sewing binding

[northbound]

My niece does something similar to sewbug's but uses a glue stick. She says it works great. I like to hand stitch and so haven't tried it yet.

[DeniAZ]

I like to round my corners, apply a bias binding by machine, then hand stitch it down. My dd and I can hand stitch the binding on a twin sized quilt in the time it takes to watch a DVD. I use two of the hairclips to get started, then just move one a couple inches ahead of my needle.

I find the handstitching a great way to practise my applique stitch. And by hiding a knot every few inches I know that the binding will last.

Like knitnoid, I expect the quilts to be used and possibly abused When I give a baby quilt, I let the mom know that I would be happy to repair it if and when it is needed. I think a worn out quilt is a HUGE compliment!

[CaroleJ]

Carolyn, I spent today doing my LEAST favorite part of quilting: layering, marking, and basting...what a way to eat up the better part of a day!!

At least I got to do the "sit and shove" (machine quilting) as well; even got the border quilted. My right shoulder is going to give me grief tomorrow....

All this being said, I have yet to figure out how to get a binding on by machine...it always winds up looking awful! So I have no advice to offer, but you can cry on my shoulder...the left one, if you please!

[sewcarolyn]

this thread has been wonderful...thank-you I am going to print out the suggestions and read them all while in the kitchen ALL OF YOU ARE WONDERFUL FRIENDS!!!!

[suzette58]

I learned from watching one of Elenor's videos on this website. I am with you about hand sewing it on. Check it out.
Suzette58

[cindyg]

I've done it both ways but I prefer to hand-stitch the binding to the back of my quilts. I like the look better. For machine sewing the binding: Try sewing the binding onto the BACK, fold it over to the front and stitch it down from the front to that you have the seam exactly where you want it on the binding and it will be straight and you can see where you are going to make sure you catch it evenly. If the backing is a little 'busy' it's even better. Does that make sense?

Edited for spelling/typo and I should do that more often - LOL.

[ParrotLady]

I do all mine by machine. Cut fabric 2.5 inches wide, iron in half, roll on to toilet tissue roll. I slip a ribbon thru the roll & tie it around my neck. Stitch to back side of quilt using 3/8" seam. Then I fold it to the front & pin as I go. I tend to pin every 3-4 inches & remove pins as I go. I only do a 12" section at a time & then repin (less jabbing myself this way). I use the edge of my machine foot as a guide & move the needle position so it catches the back at approx 1/8 inch or less. I've also used a blanket stitch, but prefer the straight stich.

[Homespun]

I just tried my first shot at machine binding a quilt for our bed. Since it is just for us, I wasn't too worried about messing it up and I did the binding in the same fabric as my backing (a plaid homespun) so the thread is camoflaged really well. I have to say it was quicker than hand stitching, however, I will need practice! I had to go back and fix several places where I didn't catch the binding on the back while stitching in the ditch on the front. I think on the next one I'll try some of the suggestions above about stitching it from the front! Thanks for the tips:-)

Christina

[sewcarolyn]

I did the binding on of my 2 quilts by machine, and love how it turned out! I never would have tried it without all the suggestions here. For this quilt I tried cindyg's suggestion and the result was great. The quilt was a scrappy tossed-9 and the binding and pinned it like
ParrotLady. I finished it at about 1 am and gave it to my in-laws tonight. I have one more that needs it's binding completed but I can do that while I visit with my family tomorrow.

THANK-YOU...THE HELP HERE WAS INVALUABLE

[quiltnNB4]

I purchased the Martelli Binding Kit at the Quilt Festival in Houston. It's pricey, but I figured I had done so many poor jobs of sewing on the binding that it just might be worth the price. It includes a minute miter (which is nice but which is just a tool to do what I can do pretty well without a tool, some bridges that make channels for sewing (pretty nice) and the adapters to attach the bridges to various sewing machines (this basically turns out to be a foot), some zip clips and the tool for inserting them which click on ter and are used in place of pins, AND the bind it tool. It is taking me a bit of learning to use the binding tool, but I think I'm going to be very pleased with it. You adjust it so that the back binding is a little longer than the front binding. The Bind It Tool has a groove in which the back backing sits so that it stays in place. You move this tool over your binding as you sew it to the quilt. You stitch in the ditch (using the bridge for your machine) and it does a really nice job of attaching the binding in a neat way. I'm still learning how to use this tool, but I think I will end up being very pleased with it. I've used it on 3 throws so far and I do have a favorable opinion. You might check out Martelli's website or check out their demo at a quilt show. It does come with a DVD and I watch it each time I am using the tool.