Hi everyone,

I have only made one quilt, a rag quilt.

I hope to start another quilt soon, although I am not quite sure what yet....I am thinking a D9P ?? But, then I remember I have to bind it and I have no idea how to do that at all.

Is binding as horribly difficult as it looks?? Any suggestions for a newbie who knows very little about quilting so far? (For my rag quilt and I got advice off this wonderful board and from you tube videos, etc.) I'm very much a "newbie"!

TIA!!

Binding is my favorite part, the very end! love it, get to see all of it just pull together.
The worst part about binding is making it. You have to iron folds and it feels like your at that iron forever. but after that is goes on lickity split!

It is not hard- if you are feeling overwhelmed, take a class! Some of the LQS's give classes in finishing a project...

You tube videos are very helpful, look for Sharon Schamber's :D:D:D

Nope, not hard at all. The trickiest part for me is connecting the 2 ends, but there are a variety of options out there to do that. Just google, you-tube or search this board. Good luck with your new project, post pics if you can.

Actually, you DON'T have to iron folds. At a class a friend of mine recently took, the instructor told them NOT to iron the fold because it makes the binding not lay flat. I tried it both ways and she's RIGHT! I'll see if I can explain this in words instead of pictures...

When you iron the fold into the quilt, it wants to stay there. So, after you've stitched the binding on the front and you're now folding it to the back, the inside curve of the binding is shorter than the outside curve, and therefore bunches up and doesn't lay flat.

Instead, simply align the cut edges of your folded binding to the raw edge of your quilt, stitch, then fold your binding to the back, and finish however you desire. Because the fold isn't permanently creased into the fabric, the fold is allowed to move. Granted, it may only be 3 or 4 thread-widths, but it is enough to make a difference. We all know what happens if our quarter-inch is off by 3 or 4 threads! If you're a beginner like the OP, it's probably not a big deal, but I like my bindings to be nice and clean and flat, and I hate ironing. Where did we learn that ironing the binding was the proper thing to do, anyway??? lol

Or Sharon Pederson--I love, love, love them both!

I've found Missouri Star Quilt Company tutorials very helpful and I LOVE their Binding tool. Makes for a PERFECT end of the binding process. You can find the tutorials on their website and on youtube.

I'll have to check out Sharon Pederson and Sharon Schamber - never heard of them before.

Learn to use the Elmer's glue method! Good luck!

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3902
now you don't have to do a two color binding as shown here. just do it as shown onto each side of your quilt and sew. individual binding. no mitered corners as in one long strip of binding.
have fun.

Thanks everyone!!

If you start out being afraid of if you will never get past the learning curve. Binding is not that hard to do. Get some good advise here on the board and watch some tutes on binding. You will be fine.

Also you don't have to bind a quilt. they can be pillowcased or a knife edge could be used or you can turn the backing to the front and stitch it down. There are many ways to finish a quilt. There are lots of tutorials to watch and books to learn from. Classes are also very useful.

try a small project just to learn. You will be surprised!
peace :D

Peckish, Great idea I will do from now on! Thanks
peace :D

hooray for peckish! I have never pressed my bindings. Scared to admit with all the master quilters here. For me, it's easier to hand-stitch a soft rolled edge than a sharply creased one. Lot less work, too. Bad, now my secret is out.

I found a tutorial for fusible thread used in the binding process.

Sunday, July 17, 2011
Fusible Thread Tutorial - Featured Blogger Amelia


http://chasingcottons.blogspot.com/

I learned a lot from the youtube videos when I was first starting out. They are very helpful.

I feel the same way .... the binding scares me :( And while I have recently made 3 rag quilts, I do want to learn HOW to do the bindings and quilt it (somehow!!!) Yikes .... learning curves for sure!

jody

Two secrets learning here....do not iron and use elmers glue....makes it a snap. And once you mast how to miter/turn the corners....it becomes a piece of cake. Not hard and like said before the best part because its the end.

I don't iron my binding either, and I've never had an issue (granted...I've only made like 4 projects...but still!). Why create an extra step for yourself!