Big Stitch binding

If you enjoy finishing your projects with a hand stitch, as I do, but find yourself getting a little bored with just a slip stitch, try a decorative stitch! It adds a touch of folk (or country) style that draws the eye and elevates the finishing touches of your project. 

If your quilt is primarily made for practical use (a bedcover that will be washed frequently, for example), it's best to finish it with a stronger stitch and then add the decorative stitches later. But if your project is mainly decorative, this is the perfect opportunity to have fun and let your creativity flow! 

I designed this project primarily as a decorative piece and made it using raw-edged appliqué. To maintain a consistent aesthetic for the finishing touches, I hand-finished the border with a decorative stitch, changing the thread color to match the fabric. 

The thread used is a perle cotton (8 wt) by WonderFil (from their Eleganza range), and it's the same thread I used for the knotted quilting. The knots combined with the decorative stitches bring out the country style of this patch, even though the colors are brighter than we're used to seeing in the country style.