Another Question on Bindings
 

Y'all all have more knowledge and expertise than me, and you provide countless ideas for us. So...here's another very basic question: When attaching your binding to your project, what's your favorite method - pinning it to the quilt edge before stitching it, using clips (Wonder Clips on sale at 45% off at QIAD), clamping with clothespins, not securing at all...just stitching on the 1/4" line, or what? Thanks in advance for your responses and ideas! I have previously paid someone to do my quilting and binding, but now that I am retired I am DETERMINED to do it all myself!

I don't pin or clip but just stitch being careful to line up the edges. Saves time, pin pricks and works for me. However, I do a rough layout to make sure the seams in the binding don't come on the corners.

I dislike pinning and avoid it when possible. I have found that binding does need to be secured before sewing it. I now use Wonder Clips and am very happy with them and I do not get stuck with pins. I do not do any hand stitching. I will clip the binding along one side of the quilt and then machine stitch very close to the edge of the binding fabric with a matching thread on both sides. When I reach the end of one side, I will then clip the next side and proceed. I would prefer Wonder Clips over clothespins because they are flat on the bottom and smaller.
I too am retired. I retired nearly 1 1/2 years ago and have been quilting for over a year. I also do all of the quilt myself.

If you want to do your own quilting, there is a very good video on Craftsy.com on quilting on a small machine. That is how I do my quilting. There are also videos for free motion quilting using a home sewing machine.

I do not pin when sewing binding to quilt edge. One thing I do that is a little unusual is that I do not cut the quilt edge before sewing on binding; I simply mark the cut edge with a black Sharpie and use that as my "virtual edge" when sewing on the binding. I find that this method ensures that the quilt edge remains flat and undistorted while I am sewing. I am *very* careful to trim the quilt edge after the binding is sewn on; the one thing you do not want to do is trim any of the binding at the corners (you will have a hole in your binding when you turn it!).

I need to backtrack and mention that I do a very rough pinning of binding to quilt before I start sewing. This is to make sure that any binding seams do not fall right at a corner. This gives me a good starting point for the binding. An alternative to doing this is simply to stop and adjust the binding join when you see it is going to fall at a corner; just undo the join, cut off a few inches, and re-join.

After getting the binding on and trimming the quilt edge to match, I iron the binding away from the quilt. This step helps me to get an even turn on the binding.

Another extra step I do (not necessary if your last step is hand sewing the binding on) is take the quilt to the ironing board and use Elmer's white washable school glue to turn the binding and glue it in place with my iron. This helps me get the binding to completely cover the original stitching line without going over too much. I then use a decorative stitch on my sewing machine for the final sewing.

When I first attach my binding to the quilt, if I am going to finish by hand I simply sew my binding to the quilt top side, matching up raw edges and using a 1/4 allowance stopping 1/4" from each corner so I can miter my corners. I don't use pins or anything at this stage. When I go to hand sew it to the back I use hair clips to hold it in place.

If I am machine stitching my binding 100%, I stitch my binding to the quilt back side, again matching up raw edges and using a 1/4 allowance, mitering corners and I don't pin. Then I bring it around to the front and stitch as close as possible to the folded edge. I don't use clips or anything for that either.

However, when I was a newb, I did pin my binding when machine stitching the first pass. Up until recently all my bindings were finished by hand. I just didn't like the look of machine stitched binding. I am still not crazy about it and have tried various techniques like SITD from the front, glueing, etc. I am usually never pleased with the result so I will stick to hand stitching it with few exceptions.

One should use whatever method to get accurate seam allowances.
Most everyone writes about sewing a 1/4 inch seam. Does anyone sew other widths.
How do you assure sewing to the 1/4 inch point at the corner. Does anyone stop before getting to the 1/4 point.
Do you trim any of the point.

I do not pin nor clip nor iron my bindings in half! I cut the required 2.5 inch strips attach them together and then sew the binding to the back and then flip it to the front. I use clear thread in the bobbin and a matching top thread. I use a 1/4 seam to sew the binding on with. Good luck!

The best/easiest binding method I've found is shown here.

Sharon Schamber Network - Binding the Angel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2hWQ5-ZccE

I use 3/8" seams with 2 and 3/4 cut width of binding. The only pinning I do is the first couple of inches, helpful to me when positioning the quilt under the needle. I sew about 6" and then stop to test that the binding folds over exactly right. Different thicknesses of fabric and batting can make a difference. When I get close to a corner, I use a seam gauge to find 3/8" up and stick a pin only in the quilt at that point perpendicular to the seam. I sew slowly to the pin and stop when I get to it and backstitch. I only trim out the corners when there is too much bulk. Normally there is no need.

