Sew Inspirational

Master Peace Quilt by Prints Charming

Make this great, quick and easy contemporary quilt in a unique range of Australian designer fabrics. Graphic prints in dramatic colours come together in simple piecing finished with bold hand-quilting.

To download the quilt instructions click here.

MITRED CORNER BINDING

By Narelle Grieve

In the last issue of Sew Inspirational I showed you how to sew a straight cornered binding. This issue we will discuss a mitred cornered binding.

It seems to have become the norm for quilters to think of the mitred corner binding as the superior binding to make, but there are no hard and fast rules about which binding method you choose, as long as the binding sits flat, is full of batting and the viewer can’t tell where you began and finished.

It is also thought that bindings should always be ¼ inch wide, but the width of the binding is also up to the individual quiltmaker. The binding can be any width you choose. For this exercise we will sew the binding ½inch wide. If you make a binding much more than ½inch wide the quilt does not always sit well.

Again, this issue, the binding will be double. Add together the width of the binding, both on the front and back of the quilt and add ¼inch seam allowance. Now, double that measurement and add about 1/8inch for the batting bulk. This figure is the width the binding will be cut.

Cut and join on the bias enough lengths to be about 15 inches longer than the perimeter of the quilt. In this example we have ½inch on the front and back of the quilt, add ¼inch for seam allowance and double this measurement. You now have 2 ½inches, to which we add about 1/8inch, so the fabric will be cut 2 5/8inches wide.

Cut one end of the binding at a 45° angle. Beginning at the centre of one side of the quilt and leaving about 4 inches of binding unsewn, sew to the corner of the quilt, stopping at the width of the finished binding. In this case ½inch from the corner of the quilt. The seam allowance should be the width of the binding away from the edge of the quilt and ¼inch away from the cut edge of the binding. To explain this, I have decided to have a ½inch binding so that your sewing line is ½inch from the edge of the quilt. The cut edge of the binding will be ¼inch from the edge of the quilt and the sewing line, on the binding, will be ¼inch away from the edge of the binding. See photo. 1

Stop sewing ½inch, or the width of the binding, away from the corner of the quilt. Backstitch a few stitches. Remove the quilt from the machine and trim the threads. Fold the binding up at a 45° angle from the end of the sewing line, then fold down at a 90° angle so that the cut edge of the binding is ¼inch from the edge of the quilt. This top fold should be in line with the previously sewn edge of the quilt, not the edge of the binding. See photo. 2

Sew from the top of the fold in a similar manner to the previously sewn side and continue around all sides of the quilt treating each corner the same way. Finish sewing about 15 inches from the beginning.

To join the binding open the binding to the cut width on both ends. Lay the beginning end, with the 45° angle, on top of the last piece of the binding to be sewn. See photo. 3

With a light pencil, draw the 45° angle on the bottom piece of binding. Check with your ruler that this is a true 45° angle. Rule another line ½inch from the first line drawn and towards the end of the binding. See photo. 4

To make sure you are correct, pin the first end to the second line drawn and see that the join will lay well when the binding is sewn to the quilt.

When you are satisfied, cut on the second drawn line and sew the seam with a ¼inch seam allowance. See photo. 5

Press the seam open and fold the binding in half. Press again. Sew the remainder of the binding to the quilt.

Turn the folded edge of the binding to the back of the quilt and slip stitch to the back. Sew the mitres closed. See photo. 6

NOTE: I welcome any quilting questions you have and they will be included in future issues of Sew Inspirational.

Email: narellegrieve@bigpond.com.au

The Pattern Place

The Pattern Place is a new and innovative company producing some of today’s most exciting and creative patterns for contemporary crafters.

Designer Susan Filer, a crafter since she was fourteen, has created projects to appeal to different tastes and abilities.  Seeing a gap in the market for truly inspiring yet simple projects, Susan has made it her aim to produce projects that will be achievable for beginning crafters yet are fun and fresh.  Quilters are looking for more than the same, traditional designs and hopefully we have provided an alternative source of inspiration.

The new series of wild animal quilt patterns has captured the imagination of quilters at recent Australian craft shows.  Zebras, elephants, big cats and giraffes, among others, create a rare atmosphere at The Pattern Place that you won’t find anywhere else.  There are currently 12 animal quilts, with more on the design table ready for release. 

Alongside the wild animal patterns are several other sensational ranges.  The Botanical series includes a set of three breathtaking blooms in different blue and white vases.  The more masculine Pacific series includes quilts such as ‘Hooked on Fishing’, a design depicting four carved bone fishing hooks.  The attention to detail is consistent through all of Susan’s designs and is what makes these patterns shine above others.  Fun children’s designs, Christmas patterns as well as patterns for other stitching crafts can all be viewed on their web site www.patternplace.com.au   For the more romantic there is the delightful ‘Pretty in Pink’, ideal for show casing your favourite Bernina embroidery stitch and ‘Spring Heart’ a quilt with an intricate woven heart as its centre piece.

Susan, a long standing Bernina sewing machine user is pleased to be a ‘Bernina Friend’ and is looking forward to designing with the new Bernina 8 series embroidery and quilting machine, due for release in April 2009

Aside from attending major craft shows around Australia, The Pattern Place operates a web store where the full range of patterns, fabric kits and accessories can be viewed and purchased.  Linked through paypal the site offers secure online purchasing and a speedy turn around time so your next project will be on your door step in a blink of the eye!

In line with her desire to introduce new crafters to quilting, all of the patterns have extensive step-by-step instructions and full quilt size pattern sheets.   This makes following the pattern so much easier.

Also available through The Pattern Place is the new self sticking appliqué web used in Susan’s designs. This helps simplify any appliqué project, allowing beginners to succeed as it is virtually impossible to make a mistake with the new appliqué web.  If you do not like where you have placed a piece, simply lift and reposition until you are happy.  This helps eliminates stress and means you don’t have to keep getting up and down to the iron as you work.   It is also great for both hand and machine stitching and produces a gorgeous soft and cuddly quilt.

The new patterns from The Pattern Place introduce three dimensional appliqué which brings life into otherwise flat projects.  Designs such as ‘Pond at the End of the Garden’ a lovely project where flowers drift gently across the surface of a deep pond incorporates both hand and machine embroidery to raise the surface of your quilt.  It encourages you to experiment with and incorporate some of the speciality stitches on your Bernina machine.  There are also areas where you can try free motion decorative stitching in small manageable steps.  This is a great design to practice and show off your machine skills.

We aim to be responsive to what the market wants, so a guest book is kept on our stand at each show where anyone can pop by and write an idea for what they would like to see us design.  When we get a repeated request, that is what we try to work on next; this keeps our designs in touch with stitchers.  At times we are challenged but it is always fun and it keeps us on the go!

The future for Susan looks very busy at the moment, but then she wouldn’t have it any other way.  Projects are spilling off the design table and 2009 will see Susan out and about conducting more hands-on workshops at local craft and quilt stores, as well as meeting as many new stitchers as possible at craft shows around Australia.