Facing Binding for Quilts

Table Topper

For the past 2 weeks, I've been having trouble accessing my business emails which I purchased from Google Workspace. It was started when I created another email in Godaddy for the newsletter. After back and fro chat with Godaddy's agent and doing some reading, finally, I understand that we cannot create different emails from the different email providers. I wish I knew!

I apologize to those who tried to reply to the newsletter or email me regarding your orders and bounce back. If you like please resend your email.  I also added a backup email so that I won't miss any important emails. Hopefully, now the emails will all be back to normal and I can focus more on the work at hand. 

Source: Pinterest

This week, I'm able to finish 2 table-toppers still in my fave pattern - the one from Suzuko Koseki's book  (I call it moonshine and valentine). I've made and sold a few in different sizes in my Etsy shop. This time, I decided to use a red poinsettia print and a green cotton handloom combo. Added a mustard yellow stripe in the center. 

Also, instead of hand quilting, I decided to do serpentine quilting on my Husqvarna Viking machine using the golden thread I got from the swap last time.  

Another new thing I tried this time is instead of the usual binding, I did facing binding! 

What is facing binding? 

A facing is similar to a binding on a quilt, except that it's turned completely to the back so there is no visual line around the edge of a quilt. (source: We All Sew)

I love the clean look of these table toppers. Binding is great to finish a quilt but sometimes I don't want to spoil the look especially when the quilt has a different color on the outer border. 

I used a 1.5" wide binding strip and also tried a 2" wide binding. The end result? I prefer a 1.5" wide binding as it gives a narrow binding on the back. 

Serpentine quilting with golden thread

facing binding

I have a few more small quilts in the same pattern in the WIP stage that I plan to hand quilt. Now that I have 3 C-dramas to catch up on, I should be able to finish the quilting before the end of the year. 

Even though it's been a pretty stressful week regarding the email things, but I'm happy to finish a few on my WIP list. Time blocking really helps! Last week, we went to a wedding party for the first time. My SIL's nephew got married. it was a small occasion but felt good to meet and greet people in person after almost 2 years! 

The boys' board exam also just started and as the weather is getting cooler, the younger one needs a new set of winter clothes, so we went shopping! 

And one more thing, I made a sofa cover! Upcycle from my old Kantha quilt. It's removable and I can easily take it out to wash and put it back again. Now, this corner looks cozier :). I still need to make the sofa's back cushion covers though. I am collecting ideas on Pinterest right now! 

Dotty Purse 

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a great week ahead.

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

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Placemats and New Books

 

Patchwork Placemats

I made more placemats! Not really make a dent in my mini charms bin but I'm pretty happy with how these placemats turned out. Mini charm is my most fave pre-cut and t is also my mood booster. When I don't feel like sewing anything, I just open the mini charms bins and start piecing. 

As I started piecing, all sorts of ideas come into my mind but I decided to make a couple of placemats.  The placemats finished at approximately 12 x 15 inches each. The pink ones are slightly smaller. 

I thought of making all charms for the top, like this one, but decided to make it differently. So I added borders on both sides. For the mustard yellow placemats, I used Indian block print fabric for the patchwork and handloom cotton for the borders. On the back, I used pretty paisley print glace cotton in a matching color and quilted diagonally. It turned out very soft! 

Mustard Yellow Placemats

As for the pink placemats, the fabrics are mostly leftover from wallet and bag projects. I used cotton poplin for the borders and the backing. As usual, black and white striped binding when I could not decide what binding to use. 

I love to use these placemats as a center table mat too or to put in my side tables. My MIL used in her dressing tables. They do make the room brighter and I always love to see the quilts being used. 

Pink Patchwork Placemats

Patchwork Placemats

OK, let's talk about quilting lines. My fave of course is serpentine but sometimes I am just too lazy to set up my HV machine! I always end up using my Jack machine and doing either grid, diagonal, or organic wavy lines. Hmm, it's time to read WALK - Walking foot quilting book by Jacquie Gering again! 

OK, I admit the downside of the digital era is even if you have the books, you  I still first go to Pinterest or Google. 

Recently I bought 2 books! First is Raina Gillman's Create Your Own Improv Quilt which I bought after watching her video on Youtube.  And I am glad I bought it cos there are a lot of basic things to learn from the book. 

The second one is Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy's  Shot and Stripes. Well, the book is packed with knowledge. I decided to buy it because I love working with shot cotton fabrics (even though not the Kaffe Fassett brand).

 Sometimes, we see the preview on Amazon and the quilt looks simple and then think "I can do that too" but actually there are a lot of small important details (at least to me)  in the book. However, there are many books that have a preview of attractive projects but very little "educational" information, and some even do not have "proper" tutorials. I feel like this kind of book is only for visual pleasure, which we can freely get from Pinterest or Instagram. What do you think? 

But I still love buying books, especially Japanese Craft or Quilt Books. They have detailed diagrams (which I personally prefer), full-scale patterns, and also additional step-by-step photos. And of course the visuals!

What about you? Do you love buying craft books? Let me know in the comment below! 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

Elvira

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