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It's time for the final episode of the melodrama, "Fearless Quilting Finishes." I know you've been waiting with baited breath to find out how this series will end. Will the quilting sandwich ever find true happiness with her arranged marriage to the square corner binding? Or, will she run away with a dashing curved edge? Undoubtedly, binding a quilt lacks drama. But without the finished edge your quilt just isn't finished. So without further anticipation I'd like to present "Fearless Quilting Finishes." Binding the edges, next on Sewing with Nancy. Sewing with Nancy TV's longest-airing sewing and quilting program

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Baby Lock, a complete line of sewing, quilting and embroidery machines and sergers. Baby Lock, for the love of sewing. Madeira, specializing in embroidery, quilting and special-effect threads because creativity is never black and white. Koala Studios fine sewing furniture custom-built in America. Clover, makers of sewing, knitting quilting and embroidery products for over 25 years. Experience the Clover difference. Amazing Designs and Klass needles. Whether you're going to choose fabric that matches your border for your binding or you're going to use something contrasting there are two standard widths, 2-1/2" or 2-1/4". Usually, the 2-1/2" width is chosen if the final stitching is going to be sewn by machine stitching in the ditch so they have a little extra fabric to catch on the underside. The 2-1/4" width is chosen if you're going to do the last stitching by hand. So make the choice yours, whatever width you'd like. I like to work with bias strips because sometimes it has a little bit more give and play to it. Especially if you have curved seams you need bias for sure at that point. The fabric can be cut easily. Rather than just always cutting on the 45-degree angle you can make your fabric more accommodating by doing some creative folding. Really, any size will work for the bias strips. You fold it in half to get a 45-degree angle. Then you create an arrowhead. You fold it again. I pre-pressed this. You would have to do that at this point. Then, fold the angle on top of itself. Match up those folds. Along this edge, you have a whole stack of folded fabric. We're going to cut that off. We're going to make that a crisp edge a clean cut edge. I want to point out that there are rulers that are made that are 2-1/2" or 2-1/4" wide or you can just use your traditional 6" x 24" ruler. The choice is yours. My first cut is going to be just to cut off that multitude of folds. Then cut your 45 degrees. Angle it and cut. Just keep cutting and cutting, and you soon will have all of your strips for your project cut. You get the idea. Obviously, I'm cutting the 2-1/2" width. Then, after cutting this you're going to need to sew these strips together. I'm going to show you this in contrasting fabric so that you can see how this works. Here we have some red strips that are contrasting that we'll be putting these together. You see the 45-degree angled ends. With right sides together you would meet these together and overlap. Overlap them, it doesn't have to be an exact amount but overlap the ends so you have the little bunny ears. You're going to stitch from the intersection where they overlap down to the other intersection. Let me get these cut edges lined up. From point to point that gives you definitely a line to stitch. This next piece has been stitched. For the first step of this quilting project we like to turn under the starting edge, a generous 1/4". Press it, and then get some paperbacked fusible web and fuse it to that area. I cut it a little bit too long. I can just tear this off. The next step is to fold it in half and press with wrong sides together and meeting long edges to get your binding. You'll be doing the pressing. I'll show you how to start this at the machine. The stitching and the folding of the binding requires just a few steps. I've aligned the raw edge of the binding to the raw edge of the project. Notice I have a pin about three to four inches from the starting point. We're going to start to sew not at the very edge, but at this pin mark. There are other pins. There are pins at each corner. I've marked a 1/4" seam allowance or a 1/4" mark at the corner, at each of the corners. There's that little dot. It's hard to see, so I always put a pin at the corner so I can stop. That's going to be my stopping point and also the starting point. It's a good pin mark at each corner. Not a lot of pinning of the binding you can kind of use your finger "pins" to do some of the pinning. I'll start to stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance. I have a foot on my machine that has a 1/4" width. I have a quilting needle and I have quilting thread, all-purpose cotton thread. My stopping point is going to be this pin that I'm readjusting. Let me get it perpendicular to