PDF Binding Tool for Quilting

There is something called a "Binding Tool" often used when quilting. It was invented to make binding a lot easier. The instructions are pretty simple:

1. Download and print the binding tool PDF that I created
2. Put 2 pins or marks on a straight side of your project (often times this would be a quilt) that need to be exactly 12" apart.
3. Attach your binding starting at one of the pins/marks, but make sure to leave a 10" tail
4. Sew all the way around until you get to the second pin/mark, again, leave 10" tail
5. On one side, lay the tool snug against your seam parallel to the edge of the quilt, draw a line where it says "mark here", then fold open the binding, lay the tool mark line against your mark and cut at the 45deg edge (don't forget to also cut off the 1/4" corner, just like your binding tool shows, this will make it easier to line up for sewing)
6. Then rotate the tool 180deg (keeping the printed side up!) and repeat step5, but with one BIG DIFFERENCE: instead of placing the mark-line of the tool against your mark, place the tip of the tool against your mark instead. Then cut. 
7. Take the two cut edges and place them right sides together, pin and sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.

And then you are all done!

Sewing a Baby Nest

Based on this tutorial I recently created my own baby nest. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant, so I wanted to get this baby nest done before our little one arrives!

If you want to recreate this, make sure to get enough fabric, that the fabric is soft enough for your little one to sleep in and that you use the same kind of fabric for both the top and bottom piece (ie don't mix elastic with non-elastic etc.).

Cut

When cutting your pieces, I would advise to fold them in half and pin them together, and then cut them out. That way you will cut them 100% symmetrical.

Sew

Then it's just putting them right side together and sewing around, leaving the entire bottom part open for stuffing. 

I don't have any pictures of this step, but at this point you have to add the trim over the seam (on the right side), leaving enough room to thread your rope through. 

Bedding

adding the Bedding was a kind of adventurous! I have never before used my sewing machine to sew over thick padding like this before. 

Ring

For the outer ring, make sure you have enough stuffing! I bought 3 packages (each had 200g of stuffing) and it wasn't quite enough. In the end, 4 did the trick! 

Finishing Touches

The last step was adding the cord lock and sewing the bottom together. I did that by hand, but maybe you can make it work in your machine. 

And here is the finished product!