machine stitching the binding questions

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09-01-2009, 05:42 PM

#21

k_jupiter

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Bay area CA

Posts: 887

Quote:

Originally Posted by kluedesigns

yes, all bets are off when its related to show quality quilts.

And I don't quilt for judges.

I do what you do, start in the front, roll it over, pin like crazy making sure it covers just a bit more than the front part of the binding, then stitch in the ditch from the front.

You don't want to see my hand stitching.

tim in san jose

09-01-2009, 05:50 PM

#22

kluedesigns

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY

Posts: 4,727

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_jupiter

Quote:

Originally Posted by kluedesigns

yes, all bets are off when its related to show quality quilts.

well, if its like your feet its not that bad :wink:

09-02-2009, 05:39 PM

#23

rndelling

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: IL

Posts: 258

I too stitch my binding to the back first and fold to the front.

Also, sometimes is it's a quilt that's going to get lots of wear---for a child---after quilting I trim the batting, as usual, and then trim the backing 1 inch all around. I fold that to the edge of the quilt top and batting and then fold once again over the top. Do this and stitch each of the 2 sides and then the top and bottom. Top stitch with a walking foot or use a decorative stitch. Corners aren't mitered this way but if you're in a hurry and it's a quilt that's going to get lots of wear it works great.

09-03-2009, 12:32 AM

#24

thismomquilts

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: here! :)

Posts: 1,485

Alot of opinions on this one! I machine stitch my bindings to the front, hand stitch to the back and miter the corners. I do not always have perfectly mitered corners but I try to do the best I can. I have a friend who always has her quilting on display for others in her home (UFO's, WIP's, etc.) Her quilting is very very very even and neat - almost perfect one might say... mine, on the other hand, is not so much... BUT I have fun and I enjoy my quilting and no matter if I get compliments or not I will continue to try to improve and do what I love doing - no matter if it's perfect(ly displayed) or not... :) I LOVE to hand stitch the binding on - if I LOVED to machine stitch it I would - we need to do what we love and do it how we are able to - - - my quilts may never make it to a show, but they are all loved.

09-03-2009, 01:49 AM

#25

mcdaniel023

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Indiana

Posts: 3,607

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiltgranny

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esqmommy

Stitching by machine NEVER looks as pretty as hand-sewn - I don't care what anyone says... :D

Well, I beg to differ with you on this point. I'm sure you meant no offense by your comment, but I would like to toss in another perspective here. There are many of us out here, that, for whatever health reason may not be physically able to whip stitch our bindings by hand, myself included. To me, our quilts are quite beautiful because we have found a way to pursue our love for quilting and giving to others despite our various handicaps.

When I give someone a quilt or other project that I made for them, they look not at the binding and the perfection of the workmanship, but rather, they look at me and smile appreciatively, grateful for the time and effort that I gave to their gift knowing that it was more difficult for me to do than someone without health issues.

I don't think anyone could have said it better. Most of us quilt because we love doing it. We aren't entering it in a show. We give them to people we know will appreciate them, perfect or not. I honestly like the binding hand done, but because of arthritis, I know that in the future, that will probably not be an option for me and I will be perfectly ok with it.

09-03-2009, 06:38 AM

#26

hokieappmom

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 744

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maride

I like the look of hand sewing the binding, but if the quilt will be dragged around and washed often, it last longer with machine sewn binding. When I do that, I too sew fron the back fold it to the front, and add a decorative stitch.

I make my mittered bindings with the Mittered Binding Tool. I used to fold them mittered, but since I found the tool I would not do it any other way.

Here is a link to it:

http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...indMtrTool.php

Maria

How do you use this tool to miter?

09-03-2009, 07:38 AM

#27

AtHomeSewing

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Pacific NW USA

Posts: 883

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelley

One thing to keep in mind: If you are going to enter your quilt in a fair or competition, the judges like hand sewn binding, small stitches, equal amounts of binding in the front and back and full bindings. The only red ribbons that our guild got at the fair were on the quilts where one of the girls uses a machine instead of hand stitching, all the rest were blues.

Fortunately, it isn't always the case. As an example, Fire Dragon Rhapsody by Ricky Tims won the award for Best Machine Workmanship at the 2006 AQS Show and is now part of the permanent collection at the quilt museum in Paducah. He does all bindings completely by machine.

I was just at an event where he was asked about doing machine bindings on his competition quilts. He commented that judges want to see that whatever technique is used, that it is executed well. Apparently it is working out okay for him, he was recently selected as one of "The Thirty Most Distinguished Quilters in the World."

If you'd like a look at his quilt: http://www.rickytims.com/images/Fire_Dragon72.jpg

09-03-2009, 09:43 AM

#28

SNUGQUILT

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: Illinois

Posts: 424

I machine both sides of my bindings. I do mitered corners, but instead of hand stitching, I machine it. I usually (if I remember), maching stitch to the BACK of the quilt first, and then bring to the front and stitch with my edge stitcher (not technical name!) foot to the front. I am able to stitch right on the edge of the binding with this foot. It works wonderfully, and has a nice clean finish that will last!

09-03-2009, 10:01 AM

#29

donnajean

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2007

Location: Holland, PA

Posts: 4,157

I have machine stitched the binding on all my quilts. I attach to the front of quilt 1st with a straight stitch & miter the corners. Then I turn over to back & use ULI invisible thread & a stitch on my Viking Rose machine that goes a couple stitches forward; a nip to the right; forward; nip to left, etc. It actually come out looking like the binding was hand stitched.