Better late than never--Just "found" the right foot for sewing bindings!
 

I've been at this quilting stuff for 20 years or so and just this past couple of quilts did it finally dawn on me that my "stitch in the ditch" foot (#10) for my Bernina Activia 135 is wonderful for stitching bindings down by machine on the front of the quilt! I just moved the needle over to the right size and stitched away--It works so well, I can't imagine why I've been so slow catching on. But I thought it might make someone else look over their machine feet and perhaps find one that will make some of your quilting easier!

I have used mine for binding as well -- it really helps keep me on track.

What a great idea!!! And I just bought a stitch in the ditch foot recently. Thanks!!!

I've always used mine for SITD on the front after sewing the binding to the front. Of course. 'always' is the year and half I've been quilting.

thanks so much! i'm going to try mine :thumbup:

The foot use to be called Edge Joining foot but when quilters discovered it's great for SITD , the foot changed names. So be sure you don't already have one for your machine before buying the STID foot.

Do you use the Wonder Clips for holding the binding? I have a Bernina 640 and have just been using my walking foot. How do you handle the corners when using this foot?

Haha, just last weekend I had some quilters at the lake for the weekend. One mentioned a SITD foot and I wanted to see it. It sounded like the best thing since sliced bread! When she showed me, I told her it was an edge joining foot and showed her how to use it. We both learned something!

piney

I will have to check out my feet to see if I have that one as I dont know what most of the feet that came with my machine do!

I have a Singer (low shank) machine and bought the generic SID foot from JoAnn's, I think. I use it for binding all my kids and baby quilts where I stitch on the back first and then fold to the front and top stitch with the SID foot. I usually use the point of my seam ripper to hold the binding in place until the presser foot grabs it. Works fantastic and the corners come out perfect. I too, have to adjust my needle position 3-5 clicks to the right, and match the bobbin thread to the backing of my quilt.

I wish I could figure out how to machine sew the binding so that it catches the seam on the back just right. any hints?

I've seen some beautiful work on some quilts with stitch in the ditch on the front. I was taught to pin, pin, pin, but I don't like being stuck. Last time I did it I used the wonder clips from Clover; those little tiny red things. Expensive, but they work. Now I have read about using Elmer's School Glue to hold the binding just where you want it, and am going to try that. If you haven't heard of that, I'm sure someone here can tell you all about it.

[QUOTE=EmiliasNana I usually use the point of my seam ripper to hold the binding in place until the presser foot grabs it.

Good grief! Don't you have a purple thang? Easier, safer (for you and the quilt)! Cheap. Seam rippers sometimes get a mind of their own and you end up with a hole.... unless your seam ripper is one of those dull ones, I guess.

What a great idea for using that foot... I wonder if I already have one as well. I got a slew of feet with my machine when I bought it and if I don't have it, I think I should get one! Thanks! :)

Okay... I had to go look and see if I could find a video showing this foot. I think I'm going to demo it at my next quilt guild meeting. Wow. It's a cool foot for a lot of things. We have a few ladies that are working on applique quilts and this foot would make life a lot easier for them as well.
I thought I'd share the really good video I found :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uk0ifHrepQ

I might have to invest in a new foot! Thanks for the info.

Boy, it's easy to under-utilize feet. In fact, I've actually gone out and purchased a foot only to find out I already have it! How's that for bad?

WOW I going to check in my Bernina foot box and see if I also have a #10 foot... I really do not know...Thanks for the heads up. :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

I used Wonder Clips for the first time last week, and I LOVE THEM! faster and less mess than the glue method.

I think you could use the walking foot the same way as any foot for the corners - sew to the seam's length away from the corner (usually 1/4"), remove the quilt from the machine, fold the binding up at a 45 degree angle, fold it down square with the side you just sewed, sew from the top to the next edge and repeat.

Thanks for the great idea. I'm about to make some table mats, I will try the SITD foot for the binding.

Now this is really funny. I've been sewing for more years than I care to admit and today I figured out the exact same thing. I had the SITD sole on my walking foot so didn't bother to change it. Sewed binding on wrong side & when I turned quilt over to sew it on the front. . . Bingo! A light bulb went off. Little did I know it was your light bulb. LOL.

Thanks so much for the learnning info.

That video was terrfic. Definitely need to get my hands on one of these! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Can someone put up a pic please. I am pretty sure I know which foot you are all talking about, but a pic would be great.

Bonnie B

I also have a Bernina and use the walking foot with the stitch in the ditch attachment. Ir helps me hold down all the layers and in line.

I think you could use the walking foot the same way as any foot for the corners - sew to the seam's length away from the corner (usually 1/4"), remove the quilt from the machine, fold the binding up at a 45 degree angle, fold it down square with the side you just sewed, sew from the top to the next edge and repeat.


You don't have to remove the quilt from the machine when you get to the corner. Just sew from that point, 1/4 inch from the edge, or whatever seam allowance you are doing, to the very corner on a diagonal. Leave your needle in the last little bit of fabric in the corner. Lift the presser foot. Turn the quilt to come down the next side. Fold the binding back, slide up, and fold down. Then lift the needle and move over to the place where you want to sew. Lower presser foot and away you go down the next side. No cutting of thread at the corner!

Ok- What does the foot look like and what does the finished binding look like?

I'm really interested.

Yep, I use that foot for binding, also. Thanks for pointing it out, for those that did not know.

I have always hand sewed my bindings, but this sounds interesting. I'm not sure I understand it completely, but will give it a try.

Wow this is a great idea. I am going to try it for sure.

same here dont quite understand a pic would be great to see .... janedb

Mine looks exactly like the regular walking food, but with a "blade" sticking out the bottom that fits into the seam. By "blade" I mean the shape; it is not sharp for cutteing.

That's what I have done too, but after reading the discussions above, I can hardly wait to try it! Wow! Such a timesaver! Thanks, Members, for this posting!

Thanks for sharing the video. It really explains the foot well.

HaHa! Another foot has changed names recently. It used to be called the fagoting foot. It's now more PC to use the name "Spanish Hemstitching" foot. To me it will always be fagoting though.

Thanks for sharing the video. I went to the website and looked at several of the other videos on feet. This will really help me use my feet to a much better advantage!

I bought a SID foot but then decided that I liked my walking foot better since it did better with the bulk of the quilt. Any tips that I am missing?

What does this foot look like. I have never heard of it. I use a bernina and would be interested in it, thanks.
peace

EDIT> Should have read more of the thread! thanks for the you tube!

I always use the SITD foot on my Bernina for kids quilts or charity quilts. It is much faster and studier than hand sewn binding IMO. But I also had trouble getting the front side even with the back so it looks good. I took a class on Bindings a couple of years ago at my guild and found a terrific product. It's called "Wash Away Wonder Tape" by Dritz. It's 1/4" wide and I apply it to the inside edge of the binding when I fold it over. I stick the edge down about 1/8" past the stitch line from the back of the binding. then I move the needle over until I am 1/8" inside the edge, use the SITD foot to stay right on the edge of the binding and stitch it down. Works very well for me and is much easier than trying to use a stiletto to keep the binding in place as you remove clips.