Mitred Facing Tutorial
May 27, 2008 2:55PM | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials |
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I finished Dandelion Meadow using a variation of the mitred facing technique outlined by Melody Johnson. I find it much easier to make the mitres before attaching the facing strips to the quilt and you might too. A full tutorial is set out below.

Preparation:
- Using a rotary cutter, trim quilted piece to 12 1/2 square (or desired finished size + 1/2 inch per side).
- Cut four strips 1 1/2in x 12 1/2in (or whatever the length your quilt sides are).
- Place the strips in pairs with right sides together.
- Mark a line at a 45 degree angle across the end of each pair of strips and mark another line 1/4in from the edge as shown.

Mitre Frame:
- Sew each pair of strips together by stitching along the marked angled line, stopping and backstitching 1/4in from the edge (ie where the two marked lines intersect).
- Trim the seam to 1/2in. Press seam flat and open to create an “L” shape as shown
- Mitre join the two “L” pieces together to form a frame.
- Place the frame right side down and press back a 1/4in seam. (I mark a line 1/2in from the raw edge and fold the edge back to this line.)
- Pin the mitred frame to the quilt top right side down and aligning the raw edges.
- Using your walking foot and 1/4in seam allowance, stitch through all four layers (ie quilt and facing) around the edge of the facing.(You might like to stitch angled corners but I just sewed seams at right angles.)
- Trim the corners (to remove bulk) taking care not to cut through the stitching line.



Facing:
- Turn the facing to the back of the quilt and gently poke the corners flat (I use my sewing machine screwdriver).
- Press carefully so that none of the facing can be seen from the front of the quilt and slip stitch the facing in place.

See my Free & Non-Binding: Alternative Quilt Finishes post for a listing of other online tutorials for alternative quilt finishes.









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Pingback by Free & Non-binding: Alternative Quilt Finishes : Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt — May 27, 2008 3:01 PM#
Thanks for the tutoial on the bindings and the list of other bindings. Will be great to use for future Art quilts
Thank you Brenda
Comment by Annie — May 27, 2008 4:31 PM#
thanks! This was really clear and I can see using it
Comment by quiltpixie — May 27, 2008 4:58 PM#
Very timely! I am about to layer a WH that I plan to finish with facing and hadn’t figured out what to do with the corners. With your instructions I now do.
Thanks a lot!
Comment by Jacquie in Vermont — May 27, 2008 8:56 PM#
This may be just what I was looking for to finish a quilt I am working on for a show! Thanks for posting!
Comment by Patty VanHuis-Cox — May 27, 2008 10:58 PM#
Great tute Brenda!
Comment by Terri — May 27, 2008 11:05 PM#
Thanks. This is great and I’ll be using it soon!
Comment by Deb — May 27, 2008 11:40 PM#