Is it just me?
Or does anyone else think it quite magical how much binding you can get from what seems to be a relatively small piece of fabric?
Yesterday morning I decided the great hunt was on....
Yes in Captain Oates fashion - 'I'm just going outside, I may be some time' - I decided that now I was on a roll with 'Spencer's Stars' I ought to brave the interior of the big triple wardrobe in the 'playroom' (you know the room I call my sewing room much to the disgust of the rest of the household') to try and locate the matching fabric to bind this baby quilt.
Well I came across it after some time, but was a bit dismayed to find a piece measuring about 12 - 14" x the width of the fabric.
My heart sank - surely that wouldn't be sufficient to bind a quilt 38" x 52"
However after further searching I realised that the cupboard was metaphorically bare - this was the only piece I'd have to play with.
Out with the trusty calculator - how big a square would I need to make bias double binding for the quilt.
I generally use the calculation of : distance round the edge of the quilt + 18" spare x 2.5" and then all square rooted to get the square size.
Darn it - not quite enough - so redoing the calculation with only 12" spare gave me the magic number (about quarter of an inch less that my available pieced square of fabric)
In the end with all the binding machined on it left me with a measly 7" of bias binding left - how close to the wire can you get.
Still I should be thankful - better that way than 7" too short!
I sat up last night until around 11.30pm handstitching the binding down so all I have to do now is stitch a little label on the back and it's ready to send up to him. I'll put a photo of it on here tomorrow in it's fully completed glory!
In between all this I did other bits of stitching - never one to concentrate on one thing at once.
I decided that as I was on a bit of a roll with my Four Seasons swap that I'd make my winter blocks ready for posting. As this is the last block of the swap I thought 'Friendship star' would be a nice one to do.
Like all my other blocks I picked out an accent fabric for the centre square and I had some lovely wintery countryside fabric in my stash just waiting for this opportunity
I think I shall keep the one with the church on as I had to piece one of the corner squares on it (top LH corner) as yet again I was right up to the wire on the fabric.I also had a go at making a bag which turned out nicely but again you'll have to wait until tomorrow for a look at that one too
Ok gotta dash work calls - in today as we're taking DD1 to see the specialist tomorrow about her stomach problems - so I've swapped my day off this week.
11 comments:
I always buy much more material than I actually end up needing for the binding - but I don't mind, as it all helps build up my measly stash!
Love the subtle wintery friendship stars!
Can't believe you got enough binding out of that square of fabric. The Winter blocks are lovely - I really like the scenes in the centre squares.
Lucky you to have a tiny bit left over rather than not quite enough. The friendship stars are looking good!
isn't it very satisfying to use up what's in your stash and not have "extra left" while still not running short! Sound slike both the binding and the winter blocks worked that way :-)
So glad the binding worked out. One time I actually cut the binding when I made the quilt and then lost the binding in my stash. I guess it might be a good idea to have a place to stash the binding fabrics but I cannot imagine thinking that far ahead in most cases.
Oh how wonderful you had enough! Isn't that cool with bias bindings!
Why is it you can have a closet full of fabric, but be just short on the ONE piece you need? I just came up short on a binding yesterday . . . but I punted and all is well *s*
Love those wintry stars.
I have a basket filled with the binding left-overs...I always make way too much! Nice job getting yours so close! Can't wait to see the new bag too!
Doesn't it feel good though to use up ALL of some fabric? I love knowing that it is now gone and I can buy more!
Love the Friendship stars.
You are clever with your calculator etc- I use the seat of pants method usually!
Good luck to your DD1 with her stomach.
Lucky you with the binding. And yes, I am always amazed at how little fabric it seems to take compared to the rest of the quilt!
Can't wait to see the finish on Spencer's Stars and your little bag. Love the friendship blocks.
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