Please post tips and how-to about how to do "good " binding on a quilt. There was a recent post from someone who entered quilts in a show and was critized on her bindings. I am sure many of us old and new quilters would benefit from help! Thanks!

Here's a search on all the tutorials on binding on this site. Everything from making the binding, attaching it, turning the corner and making sure you have enough 'stuffing'
http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....inding&u=&s=10

Even binding is subject to different opinions. I've been doing my binding the same way for several years now. I got an "excellent binding" from one quilt judge and a mark down on my binding from a judge this year. Just do your best.

one of the things that judges look for in bindings is that it is 'full'. some quilters have put extra batting in their bindings to achieve that. i cut my binding fabric 2.25". when i cut it 2.5", it get the empty look.
judges also look for perfectly square corners. so practicing the mitering of the corners is important.

Two years ago I got a second place ribbon at the fair and the comment card read "Lovely quilt, but wavy binding". I took that quilt (lg. wall hanging actually) to our quilt club meeting and the whole class looked my project over and could not SEE what the judge was talking about. It was a disappointment, but so be it. It didn't stop me from entering quilts at our fair and having fun making them.

I no longer cut 2" bindings. It's just toooo close for my old eyeballs. I cut them 2 1/4"...and make sure I am NEVER in a hurry. I want the binding on flat (and not pulled taught) which can cause a "wonk-wave" down the binding edge of your quilt.

I recently saw tutorial (can't remember where) where the quilter used water soluble glue to pre-glue her binding down. I may try that on a wall hanging, but not a full sized quilt. I have to admit her mitered corners were CRISP and spot on.

My binding is full to the edge with the quilt. It's very flat and very even. A friend of mine stuffs her binding with batting. They're puffy. I hate the way they look.

Personally I am mystified by this fascination that judges have with binding. I think it is the most minimal part of the quilt. It is the only part you can replace on a whim!

Just remember, anytime you enter any kind of judged competition...It is ONLY the judges OPINION. Don't take it personally. He/she may have left their glasses at home/had a bad day/didn't like the color purple(or whatever). It's all opinion. LOL, and if he judges you next week, he may just move you to first place!

Tell us you secrets!!!!!!!!!

The biggest secret I have is to use the biggest square ruler you have to trim the corners of the quilt before you put the binding on. It's very difficult to make perfect binding corners if the corner of the quilt isn't square to start with.

When you fold the miter on the front make sure it's straight up and make sure the angle is in perfect alignment with the point of the corner.

I don't think it's as important as some people would have you believe. I think it's the one, easily identifiable problem that quilters have, so it gets commented on more often than not. Because they get comments, every one thinks it's so important.

A great binding will not earn your quilt a first place ribbon. Will a bad binding job hurt an otherwise great quilt? Yes, if the competition is close. But I've had quilts do well in judged shows with imperfect binding. They may not have been best of show, but the binding didn't eliminate them from competition.

And once I decided to learn how to do a good binding, I get compliments on it instead of criticism, and boy, does that ever feel good!

Janet

I think you're referring to the instructions from Sharon Schamber. This is a 3 part video instruction. Here's a link to the videos. Really good tips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2hWQ5-ZccE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vHI...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--xg...eature=related

we had another thread on binding, and an expert said they left their batting a little longer than either the top or bottom, so that it 'stuffed' the binding. I can appreciate the point, however how do you do that. I square everything up after quilting, and run my rotary blade along the edge, cutting thru all the layers nice and crisp.....how would you cut the top and bottom, but leave the batting long ????? that is a mystery to me....

Thanks JudyG... that is IT!

I could not remember where I watched that due to a LOT of late night surfing. :D