Once your piece is quilted, you
need to make the edges even and square before adding your binding. It
is easier and more accurate to trim the quilt sandwich if the three
layers are sewn together at the edge. Otherwise, the bottom layer can
shift and you end up with edges that are not the same.
The
absolute best way to sew the layers together is to use a walking foot
and, with a basting stitch length, zigzag down the very edge of the
outer border. Your stitches should be less than 1/4" wide so they will
not show once the binding is attached. If you miscalculate, you can go
back and remove them with a seam ripper.
If you do not have
a walking foot (also known as an even feed foot), you will have to
baste the edges by hand, right inside the 1/4" seam allowance. Once
you have done this on a large quilt, you will run out to buy a walking foot!
After
you have stitched the edge, the next step is to trim away the excess
batting and backing. You have secured the three layers together so
that they do not shift or fold under while you are cutting. They also
will act as one piece of fabric when you sew the binding, which means
you can use your regular foot and still have no ripples. It is easier
to get a 1/4" seam allowance with your regular foot than with the
walking foot.
Lay the quilted piece on your
cutting board with the top and one side in position for trimming.
Support the weight of the quilt if it is larger than your table so that
it is not pulling at the edges. You have to decide what to use as a
guide when cutting. If you have added a border which is narrower than
the ruler, you can use the interior seam allowance as your guide. Line
this seam up with the proper marking on your ruler and continue to
place the ruler in that same position as you move around the four sides.
Put
your 24" rotary ruler with the long side against the quilt side and the
6" width of the ruler running across the top of the quilt. This will
allow you to trim around the corner and know that you are making a
right angle. Trim.
Move the ruler down the length of your
quilt. Align the ruler with your interior guide and overlap the
previously cut edge enough so that you know you are still trimming in a
straight line.
In addition to trimming
off the excess batting and backing, you are trimming the edge of the
top at the predetermined width of your outermost border strip, but
quilting will often distort that edge and you will find yourself
trimming off small pieces. The naked eye will not notice that the
border has been trimmed. Wavy lines are a lot more visible.
As
you get to the bottom, you will do the same thing with the square end
of the ruler as you did at the top, making another perfect right angle
corner. Continue in this manner all the way around the quilt.
When
you have finished, check for any places where you have trimmed off the
basting. Resew those areas. It is important that the three layers be
sewn together so they will act like one piece of fabric as you sew on
your binding.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
www.How-to-Quilt.com
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
www.How-to-Quilt.com
