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Question of the Week

Question for the week of July 14, 2003:

Our question this week comes Em D:

Does anyone know how to estimate how much binding you need for a quilt with scalloped edges such as Apple Core?

D. Meyer :
Here is a fool-proof way to calculate the yardage you will need for bias binding. First, the corner of the quilt that you start measuring you should place a straight pin so you don't accidentally end up with five sides to your quilt. Next, use a soft quilters measuring tape. Start in the corner with the pin and place the tape on its side and follow the scalloped edges exactly. When or if you get to the end of the 120 inch measuring tape, place the beginning flush to the end and continue measuring until you come back to the beginning pin. Take that measurement and add at least 10 inches and if it is an extra large quilt, add 12 inches for safety sake. Using a pocket calculator take that number and multiply by the width of the bias strips you wish to cut. (I always use 2 inch wide strips, so I multiply by 2). When you have the multiplication complete, you then press the square root function button on the calculator. The number you now see, I round up to the next whole number (14.567 rounds up to 15). This is the size square you will need, to cut the bias strips for your binding. Sew the strips together and it's done. Always remember to add in the extra.

Kathy :
I am sure there are better ways, but here is one. Measure one unit with a tape measure. I did this with a Double Wedding Ring--in that case a "unit" would be one scallop. With the Apple Core it could be one curve in plus one curve out. Count how many of these units you have around the quilt. You could count once each way and then double that. Multiply the length of the unit by the number of units. I would then add about a yard to this figure because I would rather overestimate than run short.

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