What do you like about binding?
 

I am trying to find my nitch in binding. Me and binding don't go together. There isn't one aspect of it I like except the end result, when it's finished. So, if you will share with me what you like about binding, maybe it will get me to start binding. I have so many quilts to bind and no drive to do any of them. I want to start a new quilt, but I really need to bind these first. I want to like to bind really badly!

Its the finishing touch. I like putting the binding on my quilts, its done now and I don't have to feel guilty about starting another one.

I love the binding stage 'cos it means the quilt is finished. I find sewing on binding really relaxing (especially when accompanied by a glass of red! I always add the binding to the front of the quilt by machine and then relax and hand sew to the back. Go for it and when you see all your lovely finished quilts, you'll be hooked.

Like you, binding is not my favorite part of quilting, even though it means success. I am lazy, so I very often will purchase packaged binding, sew by machine on the back, then fold over, pin, and topstitch on the front by machine with a decorative stitch. I usually will buy extra wide double fold bias tape, rather than actual quilt binding. I find it gives me a smoother finish. It also comes in a wider assortment of colors. I will make my own when I cannot find a suitable match, and I am rather picky there.

I agree with katei, the hand sewing is soooo relaxing. I like to save it for the evenings when my hubby is home, to work on it while watching the news or whatever. I like pulling the pins and seeing how much progress I have made, I know, kinda silly. Use a pretty piece of fabric to bind, then seeing that narrow strip of lovely fabric all neatly stitched and tacked down, just finishes it off so nicely.

When I decided to pay a LA, I pay for the binding also!

My favorite thing about binding is watching old movies. I line up a few in Netflix, set up a comfy corner on the couch, with my needles, thread, scissors, and a glass of wine on the end table, and go to town. I have a sip of wine every time I start a new thread. I have a grand ol' time binding. *hic*.

I dont like binding either but I put my quilt by my chairthat I sit at with all of my thread and threader and I get it dont when I look at it and dont even realise it.

Yes, mine too. I sew the back by hand, in the livingroom with the family. I find it enjoyable and such a comfort to see the quilt finally finished. Send me your quilts, I will bind them for you. Love to do hand work. But I also do it the easy way. I cut my binding on the straight of grain not on the bias. That's the part I don't like, joining the ends.

I've always enjoyed the binding process. It's completing the last design element on the quilt. I machine sew the binding to the front and hand stitch to the back. I usually sit on the couch (feet up, of course), pop in a movie, have iced tea and a snack nearby and immerse myself in hand stitching for several hours at a time. It's a very calming and peaceful time for me.

One thing that really helped me with binding is a tip I learned here--wrap your binding around something like the cardboard from a toilet paper roll, put a ribbon or cord through it and tie it around your neck. This allows the binding to come off without any twists. I use a roller that is much heavier than the one which comes out of toilet paper; but it is about that size. Another thing I do is cut, press the binding, and roll it on the cardboard roller before I start piecing the quilt top. (I see now that lots of people are no longer pressing the binding.) When it is time to apply the binding, everything is ready and I'm excited to be putting on the finishing touches. I sew the binding to the front, trim the excess fabric and batting, and have a relaxing time hand sewing the back of the binding as I watch TV. I have The Binding Tool which makes joining the binding easy. The two things that made me not like binding was that I had so much trouble joining the binding and the fact that my binding was getting so twisted as I tried to sew it on. With those two problems solved, I love, love, love sewing on binding. I do enjoy hand sewing, perhaps that helps. I hope that you will soon learn to enjoy putting on binding. Really, it is fun!

But what about cutting all the 2 1/2" (if that's your size) and then sewing them end to end and clipping off the edges and ironing the joined pieces? That seems so time consuming. Just that alone puts me off. Then I have to think about sewing it all around the quilt and (I iron it right sides together, which I think I might not anymore) then turning it over and I've tried machine stitching and it looks really bad, so when I hand stitch it, it seems to take days and days. I have paid my LQS owner to bind my quilts. Actually, I gave her my quilt to give to a gal, but she did it instead for me and I was so embarrassed but she machine stitched it with a pretty decorative stitch and it looked so nice and I told her I was embarrassed that she did it and she said she had fun doing it because she always hand stitches and I had said it was okay to machine stitch and she liked how it turned out and she planned on trying it on her next quilt. Anyway, I am still embarrassed that she bound it. She is the nicest person in the whole world and one of my best friends and she does things like that for me. But, I want to bind. You all make it sound delicious, but I keep thinking of the beginning of the binding. All the strips to be sewn together and clipped and ironed down. Now, I love to iron...love, love, love to iron. Love to cut. Love, love, love to cut. But stick me with the 1/2 yard for binding and I get a sinking feeling. If I could just get it on the quilt, I think I could machine or hand stitch it. It's just that process that I have trouble with. I love piecing quilts. I love making blocks. I can make a gazillion of the same blocks over and over again. It's just the first part of the binding. And I have about 9 quilts that need binding. And it costs about $45 to have them bound from beginning to end. Lots of money for me.

