DIY: Binding a Quilt (Part 1)

This is how I bind my quilts.  My mom taught me how to do it, of course.  (Look for part 2 later tomorrow.)

Step 1: Cut strips that are 2 1/2 inches wide.  Sew them together to make one long strip that will fit around the entire quilt.  

Step 2: Press all of the seams in one direction:

 Step 3: Fold the strip in half with right sides facing out and press:

 Step 4: Don't trim off the excess backing and batting yet.  It helps to stabilize everything while sewing on the binding.  Sew on the binding with a 1/4 inch seam through all layers, as seen below.  The fold is on the left and the raw edges are on the right in the photo.  IMPORTANT: Leave a free tail of binding that is around 8 inches long as you can see in the background of this photo: 

 Step 5: Back stitch when you are 1/4 inch away from the corner and cut the thread.

 Step 6: To make a mitered corner, fold the binding as seen below:

 Step 7: Then fold it back down on itself as seen here:

You will now be able to pinch the corner as seen below:

 Step 8: Where I am pointing is where you will begin sewing again.  It is approximately 1/4 inch down from the top edge.

 Step 9: Back stitch leaving about a 10-inch gap as seen here:  

Continue with PART 2 HERE.