Finish It Up

Binding the raw edges of your finished piece is the final stage, where the active process of machine sewing the binding to the quilt followed by the passive and reflective process of hand sewing bring closure to your work.

First you must choose the fabric you will use for your binding.  

 It is likely you will need more than one strip so cut enough 2-1/2" strips, that when sewn together, will make a strip long enough to go completely around your quilt.

You will need to sew these strips together.  It is best to sew them on the diagonal 

so they don't cause lumps in the side of your piece.  

This is a little review of how to sew your 2-1/2" strips together on the diagonal.  I've explained this process in 'Just a Pile of Scraps' too. 

 Chain Piece your strips

Cut the excess from your seam allowance.

Press the seam to one side.

Fold the binding strip in half, wrong sides together, and press.  You will have a long 1-1/4" strip.

 Trim your quilt sandwich so the edges are straight.

Match the raw edges of the folded 1-1/4" strip to the raw edge of the quilt top. 

Leave about 3-4" of the strip loose. 

 Using a 1/4" seam sew the binding strip to the quilt top. I use my walking foot for this step.

Stop when you get 1/4" from the end of the quilt top, at the corner.  

Backstitch to secure the seam.  Cut the thread.

Turn your quilt around as shown in the picture below.  

Fold the binding so you have a 45 degree angle as shown below.

Fold the binding down and match the raw edges again as shown below.  

Using a back stitch to secure the seam, begin at the top of the quilt/binding 

and sew to 1/4" before the next corner. Follow the same procedure to turn each corner.

Continue sewing the binding around your quilt sandwich until you are close to where you began, leaving about 5".

Unfold one of your strips so it is the full 2-1/2" width.  

Use your ruler to cut a 45 degree angle on this strip.

 Fold a 1/4" seam and press it.  I fold twice to finish the raw edge better.

 Fold your strip back in half.

Place the strip with the unfinished edge inside the fold of the strip with the finished edge.  

Match the raw edges of the strips to the raw edge of the quilt sandwich.

 It is likely some of the strip that is inside the strip with the finished edge will stick out when the folded edge of the strips are straight and even.  If this is the case, trim it off.

 Secure these strips to the quilt top with a pin so they stay together when you sew the binding on.

 Sew, pulling the pin out before you run over it, being sure to back stitch at each end of your seam.

 Press the binding away from your quilt top.

 Turn your work over and press the binding so it covers the seam on the back side.

 Press your binding all the way to the end of the corner so you can make a crisp corner

 Fold he binding at the corner so you have a 45 degree angle at the back of the piece.

Pressing is nice because you don't need to pin before you hand sew.  

Hand sew the binding at the back using a blind stitch.

Sit back and admire and enjoy your lovely finished project.  

Linking To:
A Round Tuit 203  Inspiration Monday  Monday Block Party

A Daughter of Petersburg

My lifelong friend Anne Lee, has a great shop in Petersburg called 'The Star'  where you can find the most interesting and unique items.  She dropped by the other night with a copy of a 1993 issue of Alaska Geographic from her store.  She had found an article by our dear friend Marilee Enge and brought it to share with me. This article sure fits the season...the Christmas season.  Marilee's story is our story.  Anyone who has ever lived in Petersburg, Alaska will find something in this piece that will bring them back home.  

Marilee currently works and lives in Berkley, California with her husband George and her girls, Marit and Lily.  She returns to Petersburg every year to be close to her family and friends and to share a little piece of Southeast Alaska with her girls.

(If this article is hard to read, you might try zooming in on your computer.)  

Oh Christmas Tree

I have a Christmas shop on Etsy, and I have a Christmas Pinterest, so you'd think I should be the queen of Christmas, right? I should have a tree in every room with  different, trendy decorations on each one,  all handmade.  While I really enjoy seeing all of the wonderful Christmas ideas on Pinterest and in the Blog world, I can't break away from from the holiday traditions that have developed through the years of my life, and have been nurtured by my family.  Maybe someday things I do and make will be Christmas publication worthy but for now, I really enjoy my family oriented Christmas traditions.  

