Finish Line
Funny how starting a new artwork I am filled with euphoria, while finishing an artwork I tend to be consumed by doubt. You might think it is the other way around. When I first started quilting nothing sent a piece faster into the UFO (unfinished object) stash than not knowing how to quilt it. If that didn’t do it, than how to finish the edges did. You have got to love how 33 years of experience solves both these issues.
There are numerous ways to finish a quilt. I lean heavily on facing, bias binding or satin stitching my edges. The traditional method, based on traditional quilts is bias binding. Why bias? Simple. It wears better with use.
Fabric Line
Let’s talk fabric composition. Fabric is woven in two different directions, the warp and the weft. Warp threads are the vertical threads that run the length of the fabric. Whereas weft threads run the width of the fabric. When fabrics are cut on the grain that is when you get wisps of dangling threads along the edge of the cut. Pull on those – well there is no end to the pulling. Should one wear away on the edge of a quilt, that edge develops a noticeable rip. Let’s hear it for bias binding. A bias cut is on the diagonal. One advantage of doing this is it greatly diminishes the dangling thread issue.
Favorite Finishing Tool
Although it is possible to buy bias binding, I don’t. The quality tends to poor. The fabric choice is limited. So, is the width of the binding. This is why I make my own. My favorite tool to make bias binding is Clover’s Bias Tape Maker. Clover manufactures tape makers in a variety of sizes. What I appreciate about them is:
- My hands are safely away from the iron;
- The handle allows me to pull the maker easily to the next section and
- They hold the fabric securely so the folds are consistent.
I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.
