or Binding, Binding, Blah!!!

I'm working on a quilt to give away to a little girl whose family is going to England for 3 years. As soon as it's finished, I plan to start one for her brother. So I had plans on finishing it early Saturday.

Saturday schedule - wake up and start the binding on the front, my Sister is going to sew the back and I'm done. Do happy dance, go to Garage Sales around area. Get congrates and koodoes from family of job well done. Perfect.

Reality - get up at 7, start putting binding on front, pin all the way around, making beautiful corners.
After 1 1/2 side, look at it and the back looks all wrinkled. Stop and take all the stitches out and decide I need to put binding on the back.

Restart: Do the first side, and GOT TO TAKE all THE PINS OUT. The material is gathering up and moving on me. Okay, I can do that as I go along. Corners not as pretty, but I'll fix in the final hand sewing.

Finish (finally), look at it, and the back looks almost okay, but the front looks gathered. Will it come out when I quilt aroung it? Decide yes, and give to Sister to sew.

Sister sews 1 1/2 sides and we look at it. Bunches of what do you thinks? Is it okay? Like it? Finally decide, NO - take it out. Take ALL the binding off. Going to hand sew on both sides.

Sunday - hand sewing front, then will give to sister to finish the front. Pretty, but what a pain in the tush! Will post pictures when finished.

did you "quilt" the top before attaching the binding on it?
you might need to use walking foot to attach the binding if your batting is more than 1/8" thick!

Thanks for the tip. I have wondered since it is so thick. :roll:

Yep, quilted the top first. I had it pinned the first time and thought it would be okay. Maybe I needed to change my tension?

Walking foot and lengthen your stitch a wee bit, can you (next time) try sewing on a little scrap of what top,bottom and batt is to see how it puckers or Doesn't. Always works for me..Good luck on the brothers quilt!!:):)

I'm having the same problem with my binding. I've pulled it out twice already and need to again. I should have worked on it this weekend but decided I need to step back from it for a bit. Hopefully will want to try it again one night this week. I have a baby quilt I need to start for a baby that was born last week.

And this why I use my backing fabric as the binding by pulling it forward. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I just stink at binding.

I never pin my binding and don't seem to have any trouble. When I get to the corners I stop 1/4 inch from the edge and mitre the corner then keep going. I do use a walking foot, but my very first binding I did without one and it still turned out OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot7Trk6J2Vw

I hate binding. I read in a book by Diane Leone that binding is your reward for finishing the quilt. Well, I'd rather have chocolate or a gin sling or something as a reward. Looking forward to seeing the finished quilt - I'm sure its wonderful.