Binding Question

[temom]

I bought a piece of pieced fabric for a baby blanket, and I am going to back it with a piece of flannel. I was going to measure to see how much binding I would need (and buy the fabric, 'cause I forgot to do that), when hubby suggested cutting the backing slightly smaller and bringing the front (pieced fabric) to the back side to bind it that way. Which way is easier? This is flannel, which is notoriously not square. I know when I quilt it, I can't just stitch in the ditch, as the blocks don't line up. I will be able to get a somewhat straight line following the cross rows.

So in a nut shell:

Add a binding? If so, how wide should I cut it?

Turn the front to the back?

For quiilting should I stitch in the ditch from the front and have slightly off kilter stitching on the back side ?

Quilt it with serpentine stitches in some kind of grid, but not each block (about 4 inch blocks)?

[Pudge99]

I would cut the back larger and bring it around front for the binding.

Here's a link to dirrections.

[kjh9835]

That is exactly the method I used back in the early 90s when I first made a top by sewing squares together, laid an old blanket on it and put a sheet on the backside. Then flipped/stitched the binding and ran rows of stitches down the seams of the squares. I had made a quilt without even knowing what I was doing. It had puckers but I didn't know why.

We still have it (rough shape but sentimental to the kids) but all the other stuff that coordinated is long gone (pillows, dust ruffle, shams and curtains). I do remember the fabric was 49 cents a yard at Jo-Ann's in the clearance bins during a weekend sale and I bought all the matching prints...every inch! Took me years to use it all up.

Kathy

[temom]

Gina, those are great instructions! Thank you!

[bridesmom]

Why not quilt it in wavy serpentine lines midway through the squares both up and down and back and forth? It takes the eye away from the blocks not quite matching up. You can do it with a regular foot or a walking foot and it goes quick.

[temom]

Thanks for the help! The quilt came out much better than anything I've done before. I thought about the serpentine pattern, and for the life of me I don't know why I didn't do it! I must have taken a stupid pill! I did a diagonal line through each block, switching directions for each block. It turned out fine, but it took a while! Afterwards I threw it into the washer and dryer, and it came out nice and scrunchy and soft.

[sewingmom]

Those are the colores I used for my second childes room 36 yrs ago. I was determined to have a girl. OOPS! no girl. eventually repainted the room
Great quilt.

[lendube]

Great quilt. Has a very cozy, retro look about it.

[bridesmom]

My favorite colors!!! Love it! You did a great job.