Anyone use the Bernina Binding Attachment for bindings?
 

Has anyone had good success with the newish foot/attachment #88 to do their bindings? http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Product...r-feet-us/-95C

I believe there are 3 sizes with the #88 that do the double fold binding and I would like some feedback on it.

I will be interested in the answers you receive.

I've seen it demonstrated but it's too costly for me.

I would like to see answers as well, I am seriously considering it.

Do you remember the general cost? And from what I understand each of the three sizes is sold separately, right?

I don't know about these newer binding feet. I know that Bernina used to offer 3 binders for vintage machines, but they ultimately took the quilting binder off the market because it did not work very well on the thickness of quilts. The other sizes had quite a learning curve, but could be used successfully for binding the edges of sleeves on little girls' dresses, for example.

The videos of these binders show that they seem to work very well. You're supposed to do a basting stitch around the quilt before use to deal with any thickness issues. However, I've not found any good close ups of the final stitching on the back of the quilts. I guess what I'm asking, is would it mainly be for quilts that get used or would the binding pass the muster of judges at a show?

The one I looked at runs about $169 at my local Bernina dealer plus the presser foot you need runs about another $25. I'll do mine the old fashioned way, thank you.

It looks good on the video, but I have never tried one or seen a quilt up close that it was used on. The lady at my LQS did bibs and pot holders with one several years ago. It did a nice job on them, but they weren't as thick as a quilt.

I thought these binders were new??

Was that for all three sizes or each?

Isn't there a webnair on the binding tool? You might want to look on the Bernina site to see if they have anything on it.

Pat in MN

Yes, they don't show close ups that satisfy me. That's why I'm asking here.

There has been a discussion on another group about the binding att for machines. One of the problems listed is that it doesn't do a real double binding, if folds in both sides, but the edge part is not doubled. So the thinnest part of your binding is at the edge, don't know if this would be noted by a judge, but as a practical application it would make the edge wear out quicker. Not a big deal if your quilts on being used on the bed.

That makes sense. Thanks.

Don't spend $169 to get these binders in a Bernina box. The binders are available as industrial generics from EBay and are as cheap as $26 for a set of 3 sizes to $89 for a set. I don't own a Bernina but after studying the bed of the machines quickly determined that any metal bed machine with pre-drilled holes will work. I have old Singers (Featherweight, 301s and a Rocketeer) and decided to risk the $26. Thumbs screws to hold the binder to the machine bed were not included but I used a pair from my Singer parts collection. I used the regular sewing foot so it took a couple of tries to get the binder in the right spot as the special Bernina foot makes it idiot proof to line things up. There is certainly a learning curve and my mitered corners are not crisp.....let's face it, the corner is ugly! I took the binding off twice and decided to serge the quilt edges as there were lots of hanging threads from the multiple handlings. The end result is not show quality but does finish both sides quickly for a charity quilt.
The chicken side is the front and the sunflowers on the back.

I would worry about buying a generic one and it screwing up my very expensive Bernina 830E. The videos show the corners are no problem on the Bernina binder. But, again, the stitching on the back wasn't shown clearly. Thanks for your thoughts and experiences. A generic one may be a good candidate to try on one of my vintage machines though:>

I asked about them at my dealer and they said that they did't work all that well. It sure would save time though.

I have the Bernina binding attachment. I use it on things other than quilts, such as bibs, potholders etc. Like HSue said you only get a single fold.......and, although the Bernina demonstrator was a whiz at doing mitered corners, I find it quite difficult to get a really good looking corner so when I DO use it I use it on things with rounded corners so I don't have to deal with the miter.

Why don't you take a quilt sandwich or a charity quilt into your dealer have them show you the attachment and let you use it. that would be a good test as to whether or not it is worth it to you. I don't think that binding put on totally by machine would pass a quilt judge test - but that is just a guess

That was just for the one size. The unfolded binding strip.

Yikes....if it were for all sizes, maybe. But, I think I'll have to stick with the traditional way too.

I ordered this one: http://store01.prostores.com/servlet...-2-INCH/Detail (not affiliated). I demoed the Bernina one in the store, and this one works exactly the same, though it doesn't swing out, which hasn't seemed to make much of a difference for me, but it lacks a convience factor.

I cannot get perfect mitred corners. I find curves are still tricky too. But I've only used the thing twice. It is not a magic wand, and it will still take practice.

For me the $200+ of a single Bernina binder is just not worth it. The less than $40 I spent on this was a much better gamble!

I have a 430 and it fits it perfectly. I use my standard presser foot.

I do wonder about this. They accept fused bindings now, and those are often over stitched by machine, on appropriate quilts. I would imagine if they were done by machine they would need to be absolutely flawless.

I don't have a binding foot for my machine. I have been told by a good friend who has entered a number of quilt shows that binding must be hand sewn on a quilt if you are going to enter it or you will lose points.