The trip around my longarm...a brief binding tutorial

This is Billie's quilt.....loooove it!

The trip around...

I start stitching the binding on the right side of the already quilted top.  Usually about 2/3rds of the way down is where i begin.  The bottom is stitched next, then up the left side (below)

and across the top of the quilt

i have to peer over the handles 

when stitching the top.  The hopping foot is even with the raw edges measuring 1/4".

Preparing the corners...i don't have to stop and start...i just zip out of the way, make my folds

and zip back into place and off i go...

 

 down the right side

...to where i began.  

I must add that where i start and where i stop, i leave at least a 12" unstitched tail.  This allows me to manipulate the binding when mitering the two ends together.

Off the machine and trimming the tail exactly 2-1/2" longer by overlapping the beginning strip.

This measurement is determined by the width of the binding before it is folded in half.  I mark, then cut.

 Always referring to my Alex Anderson book, i flip and mark the tail for a mitered seam and stitch.

 The excess is trimmed

 and the seam is pressed open.

Finishing the final trip around

 on my domestic machine.

Billie used a black backing, stitched with a variegated 'Brights' Signature Thread for both top and bottom.