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Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Creating with Brenda Gael Smith

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Free & Non-binding: Alternative Quilt Finishes

4 February 2008 Filed Under: Technique:Finishing, Tutorials 5 Comments

I have been researching and experimenting with alternative quilt finishes for some time culminating (so far!) in this tutorial for my Favourite Facing Finish that is suitable for rectangular and gently irregular-shaped quilts.

Here is listing of other online tutorials demonstrating a range of quilt-finishing techniques other than binding:

  • Mitred Facing Finish presented by me – great for square and rectangular quilts;
  • Escape Hatch Finish presented by Melody Johnson;
  • Wholecloth Facing presented by me;
  • Strip facing I (single layer) presented by Jeri Riggs;
  • Strip Facing II (double layer) presented by me;
  • Fine Satin Stitch Finish presented by Terry Grant; and
  • Triangle Corners Facing Finish by Donna Hussain.

Four Fantastic Quilt Finishing Techniques DVD – ALL SOLD!
See Issue #37 of Quilters Companion and my instructional DVD which covers the following four quilt finishing techniques:

  • continuous mitred binding;
  • facing finish;
  • pillow case with "escape hatch";and
  • satin stitch/zig zag edging.

You can still download the instruction sheets for these four techniques. Download Instructions: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristin L says

    4 February 2008 at 5:53 PM

    Terry Grant has a nice narrow satin stitch tutorial here:

    http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html

    Reply
  2. Judy says

    4 February 2008 at 5:55 PM

    Brenda,

    Thanks for these links they make a good reference point for different approaches to facing or binding a quilt.

    Judy.

    Reply
  3. alison schwabe says

    23 February 2008 at 9:38 PM

    I have two favs, one of which is a turned back facing although you do it a little differently than I do, and Meldoy’s interesting apporach is already filed away up top. My other fav though is what Mimi Deitrich calls ‘french binding’ in her book Happy Endings. I always have great success with it – a doubled strip of fabric cut on the straight and sewn to the front, folded in a particular way as you approach each corner and turn it; the result being that as you fold the binding to the back to stitch down it re-folds at the corner to lie flat there, as well. I feel a little tutorial coming on, myself – it should be on my blog by later today. cheers –

    Reply

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Brenda Gael Smith
brenda@serendipitypatchwork.com.au

PO Box 131, Avoca Beach
NSW 2251 Australia

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This year (2026) marks the 20th anniversary of the
This year (2026) marks the 20th anniversary of the Australasian Quilt Convention. The entrance features a display of the brochure covers over the years and it was fun to identify 3 covers that include snippets of exhibits that I was involved with.

⭐️ 2009 was my first AQC. I was a tutor and my contribution to the “teach me” exhibit was “Grass” that you can see in the lower right corner.

⭐️ in 2013, the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Project shared the Colourplay series which included a piece by @studioconway highlighting the plight of refugees in drought (see centre left)

⭐️ in 2020 the chronology was disrupted by the Covid pandemic but not before the brochure was published with “The Fuchsia’s Looking Bright m” by @darlingdi from @vision2020textiles who poseda poignant question: Will my optimistic dream of a brighter future turn out to be 2020 vision, or just a fun and fabulous fabric fusion of my favourite colours?

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As part of the Rajah Award that I received last year, I will be sharing a selection of my textile paintings in a special exhibit at the Australasian Quilt Convention in  Melbourne presented by @craft.events_ 

Textile enthusiasts from across Australia and overseas gather at this exciting event. If you see me at AQC, please do say hello. I am looking forward to seeing everyone😍

#australasianquiltconvention  #rajahaward  #brendagaelsmithart #australasianquiltconvention2026