Tutorial: Facing a Quilt**

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**This blog entry was the second place winner in Tips/Tutorials Fall 2018 Festival

Many quilts don’t require bindings, but we need to finish the edges.  Sometimes we find bindings too distracting on a wall quilt.  I found a good way to do this and added my own “twist” to it.  The first time I did this, I followed Robbie Joy Eklow’s tutorial, but I have since added a few things to it.

Before figuring out anything, answer these questions:  

How will you use this quilt? 
Will you hang it or use on a table?
Will you use a dowel or command strip clothespins*?                  

What you need to know
First, find out the length and width of your quilt.

  • <18″ – one sleeve is fine
  • >18″ – you may need3 spots to hang – 2 sides and one center.   This is a personal preference, but it is not a bad guideline to have a nail about every 12-18”.

Fabric Requirements: 6” WOF or more (or scrap equivalents) if piece is larger

# of PiecesWidthLength
Length of Quilt
2At least 2.5” up to 4"1-2” shorter than Length of quilt
Width of Quilt2At least 2.5” up to 4”1-2” shorter than Width of quilt
Corner Triangles43" to 6” square
Hanging Sleeve14" wide1/2 - 1” shorter than Length of quilt

Prepare your Pieces:

  1. Press 4 strips in half, wrong sides together.
  2. Press 4 squares into triangles, wrong sides together. 
  3. Make a tiny hem on the edges of a hanging sleeve.  

Attaching the Pieces:

  1. Pin or baste to the top of your quilt the hanging sleeve, leaving a 1/2” on either side and if a split sleeve 1/2” in the middle.fullsizeoutput_1597
  2. Pin the triangles to the corners and sew a narrow seam to keep corners and sleeves in place.  fullsizeoutput_1598
  3. Add the facing strips to the sides of the quilt.  They should be centered on each side.  NOTE:  When finished, the triangle will cover the edges, so they do not need to be hemmed.  
  4. Sew 1/4″ around the entire piece.  I sewed off the edges so that the edges have a little extra reinforcement
  5. Sew diagonally across each corner – 2-3 times.IMG_4867.jpg
  6. Trim to just a little bit away from the stitching across the corner.  Trim or grade a little of the seams on each corner

Preparation and  turning the facing:

  1. Press the facing pieces away from the quilt.
  2. On the facing, stitch close to the edge of the quilt.IMG_4869.jpg
  3. Turn everything over to the back.  Push out your corners carefully; be happy with the way it looks as you will soon press.
    • You should see at the top of the quilt your hanging sleeve
    • Underneath it will be the two finished triangles
    • Last will be the facingfullsizeoutput_1596
  1. Press one last time
  2. Hand stitch the facings/triangle down.

 NOTE:  If it is a small piece, I may skip the hanging sleeve and not sew down the last half inch of the triangle so I can insert the dowel there.

Linking up:  MainCrushMonday
What I Made Monday
2018 Tips and Tutorial Festival

 

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10 Comments

  1. November 5, 2018 / 6:08 PM

    I like how you added the hanging tabs into your facing. Very nice!

    • kathleenquilts
      November 5, 2018 / 6:10 PM

      One of my readers asked about it and I knew I could figure it out! Works like a charm.

    • kathleenquilts
      November 7, 2018 / 10:52 AM

      One of my readers asked about it and I knew I could figure it out! Works like a charm.

    • November 13, 2018 / 11:23 PM

      Thank you for linking up with the Tips and Tutorials Festival!

  2. November 6, 2018 / 12:19 PM

    Hi Kathleen! Well, aren’t you smart and clever?!! I just saw someone say they faced their quilt (it was probably you – my memory is shot), and I wondered how one did that. Here is a handy, dandy tutorial!! I hope you PINned this to our new blogger’s group board?? If not, I need to PIN this so I remember where to look when I need it. Happy Tuesday! ~smile~ Roseanne

  3. November 7, 2018 / 3:54 PM

    This is great! I’m going to share this post with my art quilt group. We’re constantly discussing the best way to finish and hang our smaller works. Thanks for linking up to What I Made Monday!

    • kathleenquilts
      November 7, 2018 / 7:42 PM

      So glad you find it helpful! I love being able to connect to your Monday Linky Party.

  4. November 26, 2018 / 8:31 AM

    Interesting method, Kathleen. It looks great with your solo block. I haven’t seen those Command clothespins. Have you used them much? Congrats on winning in the 2018 Tips & Tutorial Festival!

    • November 26, 2018 / 10:45 AM

      I was completely blown away by the win!

      I love the command strips and have used them on my door/walls in the apartment with no trouble. I will try on the headboard in the cottage one day, but haven’t yet. If you follow the directions and pull just as it says it works. I only ever had one fail and I didn’t really pull that right (and it was another style of hook). I don’t think this will hold a heavy quilt, but are perfect for the minis I use it for.

    • kathleenquilts
      November 26, 2018 / 11:14 PM

      I was completely blown away by the win!

      I love the command strips and have used them on my door/walls in the apartment with no trouble. I will try on the headboard in the cottage one day, but haven’t yet. If you follow the directions and pull just as it says it works. I only ever had one fail and I didn’t really pull that right (and it was another style of hook). I don’t think this will hold a heavy quilt, but are perfect for the minis I use it for.

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