The Quest for the Mitered V-Neck These instructions will help you apply a perfect mitered binding to a V-neck pullover, without having any raw edges showing on the inside. You can make the binding any width, either in self fabric or contrasting fabric. The samples photographed in this instruction sheet are done with cotton flannel. Photographs and instructions by Welmoed Sisson Copyright ©2003 Welmoed Sisson. No part of this instruction sheet may be duplicated without the author’s express consent. V-Neck Mitered Binding What you need: Bodice front and back, cut on fold Binding strip Iron Cut the binding strip approximately 6 inches longer than the full neck hole measurement. For the width, calculate double the desired finished width plus one inch. For example, for a 1” finished binding, cut (1” x 2) + 1” = 3” wide. Step 1 Sew the front and back together at the shoulders.. Step 2 Press the binding strip in half, right side out. Page 2 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 3 Unfold the strip. Fold one edge up a scant 1/2 inch and press. Step 4 Pin the unfolded edge of the binding strip to the neckline, matching raw edges. Keep a few inches free. Step 5 Mark a line 1/2 inch from the raw edge and vertically from the point. The point where the two lines meet is the starting point for stitching the binding to the neckline. Page 3 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 6 Stitch the binding to the neckline. Clip the curves of the neckline as needed to keep the stitching straight and neat. Stop stitching when you get within two inches of the point. Step 7 Fold back the portion of binding strip you sewed so that the fold is vertical. The pointer indicates where the stitching started. Step 8 Lay the remaining binding over the folded section. Stitch the remaining bit of the binding to the neckline. Stop stitching at the point where you started attaching the binding. Page 4 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 9 Clip the V to within a thread of the stitching line. Clip the remaining curves of the neckline. Step 10 Starting at the center back, fold the binding strip to the inside so that the folded edge just covers the stitching line. Pin. Step 11 Pin to within 2 or 3 inches of the point of the V. Repeat for the other side. Page 5 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 12 Stitch the binding. In this picture, I used an edge joining foot with the needle slightly to the right of center. You could also “stitch in the ditch” and could even use monofilament to make the stitches practically invisible. Step 13 Fold the front bodice piece along the CF line, extending the extra binding pieces straight out. Step 14 Take one end of the binding and fold it to the inside of the bodice. The fold line should be in line with the CF fold. Page 6 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 15 Fold the other end in. You should have the arrangement as shown on the right. Take this to the ironing board and press it very firmly to set the fold as crisply as possible. Step 16 Take the pressed piece and lay it right-side down. Step 17 Open up the binding strip and mark the line of the fold you just ironed. Page 7 V-Neck Mitered Binding Step 18 Mark the other strip end in the same manner. Step 19 Put the two ends right sides together, matching the marked lines and keeping the edges folded under. Stitch along the marked line, pivoting at the center fold point. Step 20 Trim the seam. Clip to the center and trim the points. Press the seams open. Page 8 V-Neck Mitered Binding Page 9 Step 21 Lay the bodice front flat and fold the binding strip to the inside. Step 22 Using the same settings as for the rest of the binding in Step 12, stitch the point of the binding down. That’s it! You’re done! I hope you have enjoyed these instructions as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you. For more projects and pictures, please visit my web site! www.sewingseamseasy.com