Binding
 

How many quilts/projects do you attach a binding to before it actually turns out how you'd like it too? ;)

I've bound 4 different projects, different sizes. I've used different techniques. But, they never look good enough to gift or share with anyone.

practice, practice, practice - I feel I do a really good job on my bindings and have gotten compliments on them. What is it about your binding that you don't like? Do you use a double fold binding? Do you cut across the width of fabric, or length? Or are you putting on bias binding? How wide do you typically cut? I use a 2.5 inch cut, folded in half, sewn on the front by machine and the back by hand. I occasionally cut at 2.25 if the batting is thin, or 2.75 if I am working on flannel. give us more info or photos and I bet we can help!

OK, I'm confused -- but I'm easily confused - lol. If you are working on projects that you aren't happy with, why bind them? I would continue to do, redo, add more, change something, etc. before I added batting and backing. Does that help at all? Sometimes, many times, I walk away from a project that isn't turning out like I want, and then go back to it later. That helps me a lot. I usually get some inspiration.

See, I was confused! It's the binding you don't like. I would master the easiest way first which is probably to sew on the side pieces to the front by machine, and finish backs by hand. Then do top and bottom, taking care to turn under the corners and line them up well. Does that help?

How about some pictures? Honestly the binding is usually the thing I dislike the least - I can always notice a crooked seam, mismatched corners, over abundant stippling, but the binding always looks so nice and clean.

Maybe your last cut of your quilt is not clean so there is no hope for the binding. Some folks must square their quilts up nicely before doing that last cut before binding.

What is it about your binding that you don't like?

I agree - lots of practice! I'm glad I saw your comment - I didn't know to allow more for flannel. I have one that I'll soon be ready to bind. I've gotten a lot better, but there still may be a quilt where I like 3 out of my 4 corners.:o

Have you seen this binding tutorial? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc It makes binding downright easy! :)

Binding is my favorite part of the quilting process. Part of it maybe because the quilt is finally done but the other part is because I enjoy hand sewing. Keep your stitches small and match thread with your binding.

Here is my own binding tute. I'm sending this in Microsoft Office doc. format, but a pdf. one may come tomorrow for those that need it.

Jan in VA

Jan, I've always like this tutorial. :)

Is there more? More about sewing the binding down to the other side? Finishing it up?