Gütermann threads for all your quilting projects

Good morning and welcome to the last day of my posts this week, today we finish the table runner.

Yesterday, I introduced some familiar, and some new, Gütermann threads to you; Gütermann Cotton 50wt Thread, Gütermann Cotton 60wt Thread 200m, Gütermann Cotton 30wt Thread 300m and the Gütermann Cotton 12wt Thread 200m. Today I’m using Gütermann Cotton 50wt thread to add a standard binding to the table runner.

Gütermann threads for all your quilting projects

Let’s get started!

I’ll use the standard width of 2½” for my binding strips. To come up with how many fabric strips I’d need for the binding, I measured all four sides of the table runner and came up with 101″. I divided 101″ by the standard fabric width of 42″ (101 ÷ 42 = 2.4). So, I’ll need to cut three strips of fabric widthwise for the binding and cut off the excess fabric at the end.

After the strips are cut, cut the selvage away from the ends of the strips.

The strips need to be sewn together lengthwise end-to-end, and right sides together. I prefer to sew my strips together with a 45^o diagonal seam. With a diagonal seam, the bulk of the seam is spread over 2½“.

To make a 45^o diagonal seam, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of both ends of each strip.

Draw a 45o diagonal line at each end of your strips.

Place the ends of two strips, right sides together, at a 90^o angle as shown in the photo below; sew along the diagonal line. Cut away excess fabric, leaving a ¼“ seam allowance.

Sew along the diagonal line and trim ¼” from the seam.

Repeat the step above until all three strips are sewn together into one long row. Press all seams open; fold the binding strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press the full length.

Fold the full length of the binding strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press.

I’ll sew the binding down by machine, so I start by sewing it to the back of the quilt. Sew the binding following these four steps.

TIP Read the next four steps before you start.

1. Line the raw edge of your binding with a raw edge of one side of the quilt. Start sewing a ¼“ straight stitch seam approximately 5“ from the end of your strip as shown in the photo below.

Start sewing 5″ from the end of the strip.

2. Stop sewing ¼“ from the quilt edge (corner). Backstitch to lock stitches.

Stop sewing ¼” away from the quilt’s edge.

3. Fold the binding away from the quilt at a 45^o angle.

Fold the binding strip away from quilt.

4. Fold the binding down along the raw edge of the next side of the quilt and sew along the edge with a ¼“ seam.

Fold the strip down and continue sewing along the quilt’s next edge.

5. Repeat these steps until all four corners of the quilt are bound.

6. Stop sewing 8“-12“ away from where the first seam was started.

Stop sewing binding 8″- 12″ from the start of the first seam.

7. Pin down the 5“ section of the strip that was not sewn in the first step. Find the diagonal line by opening the binding strip, and place a pin where the diagonal line meets the edge of the quilt fabric as shown below.

Place pin where the diagonal line meets the quilt’s edge.

8. Take the other end of the strip and pin it to the quilt. Overlap over the end of the strip with the 45^o diagonal line.

9. Trim the top strip ¼” to the left of the 45^o pin.

Cut the fabric strip ¼” to the left of the pin that indicates where the diagonal line meets the quilt’s edge.

10. Sew both binding ends together over the 45^o diagonal line.

Sew ends of the strips together along the diagonal line.

11. With the joining seam sewn, trim the seam allowance to ¼” and finger press the seam open. Align the edge of the binding with the edge of the quilt then, sew it in place.

Sew the last section of binding to the quilt.

12. Fold the binding to the front of the quilt, and secure in place using HEIRLOOM Clever Clips. Topstitch close to the edge.

Topstitch close to edge of binding.

Should you be interested in learning other binding techniques you may wish to take a look at five posts I wrote last September – How to sew the perfect quilt binding by hand or by machine.

Our table runner is now complete. A fun and simple project.

Completed table runner

It was a fun week playing with all the products. Give them a try – I know you’ll love them.

Products used this week for making this tree table runner. These indispensable notions make every quilting project easy and enjoyable!

As a week’s end parting gift, I’d like to offer this foundation pattern with a finished measurement of a 7″ x 7″ sailboat. Make another table runner, or potholders, or maybe some trivets, using this free sailboat quilt block template – the choice is yours. I would love to see your project ideas using the tree or sailboat quilt blocks! Post them on your social media using #TheSewGoesOn!

Complementary foundation piecing sailboat block.

Don’t forget to get more HeatnBond, StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets (8½” x 11″) to make the sailboat blocks! Thanks for following along this week.

Enjoy your weekend!

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 4: 2 handy helpers for your quilting needs: Odif 505 and UNIQUE Dye Catcher

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