Bias Diagonal Striped Binding Tutorial

How do you like that title?

Okay...so.  I've never done a tutorial before, bear with me.

I wanted easy diagonal striped binding directions...on the bias...striped like a candy cane...but could not find one that I understood on the web.  So what does a girl do...? 

1.  Tries to figure it out herself.  She has a college education, surely it can't be this hard!

2.  It is!  Next...?

3.  Ruin a 1/3 yard of fabric!  Next...?

4.  Cry, cuss, cry some more!    Next...?

5.  Call Mother!  She'll know!

And...she did!  My grandmother showed her!  Thank goodness!

Note:  I 'm using a different piece of fabric for the tutorial than I did for the quilt I'm binding.

Tools:  Cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter

Step one: 

Place fabric face down on cutting board.  Line left side up on mat.

Step Two:

Bring right side of fabric down to left hand corner.

Step Three:

Cut fabric on diagonal.  (I found it really doesn't matter where as long as you're using the diagonal line on the mat.)

Step Four:

a.  With top portion that has been cut off  cut  a 2 1/2" strip.  Discard remainder of this top portion of fabric (or put into scrap bin!)

 

b.  Using bottom piece of fabric, flip upward to the diagonal line and cut another 2 1/2" strip.  (Continue cutting 2 1/2" strips until you have enough for the quilt you want binding on.)

Steps Four

a.  Line the two strips up:

b.  Sew on the diagonal;  trim ends and 'bunny ears'.

  

c.  Open and press.

To finish:

a.  Fold in half and press.

b.

c.  Attach raw edges of binding and quilt together;  sew with machine.

d.  Turn binding towards back and hand sew into place.

Binding attached!

I'll show the finished quilt when I sew the binding on the whole thing!

Disclaimer to anyone who is reading this:

I am writing this tutorial so that I won't have to call my mother the next time I need diagonal biased binding!  I'm sure it probably won't be of much help to anyone else other than me, but...it is what it is!

Later,

Debbie