Two color binding???

I am making an oversized king size quilt that needs to be reversible. The front of the quilt needs navy binding and the backing side (a busy print which will appear to be a whole cloth when used with this side up) needs brown binding. I cannot find any fabric that will go well with both sides (the prints on the two sides are just to different in characteristics and colors) and I have eliminated that idea. The problem is how to make a binding that is navy on one side of the quilt and brown on the other side? (This quilt is a commission for a man and will probably get hard use, so a single thickness binding wouldn't be practical.)

I have some ideas but seams to join the different colors will cause a major issue with bulk- as will corners and joining the two ends of the finished binding. How would you construct the two color binding? Where would you put the seams joining the two colors? Which direction should the seams be pressed? How to deal with the bulk of the seams??? Yikes!

How would you conquer this dilemma? Any and all ideas gratefully considered.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
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First of all: I've never tried this, so it might be totally dumb.

Use double fold on both sides, just wide enough to meet in the middle (maybe with a seam allowance in the middle too). Kind of like a quilt with no applied binding, where you just turn under both the top and backing fabrics - except here you all those "bindings" to either side first.

Does that make sense?

Hanne in DK

Reply to
Hanne

Hi Leslie,

I've done it many times. The instructions originally came from Judy Turner's "Awash With Color" Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) book ( btw, a FABULOUS book). I don't have the book handy so I can't look up the exact directions.

Try this will some scraps first.

As I remember it - you cut one color 7/8" (brown) and the other color 1 3/4" (navy) . Sew them together with a regular quarter inch seam. I used a smaller stitch length because the seam line will eventually land on the edge of the quilt. Fold the binding strips in half as you normally would. Attach it to the quilt with the brown binding right sides together with the brown side of the quilt.* Now wrap it around to the other side and you should see navy binding . Sew it down however you normally would.

I do believe there is always going to be a hair of the other color binding showing on the one side but that's how you do it. Also, for some strange reason, the miters work out perfectly. I was kind of astounded the first time I did it.

  • I can't remember if you first sew down the smaller or larger colored binding...I vaguely remember something about sewing the binding to the back and bringing it around to the front..I guess it depends on which side you want to sewdown by hand (?).

Again, keep in mind I'm writing this from memory with no fabric in front of me. I'm playing with Post-Its. I think those measurements are correct for a finished 1/4" binding. Try it with 3" long scraps first. Somewhere, in the mess of my sewing room, I have a sample with the directions pinned to it. It comes in handy. When I'm actually in the sewing room. And I can find the sample.

Also, Sharon Pederson had a different method in her book (Reversible Quilts). It was more like single binding and I didn't think it was as strong. I used the above method on numerous QAYG baby/kids quilts, and the bindings are still in great shape years and tons of washings later. I doubt your quilt recipient is going to be as hard on your quilt as these kids were on theirs.

You didn't post a picture of the quilt tops, but would a stripe like this work on both sides (if you didn't want to go the 2 sided route):

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Hope that wasn't too confusing. If I can find the book, I'll correct any errors.

-Michele in NYC

Reply to
Michele in NYC

Here's how I do it -

Two Color Binding:

This is a technique that will save you when you run out of fabric before you run out of quilt. It also works great for those times when the front of the quilt is very different than the back of the quilt.

From color one (fabric will show on the front of the quilt) : cut strips 7/8 inch wide and long enough to edge the quilt.

From color two(fabric will show on the back of the quilt): cut strips 1

3/4 inches wide and long enough to edge the quilt.

Sew the strips of each fabric together to make two long strips of fabric. Then, sew both fabrics together into one long binding. Press the seam open.

Fold the binding in half with the right side of the fabric facing out and press.

With color one facing the front of the quilt, sew the binding to the quilt as usual.

Fold the binding to the back of the quilt creasing at the seam. Hand stitch in place.

Reply to
Marcella Peek

Reply to
Polly Esther

Reply to
Roberta

There's DH's dictum that most problems can be solved with the application of cash.

If I were feeling perfectionist and lazy at the same time, I'd draft up my own prints with stripes of navy and brown in the proper positions and widths, and let Spoonflower print me some. Bonus: you get to pick the exact shades of navy and brown, and the exact scale of the print.

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Reply to
Kay Lancaster

ooooo, Kay...I love this site! it's now bookmarked for future use! thank you! amy in SoCal

Reply to
Amy in Transit...

Definitely a job for striped fabric. There are so many wonderful stripes out anymore, and the effect in binding is wonderful.

Trixie

Reply to
Trixie

When I saw the subject, I was excited, as I have made two-colour bindings and was going to join in the chat - however, when I read this message, I see that my two-colour bindings were two colours the other way! So, I thought that would be no use. But a couple of days have gone by and I'm wondering whether this *would be a possible solution? Do you have enough of the backing fabric and one of the other side's fabrics to make a mixed fabric binding? It would change the look that you are trying to achieve, but maybe you would like the new look too. What about auditioning something like this - just by folding of course in the first instance? . In message , Leslie& The Furbabies in MO. writes

Reply to
Pat S

I've just had another thought, Leslie: how about doing without a binding at all? Just carefully fold the two raw edges inwards so that a straight edge is maintained. Then topstitch along the edge - very close to the outer edge. Then, if you wanted to make more of the edge, you could use a variegated thread of suitable colours - or one colour if you could find one you liked - to satin stitch all round. I'm pretty sure that's what I would do. . In message , Leslie& The Furbabies in MO. writes

Reply to
Pat S

Leslie, I would consider using a neutral for a binding that acts much like a poster frame. Seems like a gold would work with both fabrics, or the ever available black. Something that doesn't detract from the prints but just adds a narrow different color frame. (Personally I would use a gold that is a bit different from the main gold in the wildlife print, because gold would work with the navy and burgundy too.)

Sounds like a great quilt. BTW, finishing as Pat suggested would also work, but I wouldn't satin stitch the edge..... satin stitching can be "fragile" and snag and such.

Have fun, Pati, in Phx

Reply to
Pati, in Phx

Thanks for the PS to my suggestion Pati. I have done the turning in and top-stitching; but, of course, most of my quilts are of the non-use variety >g< so I thought the satin stitch would reinforce it, rather than being more prone to 'snags'. As always, you manage to be aware and highlight potential problems. Thank you. . In message , "Pati, in Phx" writes

Reply to
Pat S

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