Day 3: Paper pieced heart potholder

[Vanessa]

**When you complete your project, please add it to the group gallery that I created in the Runway. Thanks!**

Day1

Day2

Day 3

We're going to finish it up today! I'm going to show a traditional double-fold quilt binding that is sewn to the front and then handstitched to the back. Ready?

First, carefully remove the paper from your trimmed block.



Next, get your backing, batting and Insulbright ready to layer. Be sure to make them bigger than your front by an inch or so. It's way better to trim them down at the end than to have one be too small. Trust me.

The order will be completed block (right side up), Insulbright (shiny side up), quilt batting, and then backing (wrong side up). On larger projects, I use fusible batting or quilt basting spray. If you've got the spray, feel free to use it. Since this project is so small, you can just use some pins. Just be aware of where they are and don't sew over them.



Prepare your binding. You'll need a strip 2.5" wide by 35" or longer. Carefully press it in half length-wise.

[Vanessa]

Quilt the project as desired. I simply outlined the heart on both the inside and outside. If you do this same design, remember that you'll use a 1/" SA on the sides of the heart. I forgot to take a picture at this stage, but you can see my quilting in this picture.



Now, we're going to attach the binding. We're going to start sewing about 2" from the bottom of a side. Leave a 2" tail or so. Align the binding's raw edges with the raw edges of the project. Sew until 1/4" from the end of the side. Backstitch and cut your threads.

If you would like to have a loop, you can simply sew in a folded piece of ribbon on the backside while attaching your binding. I don't bother since I keep my potholders in a drawer.

Next, we're going to work on the mitred corner.

Fold the binding up off the piece at a 45 degree angle.



Bring it back down onto the piece aligning the edge with the edge of the project.



Start sewing at the edge of the project. Be sure to backstitch. Continue until 1/4" from the end. Repeat the mitred corner process.

[Vanessa]

Once you turn the last corner, sew an inch or so and leave the tail so that we can make a join. Your project should look like this.



Now, we need to join the binding. I'm going to show a very simple join here. I am only using this type of join because the area is so small that it makes a continuous join (my standard method) really frustrating. I would never use this type of join on a bigger project because it's a lttle lumpy.

First, you need to press a seam allowance into one of the pieces. Then cut the other piece and insert it into the piece with the SA.



Now, finish machine sewing the binding to the front.



Next, we're going to hand sew the binding to the back. I like to use a ladder stitch. You can also use a whip stitch or a blind stitch. Your goal is for it to be firmly attached.

When you reach a corner, sew until the SA.



Then, fold the fabric down to make a nice miter, and continue sewing on the next side.



You'll be done before you know it!

[hrford]

I'm so sorry but I have no clue how to hand stitch, nor what any of those things you mentioned mean! Would I be able to find that on youtube or somewhere. Thanks.

[Vanessa]

I'm so sorry but I have no clue how to hand stitch, nor what any of those things you mentioned mean! Would I be able to find that on youtube or somewhere. Thanks.

I found this with google. It's the same way that I do the handstitching.

http://www.dreamweavers-quilts.com/q...ing-invisibly/

And here's a youtube video where she shows the blind stitch which is similar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdC1_1_cx0
Hope that helps!

[jerigirl]

I'm so sorry but I have no clue how to hand stitch, nor what any of those things you mentioned mean! Would I be able to find that on youtube or somewhere. Thanks.

This is good on how to make a binding and attach it. I like it up to the hand sewing part (including how she anchors her thread to start her stitches) but then use the ladder stitch shown in the tutorial below.
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransso...g-binding.html

I like this tutorial for hand stitching my binding down.
http://turningturning.com/tutorial-i...quilt-binding/

[rebelflame]

I hate handstitching anything. I plan on using this tutorial on how to sew a binding on by machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GVA05MxXTU&feature=relmfu

[anniekay67]

I have tried paper piecing before with out much luck. But you all make it look so easy. On my list to do tomorrow. (Since we are getting a snow/ice mix right now)

[Vanessa]

I have tried paper piecing before with out much luck. But you all make it look so easy. On my list to do tomorrow. (Since we are getting a snow/ice mix right now)

Yay! It is easy once you get the hang of it.

[anniekay67]

Ok I have my potholder top done but how do I post a picture of it.

[alicaz]

I made 2 scrappy ones last night, great tutorial - will post pictures later ;)

[alicaz]

here are my potholders - I used up some scraps and a jelly roll strip for binding. I can't figure out hot to insert picture (doesn't let me create an album), so I uploaded them on MY BLOG