Using Velvet for Binding a Cotton Quilt
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Champaign IL
Posts: 135
Has anyone ever done this? I've made the quilt top, have it all quilted, now to add the blue velvet binding. I've washed & dried it, it looks great, but there's a lot of fluff coming off it. If I try to cut strips, will it all fray out? Do I need to stabilize it? No double fold binding, I'd guess. Is it best to sew by machine on the front and hand stitch on the back, or do it all by machine? Oh the questions! Hope someone has done this and can give me some tips. Thanks!
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I have not done it, and I think you are extremely brave to try it!
My suggestion is to cut a strip and handle it for awhile. That will tell you a lot about how much it will fray. I'm thinking it will fray and shed fluff a lot. Not sure that stabilizing it with a fusible will help, as the fluff will be coming off the top -- not the fused part of the velvet. Plus fusing will stiffen an already thick fabric, making it harder to turn it over the edge.
Have you considered that the purpose of a binding is to take a lot of abuse for the quilt? Velvet does not take abuse well.
Velvet is slippery, and will show marks from the presser foot. I think you could sew it to the front by machine, by I would definitely recommend finishing it by hand.
Will be very interested to hear how this goes.
My suggestion is to cut a strip and handle it for awhile. That will tell you a lot about how much it will fray. I'm thinking it will fray and shed fluff a lot. Not sure that stabilizing it with a fusible will help, as the fluff will be coming off the top -- not the fused part of the velvet. Plus fusing will stiffen an already thick fabric, making it harder to turn it over the edge.
Have you considered that the purpose of a binding is to take a lot of abuse for the quilt? Velvet does not take abuse well.
Velvet is slippery, and will show marks from the presser foot. I think you could sew it to the front by machine, by I would definitely recommend finishing it by hand.
Will be very interested to hear how this goes.
#4
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,538
How are you going to do the corners? The reason for cotton binding is because you don't end up with too much bulk to sew over when doing corners. If you have extra, do up a small quilt square and try the velvet around the edge for binding it. If it's too bulky for mitered corners, how would rounded corners look? If doing rounded corners you may have to cut the strips on the bias. Good luck. I'm sure someone will be able to help. Some have done quilts with Minky and might have some pointers for doing the binding.
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I would serge or zig zag the edges. If it's velvet, it's going to be slippery to work with. I would pin heavily or even baste. when you stitch the back, make sure that you are actually catching the fabric and you're not just putting a stitch into the pile. Also I would do a wider binding than normal, like about 1". this will give you enough room to turn the corner.
#8
I've sewn velvet in clothing. Need a needleboard for pressing. Can't imagine making a binding with it. Good luck.
http://www.fashion-era.com/velvets/v...#Needleboards_
http://www.fashion-era.com/velvets/v...#Needleboards_
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: howell, Mi
Posts: 2,345
I agree with glassquilt and sewwhat85, Velvet isn't washable and mixed with cotton it will deteriorate. Also very thick and the corners will be a problem. Does the person who asked for velvet have any sewing experience? I agree, it would be very pretty, but not practical. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I also think the binding will wear out quickly since it gets so much use.
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12-25-2010 09:49 PM