So my math said that I needed five strips of fabric, cut on bias to make enough binding for the quilt I’m working on. Being cautious, I cut six. No big deal.
As I turned the third corner I had the normal qualm – will there be enough for the last side? I turned the fourth and last corner and paused to see how much was left. I smoothed the binding along the edge and don’t you know, there were about three inches of the fifth strip past the starting point.
When I got a little closer I checked again and cut off strip six at the seam. When I trimmed off strip five to fit inside the first strip with just a little inside… three inches left on the ironing board.
Math is good. Too close isn’t good. If I’d gone with five strips I’d be three inches short, right? You know it!
PS This is bias cut at about 60° rather than 45 just for fabric thriftiness and ease of cutting. I could have cut 45° bias but it seemed silly for so few strips. I am content with the different fabric choice and know I could not have eked out enough from my first choice.
Tomorrow: two sleeves and the label!
