An Apple a Day Book Tour--Core Essentials Binding Tutorial

Hi Everyone!

I'm very excited to be hosting today's events for our book tour.

When Amanda e-mailed all of us to ask if we all wanted to write a book together, I was like, "Of course!"  I couldn't wait!  I thought it would be so fun (and it was!).

But then I took a huge gulp and said to myself, "Wow.  Now I have to come up with a project that is 'book worthy!'"  (Remember the Seinfeld episode--Are you "sponge-worthy?"  LOL)

 

(This clip has nothing to do with my tutorial..but the "book worthy" comment made me think of this episode.  I love this Seinfeld episode!)

I sat down and started to think about what I needed but I had no pattern to make.  I realized I have been wanting a crafting organizer that is different from anything I had seen on the market before.

I do a little bit of hand stitching....and I always have at least three or four different hand stitching projects going on at any one given time.  Is anyone else like that?

So, I created this project, called "Core Essentials" (get it--Apple Core!) for the book.  It's an organzier that has rings for the binding.  That way, you can open the rings and take pages in and out.  I designed different styles of pages:

• One page with a zipper pocket on one side and two zipper pockets on the back side.  All the pockets are clear vinyl.
• One page with a clear vinyl pouch on each side of the page for your patterns.
• One page that holds a note pad and pen so you can keep notes or keep track of rows, etc.

This way, I could keep my "core" handwork items (like my scissors, needles, etc.) in one page and then I could make additional pages for each of my handwork projects.  Then, when I am about to travel, I can just grab the project page, add it to my book, and off I go!  I hope you like it!

Each of my pages for the book, as well as the cover, have binding on it.  For my post today, I wanted to give you a little tutorial on how to attach the binding neatly.  I wanted to put these instructions in the book, but I was limited on space.  I would like to show you how easy it is so you aren't intimidated by it.  I know when I first tried it, it wasn't completely intuitive as to how to do it.  So, I hope this helps!

EDIT:  Since doing this, I learned a new way of attaching double fold binding that might work better for you (or at least is another alternative).  Check out this video tutorial from Nancy Zieman that I think looks helpful.  I haven't tried her method yet, but it looks like a very good one!

I am working with a scrap from my cover here for illustration purposes.  (This piece of fabric is my favorite from Amanda's new Apple of My Eye fabric line from Riley Blake.) If this was a page in my book, it would also have vinyl pockets, etc.  I am also working with double fold binding.

The pages on my book are only bound on three sides.  The last side has a grommet strip that gets sewn on it, so there is no need to put binding on it.  So, the first step is to put the binding over the edge of one side.  You can let the end run long a little and trim it off later.

The key is to make sure your binding edges are about even on both sides.  You want to make sure to catch both sides when you sew.  You can pin or, better yet, I used Clover Binding Clips to do this (especially when I had vinyl layers in there, too).

I found it helpful to do this with my walking foot. That kept everything feeding through nicely.  I aligned the left edge of the binding with the inside edge of my foot.  I moved my needle left to where I wanted to sew.  Don't sew too close to the edge, or you risk not catching the edge on the back side.  I'm pushing it a bit here sewing this close to the edge.

Sew all the way to the end, but not past the end.  Backstitch a little, cut your threads, and take your fabric out of the machine.  DO NOT CUT the binding!

It should look like this.  I sewed with white thread so you'd be able to see better.  You should sew with matching thread (unless you WANT your stitches to show up like this).

Now, to go around the corner...Open up the binding and bend it 90 degrees around the corner.  The binding will fold and magically make your miter for you.

Now, fold the binding down over the edge, and you should have a nice miter on each side.  Sometimes you have to fuss with it a little to get the corner to nicely match up to the edge.  But it is not hard.

I don't pin these corners.  I just slide it into the machine and lower the needle in my handwheel right in that corner.  (I do pin the middle sections a bit to hold them in place.)

Sew all the way to the end, just like you did before, clip your threads, and remove the fabric from the machine.  This is how your corner should look now.

The other end looks like this.  Now, repeat the process for this corner and sew to the other edge.

When you get to this edge, you can trim off the excess binding, even with the page.  If you were doing the cover, you would NOT cut here.  Instead, you would go around this corner and meet up with the other end and finish it along a straight edge by trying one end under and sewing it down.  When I am going all the way around, as in the cover, I start my binding strip about halfway across a straight edge as well, not on a corner.

This is what the finished, bound page should look like on both sides.  It can be a little tricky to always catch that bottom side.  So, just sew carefully and always be checking the underside of your work to make sure you're catching that binding edge on the back side.  If you are really nervous about it, make sure the binding on the back side is a little "deeper" than the binding on the front.  I find that to be successful.

