I finally finished the hand quilting, took down my quilt frame and set aside the finished project ready to bind and trim it. This has never been a big deal, I've bound dozens of quilts over the years. I was fully prepared to set aside an hour on Sunday morning to sew on the binding so that I would have some handwork to do in the evenings that week. Well...

I started thinking about the comments I had received at the last Quilts on the Rocks- binding technique needs some improvement.... OK. I know I don't do my binding the way everyone else does. I do know that my technique is easy, it lies flat, and I have never had it wear out, tear apart or fall off of the quilt. But always willing to improve my skills, and with no deadline for this project, I thought I would do it properly this time.

I begin by reading the Binding your Quilt sections in various books in my extensive collection. Most recommend bias binding with mitered corners. OK. Then I come across an article stating that the bias can cause the finished project to ripple and doesn't wear as well as cutting on the cross-grain. I wonder if bias binding is another case of we do it this way because we have always done it this way? I decide to stick to the bias as I am determined to do this properly, but to double it this time as my grandmother had shown me for quilts that are meant to be used and washed regularly as this one will be.

Just that day, I receive my copy of the Canadian Quilter and 3 articles were included on binding quilts. I carefully read each and decide that the first article showed an easy way to miter the corner and I would try it. I figure it should fall in the category of proper binding as it is a reliable source. The author indicates 1/8" seams but I need 1/4" seams as that was where my basting was, and I had only quilted to that point.

I prepare my binding as shown and set about stitching it to the quilt. I start about 12" from the first corner as indicated in the second article. I usually start about 1/3 of the up the left hand side. I stitch to the corner, flip my binding at a 45 degree angle and sew through. I turn the edge as shown in the picture and continue around the corner as indicated. I get down a little farther and go back to check my corner- curses! I was supposed to sew across first, then flip the 45 degree angle- take it apart and start again.

Well, the miter looks great, but I now have 8 layers of fabric in the corner along with a layer of batt because I doubled my binding- oh well, it should fit- the article shows to do this. I come to the next corner and find that one of my bias joints falls right at the corner point- curses! I now have 10 layers of fabric in my corner, but I've gone around one whole side and there is no way I am taking it all off to move it. If I had started the binding where I usually do, this wouldn't have happened. I could undo some of it and cut my bias to attach another piece (because I cut way too much bias to start with- should have paid more attention to the third article) but I decide to take my chances. I continue to the next corner only to find that the seam joint fell at the corner again! What are the odds? -more curses!

I continue in this manner until I come to the beginning of my binding and go too far with my tail - curses! I rip it back to the 1" indicated in the article. The miters look great, the joint looks good- I proceed to trim my binding and batt so that it will fit perfectly to the edge of the binding when turned. This was a tip in one of the articles. I trim to the corner only to find my miter fell apart! Curses and more curses! So that's why the author indicated 1/8" seam- you can't trim the corners!

Now I'm getting really frustrated- I've just trimmed away the fabric I need to re-miter my corner. What to do? At this point I proceed with my trimming carefully skipping the corners while thinking up a solution- there's no way I'm starting over. I look at the corners again and admire the great miter- it would have worked if I had followed the directions for an 1/8" seam. I undo another corner, take out the excess and miter as I usually do but with alot less fabric to play with. I repeat this with the other 2 corners, leaving the one that fell apart for last. The corners don't turn well- too thick because of the doubled bias and the seams in the corners- I'm in trouble... more curses.

I try wiggling the binding into place, trimming away any possible excess, but it looks disgusting! At this point I am ready to throw the whole thing in a corner. Time for a break!

I come back to my quilt. The quilt itself is wonderful. I am happy with the piecing, the quilting, the applique,... I look objectively at the corners- two of them managed to look pretty good. One didn't have enough fabric to miter and bubbles up. The other is off just a touch at the edge. Should I take off all of the binding and start over? It might hang at Quilts on the Rocks, or at one of the quilt shops but I made it mainly for on my bed. I am happy with everything else about it. I decide to leave it alone before I make it worse.

Now to the part I enjoy most- the handsewing. I get comfortable in my easy chair, slip in a movie and start to stitch the binding- curses! The fabric I bought for the backing looks great on the quilt- it is a mottled brown that matches exactly the border on the front. This same fabric was used for the binding. Looking at it from this vantage point I see the mottled effect is made up of brown with a fine black stripe moving to black with a fine brown stripe. My bias stripe in combination with the vertical stripe on the backing has a mesmerizing effect when you look closely. I have trouble focusing on my handwork and need to look up every half dozen stitches to regain my vision. I have to take off my glasses as they magnify the effect. I can't see where my last stitch was without pulling up the thread- what a nightmare! Proceeding at this slow pace, it takes me all of a week and a half to sew around the entire quilt. But finally my quilt is finished. I brush off the loose threads and dog hair, and spread it out. It looks great. I make a conscious effort not to look at the corners, but rather to see the overall effect and I am pleased. Now I wonder what trouble I can get into with my label?