the edge. That's the important thing. As I get closer, you'll get an idea of what's happening, a 1/4" seam. Just straight stitch away. As I get to that 1/4" I'll sink the needle in the fabric. You may want to backstitch just to secure it. Cut the threads. You're stopping 1/4" away from the edge. Raise the presser foot, remove the pin. Fold the fabric at a 45-degree angle. It's really easy to figure out where that ends. You fold it so it aligns at that cut edge, 45 degrees. Notice where I'm placing my fingers of my left hand next to the edge of the fabric. I'm going to fold this back so that the fold of the binding aligns with the cut edge of the quilt at the corner. There's a little tuck underneath here that's at a 45-degree angle because you're mitering the corner. Slip the fabric underneath the presser foot. Lower the foot and you can start sewing at the fold. You don't have to start sewing at that 1/4". And stitch. Let me just get this aligned a little better. There we go. As we start to sew we just sew, again, to that other end. The reason that I did this stitching is to show you what's going to happen. You stitched-in a miter. You can see what I just stitched. As I fold this later on to the wrong side after you do all four corners notice how a 45-degree angle is forming. You would fold under the fabric, pin and then you see what you get. You get a 45-degree corner, just like a picture miter. You pin it to the wrong side. We're going to sew that down a little bit later. That's why you do that folding. At each corner, you're going to do that same step the same process. As I go to the ironing board I'm going to show you what you do when you meet the two ends together. We had that little fusible tape the paperbacked fusible web. Here we have the starting point and the ending point. Here's the starting point, and here's the ending point. You're going to tuck the ending point in the middle. I have way too much length. But you're going to wrap it together. Now I'll remove the paperbacked fusible web and tuck the two together. You have to do a little finger manipulation there and then just fuse. That's kind of holding it in place for you. You trim off the excess length that you have here. Let me show you on another fabric how this is accomplished because it's really a great way of finishing those edges together. On this sample then, I have pressed those together. Now I would just continue to stitch that seam. They're already tucked inside of each other. Then, the seam has been stitched and you wrap it to the under edge. On another sample, I've shown how this binding is wrapped to the underside and pinned. At a corner in particular you can see the fabric coming around the edge. That miter is as good as it is on the front. Stitching in the ditch. Stitch in that well of the seam, that crazy term we have. Just straight stitching. I'll take out the pins. As I'm stitching hopefully just stitching in that little groove. You might want to go a little slowly as you're getting to the corner. Slowly pull out that pin. Stop with the needle in the corner and make a corner. As you see, I'm just going to sew a little bit of it to show you that I kind of stitched in the ditch stitched in that well of the seam and then caught the fabric on the underside to make a square corner. What if your quilt project isn't square? You may have a hexagon or octagon. Well, take a deep breath and relax. Remember, this is "Fearless Quilting Finishes." What I like to do when teaching is kind of build upon the techniques. First, starting with a 90-degree corner then going to a hexagon and octagon. You're going to build and learn from what you learned in the past. This table runner, where you'll often find an unusual angle can have the same neat corners of the binding by using a pin to do the marking. I used a pin earlier to mark at the corners. But this time, the pin would really dictate where we're stopping and where we're doing the folding. You can see my non-90-degree corner. It doesn't matter what it's called you're going to treat them all in the same way. Place that pin. You're going to just kind of place a pin right in the middle just anchor it down. Here's another corner, so place a pin, eyeball it. Just pin it right through. That's the important marking. I've already started by mitering the corner at the 45-degree angle. This is what I just showed you earlier. You get that nice mitered look by doing that folding technique folding it to the back. But now I'll show you how to continue for this shape. Again, 1/4" seam allowances. They're pretty standard for quilting projects. I'm going to continue sewing this seam until I get to the pin. Notice the pin is at an angle. It's not perpendicular to the edge it's angling downward. I'm going to use a stiletto to kind of help. I have the stiletto at the pin area. As I get to my stiletto mark, sink the needle just tack a stitch down and cut the threads. Here is, again, where the