I know there are people who enjoy the last step in completing a quilt - applying the binding. Well, I'm not one of them. I want that binding on and done! I recently discovered Charlotte's Fusible Web from Superior Threads and love the way it speeds up the process.

Wind Charlotte's Fusible Web onto the bobbin. Do not thread the top of the machine with this thread. Bobbin only! Apply the binding to the back of the quilt using a zigzag stitch. On my Bernina, a width of 2 and a length of 2 are just right. Working from the back of the quilt, use a hot iron to crease the binding the way it needs to go - toward the edge. You just need a bit of a press here to convince the binding to head in the right direction.

Now, turn the quilt over and work from the right side. With your fingers, fold the binding over the edge. It should end just past the widest part of the zigzag stitching. Finger press 4 to 6 inches of binding in place. With a hot iron, press straight down on this to 4 to 6 inches of binding. Hold the iron in place for a count of ten. Move to the next section of binding. At each corner, insert a pin to hold the miter in place until it is sewn down. After you have pressed your way all around the quilt, the binding on the front will be fused to the front of the quilt, courtesy of Charlotte's Fusible Web.

Next, use your machine to stitch the binding down. If you want an invisible look, use MonoPoly, a heat resistant invisible thread. I personally favor a decorative stitch combined with a decorative thread. I feature this stitching as part of the finished quilt.

Notes: Use the zigzag stitch rather than a straight stitch to expose more of the fusible thread. It makes things stick better. Don't 'iron' the binding. Press straight down with the iron. Don't rub the iron back and forth. This technique is not recommend for fuzzy flannel because the thread sticks to the fuzz rather than the fabric.

Reprinted with permission from Bob Purcell, Superior Threads

Find Charlotte's Web thread here.