NOTCHEDNOTCHED EdgeEdge FinishFinish

by Darlene Zimmerman Quilters often use a scalloped edge to Qadd a pretty, feminine finish to a quilt. Try a notched edge, like the one on my Confetti quilt, for a different look. It works well with many quilt styles, particularly Art Deco and masculine quilts. Preparing the quilt A notched edge is simply a scallop with the top off, leaving just the V behind. To mark notches, make a template from an index card (photo 1). Simply draw a V shape, not less than 90º and about 1" or less deep. Use this template to mark notches on your quilt top or finished quilt sandwich. Notches can be marked at regular intervals, perhaps aligning with the blocks in a quilt. Or, mark notches only at the corners.

Photo 1

Binding a notched edge The secret to a notched or any curved edge—without tears—is to

Confetti, 78" x 87", by Darlene Zimmerman. For information, visit www.feedsacklady.com.

2 American Quilter November 2011 Notched Edge Finish use a single-fold bias binding Continue in this manner cut 1¼" wide. The binding must around the quilt, mitering the be bias to curve around the corners as you go. notches and single thickness Joining the binding ends so it is less bulky in the Vs. Lay the quilt on a flat Usually, a double-fold binding surface. Following photo 6, lay is preferred for longer wear, but out then fold the binding ends in this case, you’ll find it much so they almost meet in the Photo 2 easier to bind with a single center of the unstitched space binding. with a scant ¼" space between To calculate the amount of them. Crease. binding, take the measurement of the outside of the quilt and add 20" for the notches and ending the binding. To be more precise, take a length of ribbon or string and use it to Photo 3 “measure” the notched edge on two adjacent sides, multiply by that form in front of the Photo 6 two, and add 20" for insurance. needle behind the needle with Baste by hand or machine a stiletto or ripper. Cut off one end at the fold. a scant ¼" from the quilt edge. Avoid any pleats Use the end you have cut off to Use a to keep the into the binding. Lower the measure a binding’s width from layers from shifting. Don’t , and out of the fold. Cut off the second end on the marked notched line. If the V (photo 4, 5). at that measurement (photo 7). you trim, the edge will be bias and it will stretch and distort. Begin at the top of a notch, leaving at least an 8" tail of the binding strip. Align the edge of the binding strip to the marked line, right-sides together (photo 2). Using a ¼" Photo 4 Photo 7 (use the ¼" foot on your machine), the binding the ends at right angles, around the curves. Do not pull with right sides together. Stitch or stretch the binding, as this a diagonal seam (photo 8). will cause the scallop to cup. Check to make sure the seam is Stitch to the bottom of the sewn correctly before trimming V. Stop with the needle down, it to a ¼" seam allowance. lift the presser foot, and pivot Finger press the seam open, the quilt and binding around Photo 5 and reposition the binding on the needle (photo 3). Push any the quilt

November 2011 American Quilter 3 Notched Edge Finish

to cup, you can steam press the binding lightly to make it lie flat. At the V, the fabric should just fold over upon itself to make a small . This pleat will be more or less pronounced, depending upon the depth of the V. You can use a stiletto or Photo 8 Photo 9 needle to help fold this pleat. Trim the batting and backing Finishing evenly, ¼" from the stitching Pull the binding to the back Editor’s note: The adapted text line (photo 9). Don’t clip the V side and tuck it under ¼" so and photos above are from Darlene’s because then it’s more difficult it covers the line of stitching. book, Quilting: The Complete Guide (Krause Publications), and to fold and stitch the binding Stitch it down by hand with reprinted with permission. in place. Finish stitching the matching . If you find binding. that the scallop or edge wants

4 American Quilter November 2011