I like a little wider binding so cut mine at 2-3/4 and use a 3/8 inch seam. This works for me since I finish by machine rather than hand sewing. I used to trim the point but recently saw a video that suggested not trimming since this is what makes the square to fill the binding.

Thank you ALL for the excellent tips! The video was extremely informative...do y'all use glue??? And what type of tip did she have on the end of the glue bottle? Looks like a trip to Wally World for school glue! Thanks again!!!

I have 20 of the wonder clips and after I sew the binding on, I use them to fold over the binding after I have it sewed on to the quilt. I do use pins but I pin them running parallel (and put the sticky ends in the quilt) to the side and remove them as i sew the binding on to the quilt. As I am hand sewing the binding on, I just keep moving the clips to the part that there aren't enough of them to do the whole quilt.

I took a great binding class when I worked with a quilting group. Now there are lots of YouTubes available.

When I am machine finishing the binding I sew the binding to the back of the quilt, iron out the binding away from the body of the quilt, turn the quilt over and iron the binding back into the quilt. At this point I can use school glue or glue stick if I want. Then I stitch. Due to the preironing there is no stretching required to make it all fit. I sew with one fo my 'fancy' stitches.

When I am going to hand bind then I sew the binding to the front of the quilt, iron away from the body of the quilt, turn it over, iron back to the body of the quilt on the back. Again I can use school glue or glue stick if i want. I find I only use 1-2 of the small wonder clips as I hand sew because I can easily remove and replace them. The joke is buy a pack of 10 and share them with 5 of your best friends.

The ironing seems like a lot of time but it makes everything else go so much easier and faster.

I use the Elmer's School Glue and LOVE it! Many people get the smaller bottle tips but I just use the one on the bottle, with it opened just enough, to allow a thin line of glue through. Just recently, I read a thread (on QB), which suggested adding a small amount of water to the glue, to thin it and make it flow more easily. I haven't tried that but am thinking it'd be especially good, for basting. Yes, basting! Many of us use the Elmer's School Glue for basting, with wonderful results! It all washes out, with detergent and warm water, after the quilt is finished.

I used to dread the sandwiching and binding but since learning about the Elmer's School Glue and Sharon Schamber, it's the easiest part! Gee, I really do sound like a commercial, don't I? :D

Note: only use the glue if you can wash the finished quilt. :)

Ditto for me.

I don't pin either. Just make sure a seam doesn't end up in a corner. When hand stitching which is NOT that difficult, I use those aluminum hair clips instead of pins. Just bring your thread up, take a bit into the binding and go back down close to where you came up and get you needle to come up somewhere a little closer than 1/4" and come back up and take another bit..... Just keep repeating. I use to be able to sew at least 5 feet in an hour.

My new favorite method is to use bobby pins. Cheap and easy, plus it works.


I only machine bind, 2.5" strips sewn together, then bobby-pinned to the back side. I sew 1.4" from quilt edge all around - with the exception of corners.

Then I turn the quilt over and fold the rest of the binding over the front quilt edge, and bobby-pin in place. I am not a nut case about the thread from attaching the binding to the top showing on the back of the quilt. I use a thread color that matches the binding on the top, and use a bobbin thread that matches/blends with the back.

It works for me, and no one who has received one of my quilts has complained. Then again, I'm the kind of person people are more likely to complain about, but not to! (LOL)

Ditto quiltRfun. This is what I do, also.

I just fold over a few inches at a time as I sew, no pinning or clips. I don't press a seam in my bindings either. I find it much easier to just fold it as I go. It does mean stopping every six or seven inches to re align the binding to the edge of the quilt but it insures that I take my time and get the binding to lay properly.
peace

I just hold both in my rt hand as I feed with my left hand no pinning or clipping. never had a problem

Hi
If I want an extra perfect binding I will glue and press it to heat set...and if it's just an everyday quilt I just pin and sometimes I skip the pins all together...

I use Sharon Schambers glue method. Comes out perfect every time. Especially the mitered corners.

I use 1/4 inch seam allowance unless I'm looking for a wider look on my binding. As I'm sewing along, I keep a ruler handy. When I get close to the end, I mark 1/4 inch with a disappearing pen so I will know where to stop. I have tried trimming some of the point in an effort to get nicer corners but don't have much luck with it. In general, my corners could be nicer. The miter looks OK, but they are a bit flat across the point.

I do it without pinning. Machine sew to the front, hand sew on the back. Make sure joins don't end up in a corner. Watched Sharon Schamber video and wonder if one were going to hand sew the binding to the back, how the needle would go through the glue. I know when I use glue for the sandwich, the machine needle has no problem with it.

When the final glue step is being done, the glue is not applied on the fold of the binding. She shows this in the video. Also when glue is applied in each step it is set with a hot iron which forces the glue into the fibers therefore the glue doesnt harden.

