Applying binding while on the Longarm

I wanted to share how I apply binding to a quilt while still on the longarm.  This is a tutorial on how I do it.  There are other ways that I have tried,  but this works best for me.

...beware..lot's of pictures!

 

prepare binding...

 

cut on the diagonal

 

iron a quarter inch fold

 

press in half...this is the first part of the binding that will be applied to the quilt

 

after I am finished quilting the quilt I start on the bottom-right of the quilt when applying the binding...start stitching the binding down about 6 inches in from the start of the binding...hoping the quilt is square, I set the channel lock...that helps get a good acurate 1/4 inch. (Luann did very well with her borders and her quilt was completely square!)

 

start stitching..

 

..try best to stay 1/4 inch from edge..or edge of foot

 

when coming to the corner..stop a 1/4 from the corner

 

don't stop and cut thread...just take your channel lock off move foot down off quilt and to the side

 

re-position your binding

 

fold binding down and up just as you would if you were doing this on your sewing machine

 

...see

 

now move the foot back to the end 1/4 inch from the left side of the quilt and start stitching

 

I don't have channel lock up and down...practice and precision and it will be good enough

 

bottom done heading up left side...

 

keep repositioning the binding

 

now when you advance your quilt..(heading back to the top) leave the needle in and then advance...you should never have to stop and snip your thread...unless you make a boo... boo...

 

you also shouldn't need to support your sides with clamps..

 

now you've made it to the top left...same as the other corner

 

set your channel lock for across the top

 

left..top done heading down right side

 

a little something I do when sewing the binding on the left and right sides is I put pressure on the base plate with my hand...that gives me more control of the machine and helps me stay 1/4 inch to the edge of the quilt

 

now I've made it around the last corner and coming to the beginning of the binding

 

cut off about and inch past the beginning of the binding

 

now tuck that end right inside the beginning end

 

stitch across that tuck to the beginning stitches and wa..la.. done..it take me about 10 minutes for lap size

 

now...before I go to the sewing machine to stitch down the binding...I iron it first...

 

from top of quilt...iron it over

 

from back of quilt iron it over

 

I stitch in the ditch on the top and catch the back...since I have ironed it, I don't need to pin the binding...I usually catch the back of the binding with no problem...(on this quilt I didn't miss one time)

 

this is a picture of the back of the binding

 

this is the picture of the front...you can see the stitches in the ditch a bit...but not bad

wow...that was alot of pictures...hopefully that made sense!  I do bindings for customers quite often and this is how I do it!  

 I do want to give credit to Sharon and Pam..these idea's are not all mine..Thanks ladies!

 

Thanks Luann for letting me use your quilt as an example!