pin stays in place. I fold back the binding, getting it out of the way. I'm making certain that the binding edge and that pin align. Finger press. Then fold the binding back on itself forming at that corner. I'm going to remove the pin. You can see at this point, you have an angle that resembles it's just mimicking what the outer edge is shaped like. Then you place your foot at the angle and just keep stitching. As I get to this corner again I'm just going to put my stiletto kind of marking where that pin is because you can't really see it. You can only feel it. Backstitch, cut the threads and do that aligning technique again. Align it so that the pin and the fold are on top of each other or the fold is on top of the pin and do a little tuck. You need that tuck in the fabric so that it can go around the corner. I think you kind of get the idea. You have to almost just practice it. But when you look at it at this point notice the unusual shape. But as I wrap this to the underside and I'll pin it for you. I'll wrap this side. You can see I get that same miter. You might have to work at it. There we go. That same miter look only it's at a hexagon or octagon shape. If I did it right, we'll see. We'll both be surprised at the same time. Yes, I kind of have that same tuck on the underside. You might have to put a pin in that spot. Now, stitch in the ditch. You can straight stitch in that groove of the seam. Or, as you may have noticed on this sample as well as on the finished table runner we've used a decorative stitch for the quilting and the stitching of the binding. You'd have to change your feet. Put on an open-toe foot a decorative stitch foot. Here's a close up of attaching the binding the final stitching, using that decorative stitch to carry through the same look. Honestly, the decorative stitches are easier to stitch because it covers more ground and you'll be assured of catching the binding from the wrong side. So, whether it's a corner, a square corner an octagon, or a hexagon, the pin will help you fold when working with a square binding and adding the binding in place. Corners, angles, and now curves. Binding knows no limitations. As you expand your quilting technique repertoire you'll be able to draw upon earlier techniques. Curved edges are not to be feared simply mastered. We're going to master these curved edges with the use of purchased bias tape not the made tape but the purchased tape that comes on a card. It's pressed edges to the middle and then pressed in half often called double fold bias tape. Working with curves may be your perfect opportunity to try this type of bias tape out. We have to do some pre-pressing. Notice how I've cupped the bias tape, the edges around the edge of the fabric. It's easy to do when it's straight. Practice by pinning just the top layer to the top layer of your fabric not through, just to the top layer. Then, as you get to the curves shape the bias tape as you go around. Shape it so that it conforms to the curve. You'll be able to do this, kind of inch by inch and then pin just the top layers. Pinning only through those layers because as I flip this back then I can see just one layer of fabric just that single layer so I can stitch in the groove stitch in the well of the seam. Truth be told, most of the time when you buy a package of bias tape it tells you to cut the edges and to do one row of stitching. I have never in my career been able to put on bias tape with one row of stitching. I have to do it with two, and I'll show you how we do it. I now have re-pined all of my areas and I'm going to stitch in the well of the seam stitching in the ditch of that fold. Now, as I get in here, I want to point out perhaps you can see the seam I'm going to stitch right down. But I stitch, usually, a hair to the right so I'm not exactly at that fold. The reason? When I am wrapping the bias tape around the edges it will conform a little bit better if I'm not exactly in that curved area. You can see it's stitching around. This is where it takes a little time. I'm also going to shorten my stitch length. As I'm getting to the curve, I'm just going to bump it down one or two notches, so I'm stitching at "2.0" or "1.0" for the stitch length. Then, as I'm coming around the curve use a stiletto or a seam ripper to help shape this. I have just a little bit too much fabric so let me mold that around. Take it easy. It's like driving in the mountains. You drive slower. That's kind of how you stitch with a shorter stitch length as you're going around curves. We'll see how I've done. Sometimes I don't do my best sewing during television so we'll see what happens. As this has come around the corner it really does mold quite well. Because I had pre-shaped that corner it does give a fairly good look. The sample that we sewed in our sewing studios is right here. On the wrong side you wrap the bias tape around so that it just meets the stitching line. That will allow you to do