You've probably seen a tutorial or two doing binding this way. I did a previous blog post on a look-alike binding trick where you tuck a flange or rick rack into the seam.
Today's method is a self-flanged binding where everything is sewn as one piece. It's perfect for a little pop of color to frame your quilt, table runner or placemats… anything that needs a little extra something :) Just think how cute a gold shimmer flange would be peeking out of the binding on your holiday table decor this year!
You will need two colors, your main color (mine is the white) and your “pop” color (mine is the pink). Cut the main color into strips 1.5” (as many as you will need to go around your project). Cut the same number of strips from the “pop” color at 1.75 (Hint, this is counter intuitive, the bigger of the two strips will be the color you see the least of.) Sew each color strips together end to end into one long strip. Press the seams open to alleviate bulk.
Lay the two strips right sides together and sew with a ¼” seam down the full length of the strips.
Press the strip out with the seam toward the main color (white). Use the nose of your iron to really get into that seam and open it up. You will want to see a little ridge on the white side, this will create a “valley” on the flange side (this will be useful later).
Now press the whole strip in half lengthwise. I use steam, steam, steam to get it nice and flat. Watch the flange edge to be sure you see a consistent amount of the pop color.
Sew the binding to the back of the quilt all the way around with the pop color facing up. If you need a reminder on how to do those corners and joining the ends together you can see the basic binding tutorial here.
Turn the quilt over, wrap the binding around and topstitch in place with the needle dropping down right into that “valley” between the main color and the pop color.
When you get to the corner, fold the bottom up and then the side over to miter the corner and match the flange as it goes around the corner.
Work your way around the quilt, overlapping with a little backstitch once you come to the end, and Voila, Done!
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Krista
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