I guess the only thing I like about binding is cutting the strips to do it! :D I bind because it is a must. I am getting better at it and have adopted many techniques gathered here on the QB. I also switched to only using binding cut on the bias. For me, the bias binding is more forgiving than straight of grain and I can get it to lay flat, no bubbles or wrinkles. I machine sew it to the front but I am hand stitching it down on the back. I am never happy with my bindings when I machine sew the back down. It takes me a while due to neuropathy in my hand but the end result is sooooo worth it!

I like all the quilt making process. When I hand sew the binding to the back I race a radio program or listen to a movie on TV, not a TV watcher. I put the quilt on dining table and just sew. I always finish one quilt before I start another, I have no ufos, only some pieces to make into a quilt, I do plan on using those up.

For quite a long time, I hated to do the bindings. But, knowing I can not afford to pay someone to do it for me and I love to gift finished quilts; I began to do some research. My first discovery was using Elmers Washable School Glue instead of pins...it makes everything so much faster and neater in my opinion. The second was learning how to make Continuous Bias Bindings. There are several videos and posts about it, but I was really inspired by this one.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccal...ontinuous_bias

for some reason on my screen, the video is about halfway down the page....so you may have to scroll down.

Little by little, my bindings are looking prettier and I am enjoying the process more all of the time.

I love to sit on the couch or outside and hand sew the binding on the back. I actually just finished the binding on a quilt lastnight that has been waiting for about 6 months to be finished. Just had a ton of other projects to take care of and havebeen sucked into a book series that I have been reading and re reading for the past month. But sewing the binflding on the back is relaxing and it means a quilt can go to its new home after that. Which is my favorite part of quilting.

Sewing on the binding is my least favorite thing to do BUT I know it's the last stage and then I'll have a beautiful finished quilt!

I like to make the binding as soon as I finished the top (send my quilts out for LA'ing). Then when I get it back I sew the binding on and hand stitch to the back. This is great "sitting on front of TV work" and gives me the opportunity to sew hidden stitches. I also like the time it gives me to reflect on the making of the quilt and what I want the label to read.

I like figuring out which fabric to use for the binding that will the perfect finish to my quilt. Either to make something in the quilt 'pop' or to tone the quilt down or to bring the whole thing together. I machine sew the binding to the front and hand stitch to the back. I don't mind the machine part at all, nor the hand sewing either for that matter. Sometimes it's a little difficult with a large quilt, but I can still get the binding machine sewn to a king quilt in about an hour. The hand sewing part might take me two evenings but that's no big deal.

You could probably pay someone to do it for you.

DebraK, I like your method of binding - especially the glass of wine part! I actually don't mind the binding process, but your way will make it much more enjoyable!

I love the entire process of binding, from cutting the bias strips to sewing them all diagonally together (sometimes unsewing them too) and then folding the loooong strip in half and ironing it. I look at the bias edging as a frame around the picture I've made. Once I've sewed it to the front of the quilt I pile myself onto my bed with the quilt in my lap, a spool of thread and my favorite sewing needle and hand-sew the binding - usually while watching the Law & Order Criminal Intent marathons on Saturday mornings.

Binding is a necessary evil for me. Something I have to go through in order to finish the quilt. I keep trying to do it the easy way (which does not exist) and therefore with every quilt I find new and exciting ways to torture myself with binding, mitered corners, etc, etc....

I'm with the "enjoy the hand work in front of the TV" crowd. My handsewing slows waaay down when I watch TV, but it's a nice way to spend time with my family and still get some sewing in. Besides, neither handsewing nor TV watching is enough of an activity by itself - I get fidgetty! I'll also sit down with handsewing and listen to the radio or a book on tape...especially on a rainy day...oh! now I want a finished quilt to bind!!

