Circa 1950 – Hankie Quilt (Part 4: Finishes)

It’s time to add finishing touches.

Backing: I have decided people don’t need to see my stitches, so I fuse multi coloured prints to the back with Wonder Under* or MistyFuse*. Besides a cleaner look, it adds extra weight and stability. I find it is easier to work with, and will hang better in the end.

Piping & Binding: This piece seemed to need something to frame the picture, and balance the dresses. In the end, I decided on piping that was thicker than normal, and binding that was wider than normal.

For the piping, I used shoelaces left over from mask-making days. The binding is a full 2 1/2″, applied the same way as any other traditional binding (cut strips 10 1/2″ wide to achieve this). The only difference is that I mitered the corners in order to reduce bulk.

Label: A special quilt calls for a special label. The pictures that were instrumental in the design really need to be kept with the quilt rather than being tucked away in a photo album. I also don’t know where this quilt will end up – maybe in a Senior’s Home? Some of the residents may be able to relate to this quilt in a special way.

In any case, if it is on display the story and the pictures should form part of the display. This is the label I ended up with. It has pockets (made from a clear tablecloth) for the pictures

It is free standing with hanging tabs – a set of buttons added close to the top/center means the label can be hidden away when desired; a set of buttons at the bottom means the label can be flipped and hung with the quilt.

The quilt is now finished. Even the label is done…. all before the dresses and clothesline have been appliqued on. We are saving that for the next post when there will be the Big Reveal.

* MistyFuse and Wonder Under are my preference because it is easier to hand stitch the binding, hanging rod and label through it. It is lighter weight than Steam-A-Seam and Heat & Bond, and doesn’t gum up your needle.