Holice

I am preparing a FAQ sheet about binding for a class this weekend. (June 5) Will you share with me your frequently asked questions about this subject. The class will deal only with the plain binding with mitred corners. Students will not practice fancy bindings including curved borders. I will share the compiled results with the Board which will include some of my thoughts and experiences and solutions.

craftybear

are you going to show them on a small piece like a size of a placemant so they can practice on it???

quilter rkc

I will be looking for this. As a new quilter I think binding is my biggest problem. I can pick patterns to piece and am learning to hand quilt smaller stitches but the binding gives me fits when i try to make neat corners.

bearisgray

Are you going to talk about different types of plain bindings, or do you plan to keep it super simple?

Maybe show one technique in great detail, and then only briefly mention other things.

I think it's helpful to know about joining the strips at an angle so it doesn't bulk up the binding -

Might depend on your students - sometimes everyone "gets it" right away - sometimes not -

beachlady

Please do share with us - I need help with binding!!!

ann clare

Cutting fabric on the bias for binding could be included

candi

When I took a beginners quilting class (first sewing experience) and pieced my first top, the teacher took the last session in class to talk about finishing your quilt with the sandwiching, quilting, trimming and binding. I remember other people taking the class agreeing on how difficult binding is for them, at that point of course I had no experience what so ever. When it came time for me to finish that quilt, I really thought quilting it was the toughest thing I had to do, preparing the double-folded strips, adding the binding and mitering the corners was not that difficult for me (a real surprise if you know me).

With that said, as a beginner, I think the hardest part of binding is joining the end tails together so that they lay flat and nice. Maybe you could give hints, tips and suggestions on how best to accomplish that.

Another thing I always wonder about is the size of the binding. The teacher of the class I took suggested 2 1/4 inch strips. I accidentally cut 2.5-inch strips but liked the look, so continued to do so. But I often wonder about that. Perhaps you could discuss size options.

Holice

It is a 3 hour class so I only do a simple straight binding with mitred corners. It is my opinion that 99.99% of the quilts made use this simple binding and in show judging it is the most frequently area of the quilt that needs improvement.

Students will do two small pieces as follows.
1. sewing a consistent seam
2. Sewing the binding strip so diangonal seams match
3. joining the end
4. mitred corner

I have prepared visuals to show the recommended hand stitch to hand stitch the binding to the back. These have been made using light colored fabric and black thread. The strip shows a good stitch, a so=so stitch and a not so good or bad stitching (called toe tuggers as they can be ripped out if the toe nails get hooked in the binding).

If there is time then they will start sewing the binding on an approx 36"x45" pre quilted double sided fabric.

I emphasise that good bindings are:

1. seam should be even width especially at corners
2. binding should be full
3. neatly mitred corners
4. using small even stitches
5. uses for bias binding even on straight edges
6. fussy cutting binding

some of this is included in the internet show on www.quilterstv.com under Quilter's Cafe.

JudyG

I saw that show just the other day where you did binding on a quilt. I thought your suggestion of a 3/8" seam was great. It's so easy to mess up a 1/4" seam when youo have so many layers of fabric.

dkabasketlady

Thank you! I usually don't have problems with my bindings, but I'm sure there'll be a time and this info will come in handy!!!!