31 March, 2014

Birdsong Quilt, Finished at Last!

I love our big ol' barn, but I especially love it when it comes time to photograph a quilt. Mr. T. and I hung the quilt this afternoon, just after I finished the binding..., piped binding, of course!  This just might be my favorite quilt ever!  Oh, wait... I think that's what I say each time I finish a new one.  Pretty sure...

I have generally chosen a plain background on previous quilts so I love the sweet little sampler print that I used for this quilt.  It adds another great element to the design.  

Do you want to know how to do this method of piped binding on your quilts?  Well... I am happy to share. This beautiful binding is done entirely on the sewing machine.  There is no handwork involved, not a single stitch! I must say that this is not my method nor did I write the instructions.  This was taught to my Quilters' Guild by our member, Doris K., the very SAME Doris K. who showed me how to do needle turn appliqué, which inspired me to make this quilt. These are her directions, compiled from various sources, I believe.

You can find the piped binding directions that I used here.  The instructions suggest that you use a pintuck foot to make the piping. I have made piping without using a pintuck foot, just used my zipper foot, but I can honestly say that the pin tuck foot made things MUCH easier.  I suppose that you could use purchased piping... but your own fabric covered piping is much nicer.  I used a 4 ply, worsted weight cotton yarn made by Peaches and Creme for the center of the piping.  I believe that I purchased mine at Michaels

It is also very helpful to use blind stitch foot.  On my Bernina, that is foot #5.  It has a guide that runs perfectly along the channel between the piping and the binding and places the stitches just where they need to be.  

I hear that quilt judges love to see piped binding on quilts.  We'll see if the quilt show judges at our show love it on my quilt.  It will be judged on Thursday, April 10th.

Wish me luck! But really, as I mentioned some time ago in this post, "I don't need no stinking ribbons!"

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful!! I can't wait to see it hung at the quilt show!
    K

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can you tell me which pintuck foot on your Bernina that you use?

    ReplyDelete