Thanks for all the awesome comments on my Bliss quilt! I got more than a few questions and requests to show how I did my curved or rounded corner binding so I thought I would do that today.
Curves might look a little frightening but if you cut your strips on the bias and piece them together properly you are almost golden. When you are done you will have a unique and eye-catching quilt! It might seem like there are a lot of steps but if you take them one at a time, you will be surprised how fast this goes.
Preparing your quilt:
I used a Pyrex bowl and placed it on the edges of each corner. Center it on the angle and trace with a marking pen or pencil. Repeat for each corner and then carefully trim along your traced lines.
Making the Bias Binding {this is super easy and fast}:
Open your fabric with no folds
Fold your bottom selvage side up to the cut side create a 45 degree angle
Turn the fabric so that the fold you just made is on your left
Fold up on top of the first fold
Fold down
Cut off the left fold {this is a really thin strip}
Cut your strips {you will be left with two triangles on the right}
*I always cut my binding strips 2 1/4" wide but this tutorial will work with whatever size strip you like to use*
Now match your ends and stitch them together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press your seams and then press your strip in half width-wise to make your binding. You are now ready to attach your binding!
Attaching your binding:
Lay your binding strip with the raw edges matching the raw edge of the quilt. I highly recommend using a walking foot if you have one. I don't pin the strip to the quilt but if you are more comfortable doing so then go ahead and do that.
Begin stitching your binding in the middle of one of the sides of the quilt. Stitch until you get to the curve and stop. Raise your foot with the needle down and turn your quilt slightly so that your foot begins to line up with the beginning of the curve. Lower your foot and S-L-O-W-L-Y stitch around the curve.
Don't stretch the binding, just let it follow the curve as you stitch. {If you stretch your binding your corners won't lay flat} If your fabric starts looking like it is getting a pucker in it; stop and raise your foot. Tug gently on the strip and then lower your foot and keep stitching. If you go slow it really isn't hard!
Continue attaching your binding like normal and repeat the the step above for each curve. Once you get to the end, stitch your ends together with your preferred method. Your binding is secure and now you are golden!
Finishing your binding:
Hand stitch your binding to the back of your quilt with your preferred method. I use binding clips and they are especially helpful in keeping the curves smooth. There really isn't a trick to stitching the curve down; just follow the curve and don't pull on the binding... let the binding clips do the work.
Let me know if you have any questions!
