Originally Posted by seamstome
Personally I am mystified by this fascination that judges have with binding. I think it is the most minimal part of the quilt. It is the only part you can replace on a whim!
I don't think it's as important as some people would have you believe. I think it's the one, easily identifiable problem that quilters have, so it gets commented on more often than not. Because they get comments, every one thinks it's so important.
A great binding will not earn your quilt a first place ribbon. Will a bad binding job hurt an otherwise great quilt? Yes, if the competition is close. But I've had quilts do well in judged shows with imperfect binding. They may not have been best of show, but the binding didn't eliminate them from competition.
And once I decided to learn how to do a good binding, I get compliments on it instead of criticism, and boy, does that ever feel good!
Janet