I've just finished attaching the binding on my first quilt. Tomorrow I'll hand-sew the binding to the backing. I'm sort of dreading this because my hand sewing skills are pretty much non-existent. But I'm willing to learn :D I've thoroughly enjoyed each step in the process and have been so meticulous that I just don't want to mess up now. So...is there a particular stitch that is generally used? Thousands of years ago I used to hem my pants by hand and used what (to me) was a blind stitch. I would double the thread to make it sturdier. My plan was to do this type of stitch. What do you experts do?

Yes, I use the blind stitch for my bindings and they are practically invisible. THe judges at shows take a hard look at your binding, it is very important not to have any stitches showing.

I wouldn't double the thread, that make cause it to show. I bury my knots on the inside part of the binding you sew over so they don't show. Also keep you stitches close together. Anything more than 1/4 inch can get "gappy" and I think you get counted off for that too. Basically you want a smooth finish with invisible stitches, uniform width of the binding and a pleasing fullness, not flat like there's nothing inside the binding, or too fat like there's too much batting and fabric. You don't want the binding to look like it's straining to wrap around the back. If you do the french fold binding pay extra attention to turning the corners so you have a perfect miter with no stitches showing. I can't remember if they get picky about how you finish it where the ends of the binding meet.

Note: Duhhhh...it's been too long of a day. I got this confused with the quilt show thread :) I am going home now, my brain left 2 hours ago :)

I use hand quilting thread to sew the binding on with Be very careful on the mitered corners and make sure you stitch them closed well My quilt lost some points from the judges because the corners were not quite right It still finished okay but learn a lesson The blind stitch is what I use Good Luck and Happy Quilting.

Look at this website it talks about blind stiching:
http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingfour.html

Check out this video !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdC1_1_cx0

Hope this helps!!!!!!

OK, you can hand stitch the binding to the back OR you can press the binding after sewing it to the front and then stitch in the ditch and catch the folded over binding in the back. There is a Quilter's TV video on this method. Also quilting.about.com has a lesson. I no longer hand stitch the binding. It is much faster by machine. Of course, if you are having the quilt judged, that is a different story.

judee

Two things I've picked up on binding...1) I pin in the ditch on the right side of the quilt so I'm not always tangling my thread in my pins, and 2) I match the color of my thread to my binding and the stitches are much less visible. I also double the thread for added strength and use a blind stitch.

Good luck CindyBee with however you choose to finish your binding. I am at the same stage with my first quilt too, for a friend's baby, however I have to wait until the baby is born so I know whether to do pink or blue binding! The baby was due on Monday just gone, so I am anxiously waiting by the phone to hear!

I think I will try the method mentioned by judee0624, but might do a practice mini quilt sandwich first, as I have never done stitch in the ditch before.

Let us know how you get on!

Thanks everyone! My quilt is not going to be in a show, but why not strive for perfection anyway? I am my own worst judge, LOL. All very useful information and I'm going to check out the links and videos before I get started.

Cindy

Bebe, I just watched the You Tube Video. That was perfect - just what I needed. Thanks!

Cindy