Pillowcase Binding for My Quilt Rug

I used the pillowcase binding technique for my quilt rug.  I thought it would look more like a rug if it didn't have a traditional binding on the edges. 

This is the first time I've done this on a project this large.  I didn't want too much shifting when turning the thing inside out, so I stitched in the ditch to attach the top to the batting.  (I described that process in I Have a New Foot.)  Then I sewed 1/4" away from the edges and trimmed it all up, nice and square.

I laid this "half sandwich" on top of the backing, right sides of the fabric together.  Now I have a full sandwich.  Here you see pin basting along the edges.

I attached all the layers using a 1/4" seam allowance.  I had heard that if you start and stop with a right angle, that makes a nice crisp corner that stays put after you turn.  Plus it's supposed to make it easy to fold in that 1/4" seam allowance on the opening slit.   

It sounded good to me, so I did it.  Here's a photo before trimming away the backing.

I left a huge opening on one end, so there wouldn't be much stress on the edges of the opening.  That can be a messy part if you're not careful, but I wasn't too worried because after all, I did that fail-safe right angle stitching.

Well doggone it if that right angle stitching didn't rip right out.  That was disappointing.  I went back and secured the beginning and ending points with a locking stitch.  Or I could have done a back stitch, but since I rarely do that, I usually wind up pressing the wrong button.

Here it is, turned inside out.  

I didn't want my edges to roll; I wanted them to align exactly.  So I used a pointy tool and ran it along the seam line from the inside to push all the bulk out.  Then I finger pressed the seam to make sure the top and bottom edges were nice and even.  Lastly, I pressed it with the iron to make a sharp edge and turned in a nice even 1/4" seam allowance where the opening was.  

I finished it off with top stitching along the edges, and now I'm quilting it.