This technique is one I get asked about over and over again, binding inside angles…. How to get nice peaks and valleys without wads of extra fabric in all the wrong places!
You would use this on quilts with hexagon shapes at the edges, or chevron quilts with a zig-zag edge or even traditional scallop borders with an arch and valley.
I love interesting borders, and I tend to use them a lot. Many of my patterns have them, so here are all my tips and tricks just in case you need to finish this last step. If you love the look, but get a little hesitant when it comes to the actual how-to-do-it part, I wrote this post for you!
I bind all my quilts with a double-machine binding method (sewing it to the back wrapping it to the front and topstitching it down, more on that method here). If you like to hand-stitch your binding to the back, then just reverse what I show and sew the binding to the top instead, everything else will be the same.
This binding method does not require bias binding. Cut and prepare enough binding to go all the way around the quilt with about 8-10” extra. I cut mine at 2.5” for this quilt.
Trim your quilt up, removing all excess backing and batting. Use scissors to get down in those valleys so there is no extra bulk.
X marks the spot. I take a fabric marking pen and a small ruler and mark the ¼” line at each valley and each peak all the way around the quilt.
To start, lay your binding strip along the edge. Secure it with a pin right in that X. Sew the binding down leaving a tail unstitched of at least 6”. Stitch right up to the pin and drop your needle. Your needle will need to be in the needle-down position before pivoting to go up the other side.
Lift the presser foot and pull the quilt around to match the binding. This will essentially force the valley to open wider. You can also make a small clip into the valley with scissors to help it open up easier.
Remember the inside angle is a bend in the binding and the outside angle is a fold in the binding. We will do the fold next.
Sew up the next side out of the valley. As you get close to the outside corner, place a pin into the X and the binding at the corner. When you get to the pin, drop your needle and pivot to the outside edge, sewing straight off the quilt.
This is where the fold comes in. Place your finger to hold the corner in place as you make a small fold. Lay the binding down the next side. Pin this in place. Start sewing again from the edge of the quilt stitching down that little fold.
Working your way around the quilt, bend, fold, bend, fold… until you come back to the beginning, then join the two ends together. You can see my YouTube video on joining the ends here.
Roll the binding around to the front side and pin in place. Notice how I pin the fold into the other side of the outside angles. I also place a pin in that valley to secure the V shape when I stitch it down.
Move your needle to the left position and top-stitch the binding in place (or hand stitch it to the back). I stitch right up close to those pins as I go to ensure that nothing moves before it can be stitched down. You will pivot at both the inside and outside angles.
That wasn't so bad, was it? I hope it helps!
Happy Sunday everyone! and Happy Easter too :)
Krista
Follow all my quilty adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Visit my Youtube channel for free tutorials and tips. If you like my patterns, you can buy them on Etsy, and here on the website.