Making Binding

Yesterday I posted about layering and basting the quilt.  I mentioned that I had to be creative to make the backing bigger. My creative solution required using some of the fabric  I brought to cut into binding strips.  Luckily there was LOTS of it on the mini bolt. 


So, in the afternoon, I cut the binding. (remember my video!)  Then I sewed the pieces together and ironed it all.
After the ironing, I needed to roll it neatly to take home.  I found an old plastic prescription bottle and used that to wind it on. I will punch holes in the ends and put some yarn thru it.  Then I can hang it around my neck when I sew it on the quilt, rather than letting it fall in the floor.  Why?  Well you see, I won't roll my chair on it or put my feet on it and mostly I won't stretch it -it is bias. 


After I had rolled up part of it, I realized I needed a picture.  So here is some of it in a pile on the floor as I was winding it. 

( it looks blue in this picture, but it really is deep purple.)

Yes, that is only a part of the pile.  I cut lots of binding. I prefer to have leftover.  I can use it on a small project OR take several leftovers and join them for a scrappy binding. 
After I finished rolling it on the bottle, I put a pin in to hold it from unwinding.  Here is what it looks like. 

How do you deal with binding?  Do you cut it on a bias? (hint- you should! Read why in this post)  Do you hand sew it on?  (I confess I do it all by machine) 


A couple of people asked about basting with hairspray.  Are you interested in it also?  I am considering writing a tutorial on it. I confess I have never used the 505 basting spray but I think the hairspray is a lighter hold.  I just know that it works for me.