stitching from the wrong side to attach it down. You could use that decorative stitch technique I showed you earlier. That would certainly make it easy. I'm just going to butt the edges together the edge of the bias tape to the stitching line and just stitch around this edge. Use that stiletto or seam ripper. Cover that edge. You'll do a better job than I am, as I'm stitching. I'll hold it up to show you. The proof will be in the pudding, as we say and we'll see how that looks. It looks quite well. The stitching is just around inside the edge and it curves, because we did that pre-shaping. In my job, I have the honor of meeting amazing people. Today's Nancy's Corner guest is no exception. She may have the added distinction of being extra special. My guest has entered and won numerous prizes at prestigious quilting shows. She stitches with accuracy and patience. Did I mention she's ten years old? Please welcome Maria Judy, who joins us via Skype and is missing a half a day of school to be with us. Hello, Maria, how are you doing today? Fine, thank you. How are you? I'm very well. You know, when I read your story about how you started a quilt when you were a young girl and now how you progressed, I'm so impressed. Tell our viewers about your first quilting project. My first quilting project, I made fat quarters but I cut them into smaller squares and then I sewed those together. That's a large square of fabric. You liked that, right? Yeah. Tell us about your second project. My second project I went into a type of log cabin. Mm-hmm. And I entered-- I went into a quilting store to ask for someone could quilt my quilt top. Yes. That's when I met Mrs. Geissler. She quilted my quilt top. Mrs. Geissler has been your mentor and friend in helping you learn to quilt, right? Yes. What a great friend to have. Your mom has helped you along the way. There's a quilt behind you that you made It's called "Sherbet Stars." Wow, how many half-square triangles? Do you know how many are in there? Four hundred something. That's a lot of squares! What's your favorite part about quilting, Maria? I love thinking of the idea of getting a pattern and if I can change it around and seeing what I can do with it instead of making an exact copy. Sure, and you won a prize with some of your quilts. Tell our viewers about those. On my log cabin type of one I won First Place in the Firehouse Show. Then, with Sherbet Stars I went to Kansas, to a national quilt show and I won Second Place there. I also got a Piecer's Award. I can see why. You're just an amazing little girl. Your name in Chinese, tell us what that means. It means "Hope." My Chinese name is...

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. It's a beautiful name. I have a Korean son and his name is Jung-Hwa and I don't know what it means so I'm going to have to research that. We share another little thing in common. Obviously, part of my face doesn't work. You have a little problem, too and you make everything work well. Tell our viewers about that. I have my left arm. When I was born in China my arm was all twisted up during the birth process. Sure. It's a little hard for you to use it but yet you make beautiful things don't you? Yes, I do. The quilt behind you, is queen size, right? Yes. You stitched the binding by hand. Yes, I did. Tell the story about your mom wanting to help you because she did some help, right? Right, she did. One day, she found out that she could help me with the binding. She did a few that day. And she, well, I came home and we both worked at it. I had to tear it out and re-do it myself because she was horrible!

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I think you'd have to tear out my binding stitching, too, Maria. Don't worry, Thelma, her mom it would be the same way. You stitched like 12 inches a day, didn't you? Yes, I did, for 32 days. Thirty-two days, 12 inches a day to complete the binding. You've put me to shame, Maria, I'm so impressed. This has been fun talking to you. What's your next quilt project going to be? I'm going to do a quilt top with fabric like interweaving together. That's what I'm planning to do next. That sounds wonderful. Thank you for being with us. Thank you for taking time off of fifth grade. Thank you. This is fun to have you here. We're going to interview you again to see your next project. Thanks, Maria. Thank you. Well, I hope you've enjoyed this interview with Maria. You can go to nancyzieman.com and click under Nancy's Corner to find out more information. Of course, watch 52 of our Sewing with Nancy programs online. Thanks for joining us during this three-part series on "Fearless Quilting Finishes." Bye for now. Nancy has written a fully-illustrated book entitled "Fearless Quilting Finishes" that includes all the information from this three-part series. It's $14.99, plus shipping and handling. To order the book, call 1-800-336-8373

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