Finishing Touches
Two Quilts of Valor were recently returned by a volunteer longarmer, and I set to work adding the bindings and labels. I sew the binding on the backside before flipping it to the front. I press the binding and secure it with clips so it’s easier to machine stitch the binding into place.
The final step is to launder the quilts with color catchers. Frequently, it’s the red dyes that are captured, but blue fabric can also release dye.
Once the quilts are removed from the dryer, I allow them to air dry for a couple of days before preparing them for shipping to the coordinator who awards the quilts to the veterans.
Great job!
ReplyDeleteThe color catchers are the best invention! I usually toss in 2 or 3 when I launder a quilt for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI just finished my giant Sunflower quilt and those clips were a life saver. I like how you can move them around with one hand and with the other iron that binding good and flat as you go. You can't beat them for mitered corners either. I confess that after all these years of quilting I just learned how to do them. My grandmother always squared off her binding by just pulling the backing up over the front and folding it down and that's what I always did-until now.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to see it back for you to finish!!! The thrill of it all!
ReplyDeleteThose clips are just the best thing since sliced bread. I always stitched binding on the right side by machine and then hand stitched it down on the back. The machine method sounds much more efficient.
ReplyDeleteI don't really sew all that much these days, but those clips sure are a game changer!
ReplyDeleteNice that you found something that makes it easier for you!
ReplyDeleteI do my binding the same way. Glad to see the quilting mojo has returned... even if for only a quilt or three. Variety is the spice of life!
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