$20 to bind a quilt?
 

How is that price wise to machine bind a couch throw size quilt? They said it would be done by machine, both sides.

Is the binding for the quilt already made and supplied by you. Do you know what stitches will be used for the project?

Be sure to see examples first or discuss how it will look. If all the questions are answered to your satisfaction, then proceed.

I would be happy to pay it to get a completed project marked off my list. Think of the amount of time the task would take.

I'm guessing maybe to hand stitch down the back side once you put the binding on? Still selling themselves far too cheaply. And I'd want to be sure they knew how to knife edge the corners, assuming the person putting the binding on did it correctly on their side to start.

I charge $.25 per linear inch for both hand and machine binding. Yes, I charge the same for machine because in my opinion, machine binding is more of a pain to do and I would rather do by hand. I prefer my customers to just give me their binding fabric and I take it from there, because most of them press it in half first and that's yet another pain. I have to press and starch their fold out before I can use it.

So, to answer your question, if the quilt was 40" by 50", I would charge $45.00. I have plenty of samples at the LQS for anyone to look at and handle, and lots of references.

I agree with Kalama - price seems awfully low.

My long arm lady charges 30 for machine binding. She has an attachment for her Bernina. I just give her the fabric for the binding and the quilt is DONE when it comes back. I think its well worth it

Why is that a pain? That's how I do my binding by machine ... I'm just wondering if you have another way of binding that might be less of a pain!

THanks!

I think this shop has an attachment for doing it. My choices were; no binding, the first side machined down, or both sides done. I really don’t like doing binding so opted for both sides. I’ll post once it comes back about how well it looks. I didn’t even think to ask to see a sample but they have samples hanging all over the shop so I could have easily looked at them.

I do mine without the pressing - I just fold it as I apply it. I find it lays flatter and feeds better to sew it. That's why I do it this way.

I think the LQS here wants $40.

Another nonpresser here.

interesting. I think I will try it without pressing next time.

I've been trying the non-pressing for the last year because of a thread here. I never noticed the issues with the crease being off, I think because my binding is a bit larger (I cut at 3") and I typically use rather high loft batts anyway, but I make sure my edge are full.

None of the problems I was worried about happened. I was afraid that I wouldn't get my nice crisp corners, but they were fine. I was concerned about putting in warpage along the bias, no issues. No more problems making sure both sides were stitched down than by pressing first.

The only thing I have for pressing the bindings is I like the way they look when they are stored better (I wrap mine around 12" pieces of cardboard for easy counting). Since my tops may sit years before they are actually quilted, it is a consideration. For a more normal person, I'd say -- go ahead, don't press and see what you think. You could save yourself some time.

I should mention that my bindings are still pretty crisp once I cut them and wrap them on their cardboard. If I was concerned that they were floppy and wouldn't store well and that I had to press them again anyway, I'd probably press them closed for the extra 5 minutes of effort.

Sounds like a good deal, to me.

I do not press my binding either, just an extra step not needed. IMHP.

That's how I do mine.

It doesn't really have anything to do with whether I sew it on my hand or machine - I simply don't press my bindings in half before I sew them on. I find the fabric wraps much smoother around the raw edge of the quilt if I don't press, and it looks and feels nicer.

If you think about a high school track, the inside lane is shorter than the outside lane, right? Now imagine the binding, as it wraps around the quilt from the front to the back, is like that track. The inner lane (the inside layer of the binding) is shorter than the outside. If you don't press a fold into it, the fabric has the ability to shift and adjust to lay flat and smooth against the quilt. If you've pressed it, it has a memory and will want to stay in that position, which results in the "inner track" being the same size as the outer track, and you end up with excess fabric inside your binding.

Just my personal preference, to each her own. :thumbup:

That sounds like a really good deal to me. Whenever I send quilts out I do the binding myself. If theycould do it for that price I would let them.

Peckish, thanks for the tip. I'm going to try it.

I usually use bias binding (cut about three inches wide) and I do baste the raw edges together - to make sure that one edge does not creep - but I also do not press/iron that crease at the center.

I always press my binding fabric in half. That tiny bit of extra fabric on one side makes absolutely no difference. The thickness of the fabric is minuscule. I think the two layers stay together without shifting a lot easier if they are ironed together.
Just a little noise from the other side of the fence! LOL

I used to press my bindings. Then I tried binding without pressing it in half before pinning it to the quilt. It seems easier to get the binding on with both edges lined up evenly with unpressed binding.

Bonus is that one step of the binding process is eliminated.

Bearisgray, How do you make your bias binding? I have a binding machine that takes bias binding that I would use if I could find a good/better way to make the binding. I assume you are talking about continuous bias binding.

Thanks for a very clear explanation Peckish!

I just cut individual strips - as long as possible, sew together diagonally, and fold them in half. I prefer as few seams in the binding as possible. And yes, I usually end up with a large triangle of fabric left over.

Binding
 

I agree with you, this is the way I was taught over 25 years ago and have never done it any different and have never had an issue. Everyone has their own way of doing things that make it easier and I am so grateful they are willing to share their idea, then I can decide to do it differently or stick with my tried and true way for me.

$20, as long as it was a traditional binding - double fold; I would gladly pay, the time it usually takes me to bind a quilt is more costly than the money to have someone else do it at that price. where do I sign up for this service - LOL

When done properly, machine binding is nice, but too often, it’s not done properly. I’d definitely request to seeing samples of her work before committing to anything. But if you’re ok with less than perfect machine done binding, $20 and done, is a bargain. I charge .15 psi just for stitching it down on the front, ready to hand bind. If I have to cut and make the binding, it’s more.

I have no idea how it works without pressing! I do press and am well pleased with the results whether finishing by hand or by machine. One of my quilts took Best of Show at our local fair this fall so I must be doing something right.