I had been putting off adding the binding to our new comforter, as I knew it would be a very big job. However on Saturday I though I really ought to get on with it! Faced with the thought of sitting for hours handstitching the binding on the back of the comforter, I decided to try a method I haven't used before ....... back-to-front binding. As the name suggests, the binding is sewn on the back of the quilt instead of the front, then turned over to the front and machine stitched in place, saving all those hours of hand stitching! The first step was to cut the strips for the binding from the same fabric as the comforter, but in a darker shade of green
I then joined them using a diagonal seam
When the binding is folded in half and pressed the seam is staggered, giving a neater finish
Having stitched it to the back of the quilt, I turned it to the right side and stitched it in place as close to the edge as possible
in no time at all the job was done and the comforter was on the bed
Oops - it looks lovely, but it doesn't go with the valance! So it was back into the studio yesterday to make a valance with the same dark green fabric as the binding
But I wouldn't want you to think that I was chained to the sewing machine all weekend! Malcolm took me out for breakfast yesterday to celebrate Mothers' Day - a delicious bacon roll
We then had a walk past the donkey sanctuary - unfortunately we had forgotten that it doesn't open until 2pm, so had to content ourselves with looking through gaps in the hedge to see just a few donkeys
We usually have a traditional Sunday dinner, but yesterday Malcolm made turkey fillet en croute with a mushroom and shallot duxelles
Served with a jus and green beans, it was a wonderful dinner (we were slobs and ate it in front of the tv, as Malcolm was watching Newcastle play football - fortunately they won, so his appetite wasn't spoiled!!)
To finish, I thought you might like to see another cute ewe and lamb photo .......