Binding Corners: Will the world fall in...
 

I apply my bindings by machine. It's invisible on the front, and just catches the edge of the binding as a topstitch on the back. (You can see if you do a close up on the second and third photos here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t215231.html ) The part I hate is going back and hand stitching the little seams at the mitered corners. If they look tight to begin with, will the world fall in if I don't sew them??? Will the corners hold up to washing? It doesn't seem there is any way the corners could possibly pull out, but I wanted some backup on that. What do you think?

I never sew the tiny corners after machine bindings. I think they will be fine with washing. Wash one and see then let us know...lol.

It's a beautiful quilt. I would say if it looks like everything is sewn nice and tight that it would hold up fine. You could also put it on the machine and do a quick tack stitch across the opening.

it should be fine based on my experience. I don't hand sew the corners and they have stood up to repeated washings.

The one I sent you to in my link was machine washed. I washed it after completing it, and the corners came out fine. I just hope they continue to do so in subsequent washings. I actually just FORGOT to stitch them, LOL!

THANKS! Exactly what I hoped to hear!

I think that is fine!

It will be fine. I don't always sew the miters unless I missed the corner while sewing the binding.

You can always practice by making a pot holder and washing it several times.

I don't always take off points when judging if the corners are not stitched. It depends on whether or not they are folded and holding flat.

The ONLY time I sew the corners is when the quilt is to be judged, the JUDGES insist on the sewn corners.

I have to admit, I sew those mitered corners shut. I just can't gift the quilt, knowing there is a "hole" in the making. Even if you need micro-fingers and microscope EYES to see it! I do a hidden stitch and then run the end into the quilt top stitching. After I wash the quilt and the batting shrinks, I know those corners are NEVER coming undone!

Yes, I acknowledge my neurosis!

Thanks so much. I really appreciate reading how everyone thinks on this subject. Since I'm not being judged, I think the not-sewn corners are okay. A quilt judge wouldn't like my machine stitched bindings, anyway. They would probably never get past that "sin" to see to my corners, anyway. LOL.

I should probably rename myself, "Unorthodox Quilter". I could SO never deal with quilt judging.

The corners are fine if not sewn, like previously it only matters if you enter it into a competition

Love your quilt. Where did you place the white blocks in the 9 patch? I would like to do one with the white - have the perfect fabric now that I see your quilt

No the world will not end if you don't sew the corners down. The sun will come up tomorrow, trust me. I have NEVER sewn the corners down and they wear just fine. Have one quilt that is getting pretty ragged but it's 50 years old so it has a right! Do it YOUR way!

I put one stitch in the mitre corner. I did a survey among general quilters and the certified quilt judges as to whether the corners should be stitched. I got 50% from each group. But the overriding comment was "if the corners are flat there is no need to. If not completely colosed and flat then do it.
I can assure you not all judges insist on stitching closed, it depends on how it looks.

Unless you are entering a quilt show, there is no reason to sew down the corners. Judges sometimes use unsewn corners to deduct points in a competition, especially if the competition is stiff.

When you think of it, look at prairie points, they aren't sewn and they stay together after repeated washings, although I'd imagine you have to iron them to look decent. I have only machine stitched one border, but I didn't do the miters on that, and it's fine. And if I was entering a quilt in a show, no way would I machine stich the binding anyway.

I never sew the corners, don't think there is a need to

I typically do not sew the miter binding corner, and never had an issue with it.

Your quilt is very pretty and I hope the wedding couple enjoys it. Recently I was in a binding class and the instructor said unless you were going to enter competition, there isn't any need to sew the corners down. From your pictures your quilt looks sturdy.

What stitch did you use on your machine for your binding? I have never had any luck so I sew my on by machine then turn it and hand stitch.

I've never had a problem with them coming loose. I've never gone back and sewed them.

I think the only time you need to stitch your miters is if you are showing a quilt in a judged show. Mine will never go there

I use 4 white blocks at 12 o'clock, 3, 6 and 9.

GREAT POINT! (No pun intended!!)

I do longer than a 2, but less than 3. Probably like 2.25...

A friend entered a quilt in the Mid Atlantic quilt Show in Hampton Va. last week. ( it was a beautiful traditional civil war quilt) She was shot down for not stitching the little corner binding seams down, I didn't even know this was an option.

I enjoy sewing the binding by hand...its my finishing touch. An excuse to put my feet up and watch a movie too LOL

I got that "miters should be stitched" comment from judges on a quilt in a show, and I don't know what it means! I attended a juried quilt show last weekend and stared hard at a few quilt corners and I couldn't see if they were stitched it not!

your wedding quilt is lovely., beautiful. i never sew my mitered corners. and some of my quilts at the grandkids houses have been washed and dried weekly in the machine for 5 yrs. they never come apart.

I think that you did a beautiful job. Can you put a tutorial on how you did this?

I never sew the corners down, and they wash just fine.

Just goes to show, you never know what kind of anal judge you may run up against. But my main concern was not with judging and shows, it was with whether the corners could come open and become a problem after many washings. It doesn't seem that it will... so I'm happy.

Thanks for all the input and ideas...!

This will have to suffice for a tutorial, for now... I posted this on another thread on binding:

The way I machine stitch a binding is to sew the doubled binding on the front side with a 1/4" seam. (I cut my bindings 2.5", btw...) Then I start near a corner and turn the corner first, to get it nice. I use a lot of pins, and pin the binding from the front, as that is the side I will be stitching from. I work out from the corners and turn and pin the binding every 6" or so. I look on the back and get the binding just past the first stitching line, hold it there, and then pin it from the front. My aim will be to catch just the least bit of the binding on the back-- not miss it, nor catch too much and have a "flap" sticking out. After pinning all the way around, making sure to pin the edge of the binding just over the first stitching line, I start stitching in the ditch from the front. I actually pull the front binding fabric back from the seam, so it will later relax back over the stitching and hide it. I use my eye judgement on how wide the binding should look from the front, plus feeling where the edge is with my fingers, as well as sometimes peeking to see where that edge is on the back. This is finesse... you get the feel for it and it gets better the more you do it. I usually have to go and pick a few spots where I missed the edge, or caught too much... no big deal. I don't think I've ever done one yet that I didn't have to pick a few spots and try again. Keep practicing. Good luck!

Oh, forgot to mention that I pin in the ditch from the front... and then look on back to see where that came out and adjust as needed. The pinning takes longer than the actual sewing but it's an important step you can't skip.

Great idea, I would love to see how to machine stitch both sides of the binding, my least favorite part of quilting.

I do sew mine shut, because I am a fanatic, however, yours looks fine. I believe it is a personal preference unless you want to enter the quilt in competition. BTW, I love the bright colors in your D9P