rryder

I love my Martelli binding system. The learning curve can be steep, but the big thing is getting the handheld thingy properly adjusted to both the top side of your binding and the bottom. Once you've gotten the hang of that it gets a lot easier. I use mine every time I need to bind a quilt. I just bound a table topper for a banquet table in about 3 hours. The topper measured 79" x 45" and I didn't have to go back and do any hand stitching. The minute miters really help getting the corners on both the front and back nicely mitered and I love the zip clips--they're useful for a lot of other things as well.

I've bound a number of lap sized quilts with the system in addition to larger quilts, the table topper mentioned above and some large place mats. It doesn't work with smaller items like pot holders, but I think you could use it for 12" square or larger hot pads.

I don't have as much luck with the binding tool even though I've watched the MSQC videos numerous times and follow the directions printed on the tool. I always end up futzing around and cutting, stitching, ripping, re-cutting and re-stitching before I manage to get the two ends of the binding joined and the right length for the remainder of the quilt--once they are joined at the correct length, it looks nice and neat, but I've been using that thing for years and have never managed to get it joined and have the binding be the correct size on the first try.

The think that I bought that I'd never buy again is a strip cutter that I bought used off Ebay. It is set up with a handle that hold two rotary blades. You can adjust the distance between the blades to whatever strip size you want and it seemed like a good idea at the time. At least I didn't pay more than a couple dollars for it, but I soon realized why it was being sold LOL.

Rob in VA