Hate Binding Quilts!
#11
I used to hate binding too - but I am finding it easier and easier - you really need to find your own way of making it work. I have had different people show me their way and it works for them - I take a little from each person and make it my own. I am proud to say that I no longer hate binding - however, I do have some friends who insist that it must be done their way - too bad I made it my way..Keep on trying - it will come. I have found that you tube videos are very helpful.
#12
Many of us (and more every day) machine bind with very good results. I didn't learn from a tutorial, but I'm sure there are many. One thing that really helped my binding was to only pin a bit at a time of the binding to the quilt when first sewing it on. It sews on nice and flat and you don't have to "scrunch" or pull it to fit. Sew it to the back first, fold it over and use a decorative stitch on the front:[ATTACH=CONFIG]295281[/ATTACH]
#13
I don't mind binding really as I know I am nearly finished. BUT what I do is I always make the binding when I have finished the top. So I make it when I have the cutting board and iron out, this way when the quilting is finished the binding is ready to go. I hand sew it on when I am watching the telly at night
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 379
I love to do bindings, I have a small part time job doing the bindings for a LA quilter, I find it very relaxing, if I lived near you kbishburg I would do your bindings for you, but we are SO far apart, vbg
Kamaiarigby
New Zealand
Kamaiarigby
New Zealand
#16
I think I'm lucky - I love hand work and sewing the binding to the back means the quilt is almost ready to give away and I can get on with the next project! (although, I must admit that by the time I get halfway through a king size binding, I feel like it will last forever.)
One thing that helps with hand fatigue is pressing the bindings with steam, first away from the quilt, then the fold to the back side. I tried using glue a couple of times and that stuff is really great as long as you keep it away from where you need to sew. No need to pin and takes a LOT of stress off of your hands while you're sewing.
But, just pressing without glue works great for me, too. The crease seems to last long enough to get the binding sewn on and I'm not fighting with pins or clips - I can just sew and concentrate on keeping the stitches invisible.
Wearing a thimble does take practice and I think deemail is right about trying to use too large a thimble. Mine almost cut off the circulation in my fingertips, but they stay on. And they've also got a rim around the top and ridges along the sides so that the needle doesn't slide off the top. The whole thimble can catch the needle and push it - even along the sides.
Good luck to you and I hope you find something that makes this step more fun or rewarding for you!
One thing that helps with hand fatigue is pressing the bindings with steam, first away from the quilt, then the fold to the back side. I tried using glue a couple of times and that stuff is really great as long as you keep it away from where you need to sew. No need to pin and takes a LOT of stress off of your hands while you're sewing.
But, just pressing without glue works great for me, too. The crease seems to last long enough to get the binding sewn on and I'm not fighting with pins or clips - I can just sew and concentrate on keeping the stitches invisible.
Wearing a thimble does take practice and I think deemail is right about trying to use too large a thimble. Mine almost cut off the circulation in my fingertips, but they stay on. And they've also got a rim around the top and ridges along the sides so that the needle doesn't slide off the top. The whole thimble can catch the needle and push it - even along the sides.
Good luck to you and I hope you find something that makes this step more fun or rewarding for you!
#17
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Highland Park, NJ and Jerusalem, Israel
Posts: 147
Hum well I love to bind my quilts. That being said I understand not wanting to finish the binding. I have 2 suggests. I hope will work. First one is Pat Sloan has a tut for machine binding. She never ever hand sews binding check it out. Second I look at binding as the final act to finishing my quilt. I enjoy hand work. I watch/listen to TV as I work and before I know it I am done. Yes the mitered corners are a challenge. I use The Binding Gizmo. Since I started to use it I have no lumps or bumps in the binding and usually I have good corners. I hope this helps.
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...ok+and+tool.do
Luann
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...ok+and+tool.do
Luann
#18
I here you on this one. I hate binding also. In fact I am know to hold off on binding something when I know my Mom is coming for a visit in a short time frame. She likes to do hand work and there has been times that I have asked her to hand sew on the binding for me. When this option does not work, I have found that I like the "Thimble-It" product. Here is a link to Hancock Fabrics website that offers it to let you know what it is. http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Thimbl...VVviewprod.htm.
It sticks to the spot on your finger where the needle would go. I do not like or can use thimbles and this is the only thing that has saved my finger when there is a LOT of binding to do. Hope this helps.
It sticks to the spot on your finger where the needle would go. I do not like or can use thimbles and this is the only thing that has saved my finger when there is a LOT of binding to do. Hope this helps.
#19
Yes, I do a lot of my binding all on machine.
But, when I want the quilt to be special I do machine sew only one side and then hand sew the other. In this case I reward myself and settle in for a good movie on DVD or TV and a treat for myself when i finish.
ali
But, when I want the quilt to be special I do machine sew only one side and then hand sew the other. In this case I reward myself and settle in for a good movie on DVD or TV and a treat for myself when i finish.
ali
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IN
Posts: 1,153
I honestly don't mind binding. I handstitch mine to the back using a ladder stitch while I watch tv in the evening. Using the ladder stitch is really fast. I don't use pins, I use a couple of hair clips. In the future, when my hands won't tolerate handstitching anymore, I'll make the change and go to machine binding, and I won't feel the least bit bad about it. We should all do OUR quilts the way WE want to. No guilt, no apologies. @ Kitsie: I LOVE the way you used your machine's blanket stitch on your binding. It's lovely!!
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12-25-2010 09:49 PM