Alison

I'm with you - it's a necessary evil! :hunf: HATE, HATE, HAAAATE hand sewing the binding to the back. Only do it because I can't bring myself to machine it on.

I recently started using the double-mitered binding method (posted a tutorial) and it makes binding so much cleaner for me. I don't have to deal with yards and yards of binding - only the length (plus a little) per side. I only sew one side on at a time. It is relatively easy to sew the mitered cap into the corners and once the miter covers the corner, sewing the binding on the back is a breeze.

Kids quilts I even sew on the back with the same method and then I sew the binding by machine using a decorative stitch.

That's exactly how I feel! I just finished hand sewing the binding on a quilt last night & was so sad (tho super glad that that particular quilt was DONE). I love making my binding strips, I like sewing them on the front, I love basting the binding down & I love hand sewing it. It's so mindless & soothing. I especially like to do it while I watch football or hockey.

I like binding. I sew mine to the back of the quilt and then I machine sew it to the front with a pretty stitch from my sewing machine.
I love to try new things such as Faux Piping Binding. Here's a great tutorial http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html. And I also like two color binding and here's a great site for that http://scrapsbystephanie.blogspot.co...-tutorial.html

Enjoy the process. It really is fun!

I hate binding. I force myself to make the binding before the last of the top is pieced, that way not trying to locate the fabric at a later time. Several years ago, started to sew the binding on with a walking foot and it made an enormous difference.

I enjoy the hand sewing and the feeling of knowing the quilt is now complete. Have even been known to do the hand sewing on friends' bindings because I enjoy it and have the time.

I enjoy binding, as strange as that sounds. I also enjoy piecing. It's the sandwiching and quilting, I could do without.

I find the binding process to be relaxing and also enjoyable. Don't mind it at all. It's the lovely finishing touch to the quilt that makes the quilt so "finished" and pretty but also durable.

I don't enjoy it, but I've used the backing instead, too. I like the way that looks and that's how Mammaw did it, so it works for me!

until i came to qb i hadn't given binding any real thought. i get so damned excited when, after what is usually a year or more of working on a quilt i'm finally at binding...well WHOOOOEEEEE!

it just never bothered me. not making it, sewing it, handstitching....it just meant i was almost done.

then add the cross stitch label and the world's slowest quilter adds another finished project to the growing pile!

aileen

except i never know if i have enough binding fabric. i hate that part. so far so good, but my last one was a close call. too close for my comfort by half and more.

aileen

What is it about binding that you do not like - the hand sewing or ????

I have to admit that I put my binding on backwards - sew on the back and bring it around to the front and then machine sew it down. Quick and easy and will withstand all sorts of rough treatment.

I love binding because it is the last step to having the quilt finished. I developed a new type of binding stitch about a year and a half ago and it looks so good. I have a finished 1/4" on both sides, front and back. And a full binding to boot. I put the bindings on the quilts and then fold it and put it in one of my many bags, along with my needle , thread , and magnifiers. Then when I am going anywhere like the doctors office, dentist or any appointment where I am going to have a wait I have something to work on while waiting. No down time, even riding in the car.

I never did like binding either until I took a class from Cody Mazarun from her book A fine Finish made binding easier
and now it is my favorite part as I am getting something finished I think there are probably other books out there but A fine finish is very good

I like binding. I use hair clips (the kind that you flex to open and close) to hold it in place while I hand stitch. My parents and inlaws each live about 4 hours away, so I enjoy stitching in the car. If we don't have a long car ride planned, I like to stitch while watching TV with DH in the evening after the little ones are in bed. There is very little on television that requires your full attention.

This is exactly how I feel, too. Mostly, I think "hand" is a four-letter word, except for the binding. I like the feel of the quilt in my lap while I sew; I like the feel of the needle in my hand, and having something that I can do in the recliner besides eat! There's just something about finishing the quilt by hand that connects me to it more than the machine. But I don't think we can convey what we feel enough to make you want to do it, if you not inclined to.

I honestly like the hand work. It is soothing for me because it is a return to my first sewing skills of embroidery that I learned oh, so many years ago. The binding gives a finished look to the quilt and then I can set the quilt aside and move on to my next project. Yippee!