Finishing Quilts with the Fons and Porter Binding Tool
I truthfully used to dread the final stage of quilting until We started using the particular fons and porter binding tool in order to finish my edges. There is something uniquely frustrating about spending forty hrs on the beautiful quilt top, another ten within the quilting by itself, and then possibly ruining the entire look since the binding ends don't fulfill up quite best. We've all already been there—you get in order to that last twelve-inch gap and suddenly realize your material is either half an inch too short or offers a massive, uncomfortable bulge because a person tried to "fudge" the measurement.
For a long time, I simply did the particular old-school fold-and-tuck method, or I'd attempt to do the math in my mind while hovering over my sewing machine. It rarely appeared professional. When I finally picked upward this specific tool, it felt like a lightbulb proceeded to go off. It's essentially a specialized polymer ruler designed to take the guesswork out of that will final diagonal seam where your binding tails meet. When you're tired of "winging it" and want your quilts to look as good on the sides because they do within the center, this little piece associated with plastic is going to be your new closest friend.
Why This Tool Changes the overall game
If you haven't seen one however, the fons and porter binding tool is an apparent, rectangular ruler along with some very particular markings and a good unique "clover-leaf" or even notched end. The whole purpose in life is to assist you to cut your binding tails with the exact angle and length required so they sew together into the perfectly flat, continuous loop.
The greatest headache with binding is that the overlap must be exactly the breadth of the binding remove itself. If you're using 2. 5-inch strips, you require a 2. 5-inch overlap. It noises simple on papers, but when you're wrestling a queen-sized quilt under a presser foot, calculating that overlap along with a standard leader is a formula for error. This particular tool acts as a physical design template that you put right on your own quilt top. It basically forces the particular fabric to be the right duration.
What I actually love most regarding it could be the consistency. It doesn't matter if I'm working on a tiny wall hanging or even a massive bedspread; the process is usually identical. You don't have to keep in mind any formulas or do any "quilt math" while you're tired at 11: 00 PM. You just line up the lines, mark your fabric, and trim.
Getting Began with Your Binding
Before you decide to actually touch the tool, you need in order to get a binding prepped. Many people (myself included) recommend the two. 5-inch strip width. It's the standard for a reason—it gives you a nice, full binding that covers the raw edges without being too large. You'll want in order to fold your whitening strips in two lengthwise, incorrect sides together, and press them toned.
Once your own strips are ready, you start sewing them to the particular front of the duvet. Now, here is the almost all important part: leave a tail. Don't start stitching right at the edge of your binding strip. Leave about 10 to twelve inches from the binding hanging loose from the beginning. Start sewing your 1/4 inch seam after that "tail. "
Go all the method around the quilt, mitering your corners since you go. Whenever you get back around to where you started, stop sewing about 10 or 12 inches just before you reach your starting point. A person should have two loose tails associated with binding and a gap of unsewn quilt edge regarding a foot long. This is where the magic occurs.
Step-by-Step Becoming a member of
Now that you have your own gap, it's time for you to pull out the particular fons and porter binding tool. This might look the little intimidating with all the lines, but it's actually really intuitive once you perform it once.
Laying the Tool Down
Initial, lay the tool flat within the duvet in that unsewn gap. You need to period starting tail (the 1 on the left) and lay this across the tool. There are specific lines upon the ruler that will tell you where the edge of the particular fabric should sit down. You essentially make use of the ruler in order to "measure" the beginning tail and the particular ending tail against each other.
Marking the Trim
The tool has an inclined edge that matches the 45-degree position we would like for our own seam. You'll make use of your fabric marking pen to attract a line along that slant on one tail, and then do the exact same for that other, making sure they overlap in the way the tool dictates. It's a bit like a challenge. The tool ensures that when you sew those two slanted edges together, the resulting strip is the exact duration needed to fill up the gap on the quilt.
The minute of Truth: Sewing the Ends
Once you've noted and trimmed your tails using the tool's guide, you pin them together. This is the only "fiddly" part. You have got to twist the quilt a little bit to get those two ends to lay down right-sides-together. Since a person left a 12-inch gap, you should have enough "slack" within the material to get them under your stitching machine needle with no an excessive amount of trouble.
Sew across that marked line, trim the excess (if you haven't already), and press the seam open. When you place the binding back down against the duvet, it should fit perfectly—no tugging, no protruding. It's honestly 1 of the almost all satisfying feelings in quilting.
Ideas for an ideal Finish
As the tool does the large lifting, there are some small tricks I've picked up over the years which make the particular process even smoother.
Don't skip the particular pressing. I know it's tempting to simply finger-press that final join and keep sewing so you can become finished, but taking thirty seconds in order to go to the ironing board makes a difference. In the event that you press that diagonal seam open, it distributes the particular bulk of the fabric. If you press it to one side, you might end up with a little "lump" on the edge of the quilt that will your binding won't want to cover around smoothly.
Watch your tension. When you're sewing the tails together, do not stretch the particular fabric. Since binding is frequently cut upon the straight feed (unless you're performing bias binding for curved edges), it can still extend a little when you pull on it. If you stretch it while joining the finishes, the binding can be too tight and might cause the particular quilt edge in order to pucker once it's finished.
Use a walking foot. If you aren't already using the walking foot for your binding, begin immediately. It helps feed the top layer of binding and the bottom layer of the quilt with the machine at the same speed. This prevents the "creeping" effect in which the top layer of material ends up becoming longer than the particular bottom layer by the time you reach the end of a side.
Is it Worth the Space within your Sewing Room?
I'm usually pretty distrustful of "unitasker" tools. I don't like having a drawer full of devices that only perform one specific factor. However, the fons and porter binding tool is 1 of the several exceptions I create. The reason is simple: it solves the almost all common "fail point" in a quilt.
When you provide a quilt as a present, the first point people feel is usually the edge. These people run their hands along the binding. If there's a big, messy, heavy knot where the binding was joined, this stands out. Using this tool gives a person a finish that looks like it had been performed by an expert longarm quilter.
It's furthermore surprisingly affordable. Compared to the cost of fabric, batting, and line for the single project, this tool pays for itself within avoided frustration the particular very first time you use it. Plus, it's made from heavy-duty acrylic, therefore unless you accidentally step on it or drop a heavy iron on it, it's going to last for decades.
Conclusions
At the finish of the day, quilting is expected to be the relaxing, creative wall plug. Nothing kills that "zen" feeling quicker than struggling along with technical errors right at the complete line. By integrating the fons and porter binding tool into your workflow, you're basically providing yourself an insurance policy policy against wonky edges.
It takes just a little practice to obtain the hang of which way to flip the ruler and where to mark, but as soon as you've done it two or 3 times, it is 2nd nature. You'll quit worrying about the particular "gap" and begin looking forward to that perfect, flat end. Whether you're making heirloom quilts regarding your grandkids or just whipping up a quick panel throw for the particular couch, having the correct tool for your job makes all the particular difference in the particular world. So, in the event that you're still experiencing your binding ties, give this 1 an attempt. Your quilts (and your sanity) will be glad.