Binding Your Quilt  Canada Goose Designs Joanne Winn
	Cut strips 2 ¼” wide on the straight or crosswise grain.  Sew the short ends of the strips together on the diagonal or bias.  Trim seam allowance to ¼” and press open.  Gently press the strip in half lengthwise. •        Thread should match the fabric or be a neutral color.                 •        Stitch with a ¼” seam.
		Diagram 1                         Diagram 2                                Diagram 3 Miter Tuck •        Leave about a 6” – 8” tail not sewn and begin stitching in an inconspicuous place on your quilt. E.g. lower 1/3 of the right edge.  Raw edges of the binding even with the raw edges of the quilt.  Do not stretch but keep the binding taunt. •        As you approach the first corner, stop stitching about 3” for the corner and lay the binding out flat.  Fold back as if to miter and finger press.  Open back out and continue to stitch to the press mark.  Backstitch.  Remove from the machine.  Diagram 1 •        Fold the binding up and away from the quilt as in Diagram 2.  Fold the binding back down towards the quilt, placing the fold even with the raw edges of the quilt and pin.   Diagram 3 •        Start stitching from the fold, backstitching at the beginning.  Diagram 4  Repeat for each corner.
			Diagram 4                                    Diagram 5                                    Diagram 6 •        Stop stitching about 8” from where you began stitching.  Take the quilt out of the machine. •        Lay the binding out flat on top of the beginning binding piece that was not sewn, not stretching, but having it lay at about the same tension that you would use if you were stitching it.   •        Measure 2 ¼” past the edge of the bottom (the beginning of the binding) strip of binding.  Draw a pencil line using your ruler, across the width of the binding. •        Cut on this line ONLY THROUGH THE TOP BINDING STRIP.  Diagram 5 •        Unfold the binding strips and pin diagonally across the end (like you did when you joined them together).  Stitch from upper left to lower right as in Diagram 6. •        Check to make sure that the binding lays flat.  Trim seam and finger press. •        Return quilt to the machine and start stitching about ½” back from where you stopped (this is the same as backstitching) and stitch the remainder of the binding. •        Turn the folded edge of the binding to the back of the quilt and stitch with an invisible or appliqué stitch.  Fold the binding right out flat at the corners and stitch right to the raw edge, fold the binding back and make the miter at the corners.  You can stitch the miter if you like but there is really no need to do this as there are no raw edges. ©  Joanne Winn 6/93  Revised 11/04 Canada Goose Designs