Jim's Gem

I am trying so hard to get a couple of Downy quilts done and out the door.
They like the binding to be machine sewn and recommend using the backing to bring around and bind with.
I can't do this!!!!!
The first one, I was so careful when squaring up the quilt but ended cutting the binding part of the back on the last little cut. So I trimmed it all up, cut binding strips, adding more fabric from my stash and then sewed them on. I kept telling myself to sew it on the back first then turn to the front to sew down. Of course I attached it to the front, figured out I blew it after sewing about 15". I finished off as it was then pressed and turned toward the back, pinned the whole blasted thing and used a decorative stitch from the front to sew down. Looks fine but now how I wanted to do it.
Now, the second one, I was extremely careful squaring up the quilt and not cutting the back. I even taped the back away from the edges. I was just going back around to trim the backing to an inch larger than the rest, got to the last corner and trimmed it even with the quilt!!!!~! I am so mad at myself. I think I am going to try and do the backing/bind on 3/4 of the quilt and then just cut some binding strips for the top (which is the side I screwed up on))

How on earth do you do this type of binding without cutting the stupid backing fabric????
I have made so many quilts but have always used a separate binding which I would sew on the front and hand sew on the backing.
All I have to do is relax for one second and I mess the whole thing up!!!!!! This is so frustrating!!!!

virtualbernie

RELAX! That type of binding is just a recommendation. Bind it your way you just have to machine sew the binding on. They don't like hand sewing because they think it is not strong enough. Lots of people use decorative stitching to sew the binding on. Have fun with it! :-)

cjomomma

Some days that is just how things work. I am sorry it was so frustrating for you. I always bring the back around for the binding. I can't do the seperate binding because I just fight with it.

nana pat

great habits are hard to break, just relax and have a fun time. Isn't that what quilting is all about? :lol:

nursie76

I can understand your frustration. On the QFK quilt I did, the backing fabric just looked horrible against the material on the front of the quilt, so I went out and bought some that looked very nice and did a traditional binding.

Don't fret, I know they will be delighted to get those quilts!
Great of you to do this for those little ones.

Kryssa

I do traditional bias bindings. I always machine sew them on so it's not a new thing for me. I actually enjoy binding the quilt so I didn't want to try a new technique.

Just stick with what you know as long as if fulfills their requirements. Of course, if you are looking for a reason to learn something new, go for it :)

gale

I wish I could just FINISH the QFK I have. The border strips were not cut right and I didn't realize it until after they were all on and trimmed. Apparently one was narrower at one end or something. I guess I just didn't think to double check it since I hadn't heard of any being miscut. So it really messed up my momentum and now it's just been sitting there, waiting on me to cut all the sides down since I can't fix it any easy way. And it made the border wavy in one area so I hope like heck I can quilt it out!

C.Cal Quilt Girl

My sympathies, just hate when somthing goes wrong.... just use sissors so on each cut can double check where to cut will go.
Finish it and reguardless it will be Great and who ever gets it will be Lucky Lucky Lucky !!!
Think of the snuggles it will recieve, and know your doing something good !! :)

katier825

It's so frustrating when we do stuff like that (and we all do it). I never do my binding that way. I prefer the traditional folded binding because I think it will hold up better than a single layer. Especially with the frequency of washing these will get. I just use something from my stash. The backing they select for the kits doesn't usually look right for binding anyway.

If it's not too much work, you could piece the batting back on and then recut it to the size you need. You might have a lot of ripping to do though.

patricej

i spray baste the top to the batting and square it off before i apply the backing fabric. then i can choose any binding method that strikes my fancy when i get around to it.