Decorating the tree is a big part of the Christmas holiday season for children.  When I was a little girl, I loved to put my special ornament on our Christmas tree.  My children LOVED to decorate our family tree.  They loved finding just the right place for all of the special ornaments they had made in school and Sunday school through the years.  Kory liked to get his ornaments as close to the top of the tree as his arms could reach. When my children grew up and moved away, and had their own trees to decorate, I was left with the sad and lonely job of decorating our Christmas tree all by myself.  But then last year, my granddaughter was 2 years old, old enough to help me decorate the tree.  Jillian has become my tree decorating partner and when Audrey is a little older, she will join the fun.  

Jill decorating the tree 2012

Jill Decorating the tree in 2013

Jill was pretty excited about getting started.

Jill carefully placed each ornament on the tree.

The bottom of the tree got pretty weighed down with ornaments, so I brought Jill a chair.

Jill placed every ornament on the tree with concentration and care.

When we were finished, I snapped a photo of Jill in front of our Christmas tree.

While we were decorating the tree, Jill said, "Remember when Auntie Helen decorated the tree with us Grandma."  Helen had come over last year while we were decorating the tree and she had helped us.  I showed Jill a picture of Auntie Helen helping us last year.

Jill was only 2 but the tree decorating experience was important enough for her to remember it a year later.  Christmas is about family, love and tradition. Everyone has their own way of celebrating the winter holiday.  Winter holiday traditions bind our families together and encourage us to renew relationships.  In this setting, we are forced to remember what is really important.

A Simple Walk to School

This Youtube video was posted on Facebook in the Petersburg Pix and History Group.  I had to share it because it is so fun to watch.  The video begins with the statement, "Welcome to the future."  This statement is followed by a wonderful look at our lovely, but hardly futuristic community.  This seems ironic, but when you think about it, what is the future?  Our children are our future and it takes a village to raise a child.  The stability and continuity of our town, does provide sturdy roots for our children.  The Petersburg School District is highlighted in this video.  The school district continues to get well deserved recognition for being above average.  This is a reflection of the expectations of the families and the entire community.

Thank you PK for sharing your talent with us!

PFI Christmas Bazar

Petersburg has lots of talented artists and crafters. The PFI Bazar offered artists the opportunity to share their art with shoppers during the Christmas season.

Lori organized the PFI Bazar, which she does for us every year.

Thank you Lori!!

Tammy shared her art.  

Debi brought her detailed glass art.

Rita  sold her fun pot holders

Cadice sold her cozy crochet and fleece items.

  Jean brought her photos and interesting glass garden ornaments.

Mike had really nice walking sticks and fun little candy sleighs.

 Christy sold her lovely knitted items.

Maryann sold all kinds of things, wreaths, baby bibs, burp cloths, scarves 

and many, many more fun items.

Ann brings her lovely lace and practical scrubbers every year.

 Tekla sold her sparkly jewelry and Jackie sold jewelry items that young girls love.

 Karil  brought her lacy knitted scarves and also sold Sue's items too, because Sue wasn't in town.

 The Mitten Lady, Deb  makes cozy mittens out of old sweaters.

 These wreaths were lovely.  It looks like it was cold near the door though.

Jackie brought her handmade goodies.

Marina  took care of the hungry people.

 Check out Jessielea's elf ears. 

Her yummy food had the place smelling really good all day.

This booth had very different,  fun craft items.  There were brightly colored Christmas wreaths,  and wooden signs and Christmas decorations and many other things.

 Linda brought jelly and not just any jelly, nagoon berry jelly.  

 Belinda and daughters Melanie and Emma sold delicious goodies.

Rachel and Marci sold beautiful jewelry made by Marci.  

 Kris and her granddaugter sold all kinds of interesting things.

My mom, Berthiel sold her silver jewelry, scarves and velvet jewelry bags. 

I sold aprons and quilted items.

 Holly, Andrea,  Maia and Sapphire sold lots of fun things, like organic body products, wool holly pins, and driftwood signs along with other fun things.

Christy sold cozy items made from sea otter fur.

 Alice sold her colorful art work.

 Kris sold her delicious smelling candles.

 Rita sold her crocheted items and Christmas ornaments

 Erika sold NYR Organic products.

 Shirley and Ashley sold tasty sweet treats.

These are just a few of the vendors who shared their wares with the community last Saturday.  There are so many talented people in Petersburg!