I hope this little tutorial was helpful, if you decide to make that project!  I also hope you like my project in general.  It is sort of intimidating to put yourself so far out there with something so close to your heart!

Now, how about a giveaway?!

EDIT:  This giveaway is now closed.  The winner was #46, Gwen!  Congratulations!

I will be giving away one copy of the book.  Do you want one?  If so, leave me a comment, and I'll put your name in the drawing!  I'll draw a name on July 12!

And while we're at it, how about ANOTHER giveaway?!  Amanda has some kits left over from Market for making these necklaces. The winner will also receive a kit to make this necklace, another project in the book.  It is so adorable.  And these flowers are also so cute by themselves, with a clip on the back as a hair clip, or a brooch, or to clip on the cuff of your capris.  So cute!  If you leave a comment, you'll be in the drawing for one of these as well!

How's that for some fun!

If you want to see more glimpses of the projects in the book, make sure you visit everyone else's blogs this week, too.  Everyone will be sharing their projects and offering a little tutorial of some sort.  And each one of us is giving away at least one book and a necklace kit.  So, you could have lots of chances to win!  Good luck!

THE SCHEDULE

Sunday, July 1st: visit The Quilted Fish's Blog AND Jana's Blog  (Make sure you go and visit their blogs today.  You can still get in on the action, I'm sure!)

Monday, July 2nd: visit Julie's Blog

Tuesday, July 3rd: visit Sally's Blog

Wednesday, July 4th: visit Candice's Blog

Thursday, July 5th: That's me!  You are here!

Friday, July 6th: visit Johanna's Blog

Saturday, July 7th: visit Jackie's Blog

Sunday, July 8th: visit Brooke's Blog

And if you can't wait to get your hands on a book, here is where you can order one!

http://www.thequiltedfishpatterns.com/shop/product/apple-day/

You know you want one.  C'mon!  Go ahead and click so you can go get one!

They are really reasonably priced at $18, and you get nine patterns in the book!  That's only $2 per pattern!  And I tell you, there are some pretty awesome projects in this book.  Our team did a really good job on this, if I do say so myself!

I am off to my retreat at Gruber's!  I can't wait!  I'll be back soon with how that went!  (As if it could be anything but fantastic!)

Until next time,

Comments

[Johanna]

Great tutorial!

[Colleen Babcock]

Great tutorial on binding Stephanie and you must be so thrilled with the book! Exciting!

[Linda]

Great tut on binding. Thanks. I would love the book! Linda

[Ginny Worden]

Thanks for the info on binding, I will be using that for a gift I am making very soon.

[Nancy B from Many LA]

Great tutorial - please enter me for the book!

[Nancy B from Many LA]

Please enter me for the necklace kit giveaway! Thanks!

[Lisa Marie]

I have never done a binding by machine that looks as neat as yours -- I'll have to give your method a try. Thanks for sharing and for offering this giveaway!

[Beth]

This book looks fabulous! I love the Core Essentials. Your tutorial on the binding was great. Thanks.

[Kay]

i love the tutorial. I am fairly new to sewing and find it so useful to this kind of help. This is a great giveaway, thank you.

[Deb H.]

Thanks for the tutorial on applying binding. After years of sewing I still struggle with this. Lovely project!

[barbara woods]

would love to win thank you

[Michelle Gibson]

Great tutorial. I would love to win.

[Carol Holmquist]

The book sounds wonderful!

[Linda in Calif.]

Really cute project book. (Good tute too!) I really need something to take my hand projects with me. I don't have anything but a plastic bag - so they just stay home.

[Marcia W.]

This binding tutorial is great! I'm happy that you explained the core essentials project as well - very imaginative. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway as well.
alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com

[Deb]

What a great idea. I love "take along" projects and have just been using ziplock bags - this is much more "elegant".

[kimberlee]

Your binding tutorial is extremely helpful! I think the walking foot will be key to being successful the first time I do this. Thank you!!

[carolld]

Great tutorial! I've been afraid to try machine binding. You make it look easy. I'll have to try it. I want to make your core essentials pattern. What a great idea!

[Kaitlin M]

I love the Apple of My Eye fabric line

[Angie H.]

Thank you for the giveaway....I love, love, love the neckales and I cannot wait to make one.

[Deb]

Looks like you came up with a winner! I'd love to be included.

[Maureen P]

You are so creative!! The tutorial was great, very easy to understand. Hope to see you soon with my prize :)

[Jackie]

Awesome tute! Can't wait to see pics from the retreat.

[Cheryl]

I really like your creative sewing organizer! I am liking every one of the projects in this book. Also, thanks for the good tutorial on binding.

[Donna]

Wonderful tutorial! I adore the little book and the fabric too :)
Hugs,
Donna