotten a picture of this step, but I didn't.)  After I have done that, then I just sew the binding onto the quilt using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Next I prefer to hand sew the binding onto the back.  I use these Clover clips to hold it.  I absolutely love these clips!  You can purchase them from any quilt shop or even Joann's.

I like to stitch underneath catching the quilt back and the "inside of the binding", so you don't see the stitching.  Just like the picture shown below.

I am halfway finished sewing the binding onto the back of the quilt.  Here is the front and back of one of my finished corners.  See, no stitching can be seen.  I just love it!

This week, I plan on finishing up binding the last two sides of the advent calendar with everyone else.  I am really excited to see everyone's finishes.  Everyone has been doing such a great job.  Also you should really hop on over to Janice's blog and see her beautiful "pebble quilting".  It was a lot of work but she got her calendar quilted up and bound!  Don't forget to link up and get your project finished because there are some really great prizes up for grabs!  The link up will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!