Hi , 

I've been exploring different ways to bind my quilts this year. This final step to finishing the quilt edges can be the reason I throw the quilt in a corner and forget about it for a few weeks (or months). So I've been working on new binding methods that are faster and require no additional fabric.

Yep, this means using the backing fabric to bind the quilt edges! See how it works in this quilting video:

A few notes about this method: This is NOT a mitered binding technique. The corners have a squared-off, overlapped finished and you do have to take a few stitches by hand in order to turn the corners neatly and securely.

However, if you're interested in a mitered technique using traditional cut binding strips, check out my 3 Part Binding Tutorial here.

I apologize for the contrast issues I had in this video. I intentionally pulled the video into black and white at some points so you could see what I was doing. 

The issue was the very dark purple fabric I used on the back of the Whirligig quilt, and because this was a real quilt created for Betty to play with, I didn't want to use contrasting thread where it would show on the outside.

Let me know in a reply to this email if you need to see this tutorial again with improved contrast. 

Curious about the Table I'm Using in the Video?

It's called the Eleanor sit and stand sewing table, and it's operated electronically so you can easily adjust the height whenever you need to!

I often raise the height of the table so I can stand and sew, using the start / stop button on my Little Rebel sewing machine. When my legs get tired or if I'm sewing a particularly fiddly project, I can lower the table height and sit and stitch like normal.

Click Here to learn more about the Eleanor Standing Sewing Table.

New Accessories Included with Grace Machines

We've changed up the accessory kit included with Qnique longarm machines and the Little Rebel sewing machine this month. These accessories will brighten up your day - literally! This new kit includes:

• 10 Foot Luminess Light Bar
• Quilter's Compass Lines and Loops Quilting Practice Panel
• Mini Quilt Clips
• Quilter's Combo - 45mm Comfort Cutter and 6½ x 24½ inch ruler
• 45mm Rotary Blade
• 1 Pack Size M Bobbins
• 8 Pack Finesse Thread: Ruby Red, Thicket Brown, Marigold, Magenta, Canyon Shale, Deep Forest, Mauve Orchid, Desert Flower

Please note - accessories are included for free with new machine purchases. They are not exchangeable for other accessories or discounts on other products. If we run out of stock on a particular accessory, it will ship separately when available.

Which Machines Come with this Accessory Kit? 

All Qnique Longarms and the Little Rebel Sewing Machine. Here's a bit of info about each machine and how they compare:

Little Rebel Sewing Machine - This sewing machine is a great choice if you're looking for a sewing machine with a longer arm (it's 13-inches!), high speed and straight stitch. You'll be able to quilt 7-8 inch blocks in one pass when this machine is set on a quilting frame. 

The best part is you can easily move this machine from a sewing table to a quilting frame - it's only 28 pounds and a great choice for both frame quilting and push quilting.

Qnique 16M, 16X or 16X Elite Longarms - These moderately priced longarms all have a 16-inch throat and are a great choice for quilters wanting a little more space for quilting and longarm for frame quilting. You'll be able to quilt a 10-inch block in one pass with any of these longarms.

Qnique 19X and 19X Elite Longarms - This is our Goldilocks longarm because it's just the right size and offers just the right speed for most quilters! With a 19-inch throat space, you'll be able to quilt a massive 15 inch quilt blocks in one pass. This is a popular choice for quilters who need more space to quilt creatively.

Qnique 21X Elite Longarm - If you want to maximize your quilting space and finish quilts as fast as possible, this professional level longarm is still affordably priced at under $10,000. 

We're now offering the Qnique 21X Elite bundled with the Evolution Hoop Frame at no additional cost. I'm personally using this quilting system now and love the amount of quilting space I have in a much smaller footprint. Click Here to learn more.

New Quilting Stencils Perfect for Spring

I published 4 new Paper Quilting Stencils this week and Angle Spiral, Checkerboard, and Shadow Waves will all be great choices for quilting masculine quilts as you'll see in this video:

Remember, you can quilt all of these designs free hand - no marks, no guides, just by memorization.

But if you haven't memorized any quilting design yet, or you want to speed up the quilting process, or just a guarantee your quilting will be consistently spaced, paper stencils will be a great fit.

Click Here to see our stencil designs and yes, patriotic and summer-themed designs are coming soon!

Let's go quilt,

Leah Day