What is birthing a quilt about?

Finishing a project without binding is simplified with inside-out method for making a quilt sandwich, sometimes also called you may have heard it called “Birthing”.  When making my first quilt this process of birthing was used in my class making an Eleanor Burns "Log Cabin in a Day Quilt".  Then the quilt was tied together.  My have thing changed.  The processes have evolved and the technology has evolved to help us to be better at what we love.

 

Backing with cut line across width of fabric

Cut the backing 2” longer than the top allowing for the seam.  Cut backing piece in half along the center on the same side you added the 2". Place right sides together. Using 2 pins mark a 4” space along the width of the backing. Seam the edge using 2.0 stitch length and ½” seam allowance.  Press to one side (not open). 

Next place the top on the backing right sides together.  Place the batting on the wrong side of the top. Stitch around the entire quilt.  Trim excess fabric around quilt and snip corners. 

Turn the quilt through the hole that was created in the middle of the backing.  Trim corners to remove excess fabric.  Use a corner turner to push the fabric to a point at each corner. Press and quilt as desired.  When finishing this way there needs to be no hand sewing since the quilting is done after you birth.  The edges all look wonderful and the students loved it in class.

 

 Many of the small wallhangings are finished with this same process instead of binding.  Ricky Tims taught this finishing technique at one of his retreats I attended.  It has stuck with me for years.  

Happy Quilting, 

Denise