I have never had a problem forming a miter but I sure had trouble getting them to lay the way I wanted. About 4 quilts ago I decided I wasn't a show quilter and none of the recipients of my quilts would know the difference, so I clipped a small tip off the corner of the quilt before I made the miter. What a difference! Now every miter is nice and sharp and lays flat.

ETA: I don't clip the tip until I have turned the quilt to the back and am finishing sewing the binding down. I clip as I go, not before.

I use elmers glue.

I use hair clips! 6 for $1 at Dollar store. And don't pin it all the way around before I sew. I clip as I go about a foot ahead of the needle. Never had a problem with puckering or wrinkling.

I am going to try this on the quilt I intend to finish this weekend. Really truly! It looks like a very good way to keep your edges straight and as you said, avoid the puckering and distortion. I really like the glue idea as well since the upper edges of my binding always stretch when I sew them, even with my new fancy dual-feed Bernina! Thank you for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving! BTW, this was in response to Prism99. Thanks!

I don't pin anymore, either. I just make sure to be careful about not stretching my binding as I attach it. I do, as others have mentioned, do a rough layout before I start to make sure the seams of the binding don't fall at the corners and adjust as necessary.

One thing to remember about mitering corners is that the distance from the edge where you stop sewing needs to be the *same* as the seam allowance you are using. I remember the first time I sewed a binding on with a 3/8" seam; believe me, you want to stop sewing 3/8" from the edge -- not 1/4"! I had to completely remove the binding because the corners wouldn't turn.

Also, I have found that stopping just one stitch early helps my corners turn out better. If sewing a 3/8" seam, I stop 3/8" + one stitch early.

As I turn the miters, I typically will trim off some of the batting from the corner tip. I usually try to trim only the quilt tip, not any of the binding material. This too helps me get a better corner miter.

Edit: As others have mentioned, *not* ironing the binding in half seems to help too. Once I started doing that, I noticed that my bindings roll easier.

When sewing on binding, I have the binding on top and keep it slightly taut as I sew. This ensures that I do not sew on more binding than there is quilt!

I am a pinner.

I love the Clover Clips for holding the binding. I don't always stitch a 1/4 inch seam when attaching the binding. I "test" to see what is going to fill the binding for me so it might be a little more than a 1/4 inch.

So this method works for me. When I get a couple of inches away from the corner of the quilt, I stop with needle down and finger press the diagonal fold in the binding. Then I stitch up to the fold, cut the thread, make the second fold, and continue down the next side.

Sometimes, but not always, I will trim a bit of the batting out of the corners.

I do not take my quilt out of the machine at the corners. Once you understand what is going on when you fold back, slide up and fold down, you will be able to do that with the needle in the fabric at the corner. My seams are 3/8 inch, so I stop at 3/8 inch from the corner with needle down. Turn the quilt so you can sew on the diagonal into the corner right to the edge of the quilt. Usually about 3 or 4 stitches will do it. Stop with needle down. Turn the quilt so you can sew down the next side. Pinch the binding to make that mitered corner. Lay the pinched fold down so that it looks like it would if you had done all the folds as above. Now lift the needle, slide the quilt over so you are ready to sew down the next side, and away you go. There is just 3/8 inch of loose threads as you moved over to the seam line. No need to cut those off. They can just stay there.

Happy binding!

I do a combination of the suggestions a above with one addition. I don't press my binding before stitching it on, I don't pin, but line it up as I go and KEEP IT A LITTLE TAUT as I stitch. Then I press my binding up so it turns under easily and uniformly.

When I bind placemats, table runners, etc. I use a two inch binding and trim the item straight and close. than I can attach it with 1/4" seam and it works perfectly. I never pin or use any clips as I find it is a lot of extra work. However, when I turn the binding over to finish the item, I do use clips as they tend to make a straighter seam. I am a little more particular when I bind a quilt--use a 2-1/4 to a 2-1/2 inch binding and leave about a quarter inch on the quilt so I do have something to gauge my distance with. I understand if you want to have your quilt judged you have to be more particular but I don't go that far. Again practice makes it much easier.

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I totally agree with Neesie, this is a must-watch! The nicest binding I've done so far is using this terchnique.

[QUOTE=feline fanatic;6427211]When I first attach my binding to the quilt, if I am going to finish by hand I simply sew my binding to the quilt top side, matching up raw edges and using a 1/4 allowance stopping 1/4" from each corner so I can miter my corners. I don't use pins or anything at this stage. When I go to hand sew it to the back I use hair clips to hold it in place.


I do the same--the only thing I would add is that I iron the binding, once it's sewn to the front, flat so it's easier to turn to the back and hold with the hair clips. The other thing is that I keep strings of bat(about 1/8" wide) that I will tuck in if my bindings are going to be too "hallow" feeling.

Agree!!!!!!