Ok so I have a question about binding. So far I have never ever hand sewn the binding on. One, because I'm lazy and two, because I don't want to. LOL But...I'm tossing the idea around for the quilt I'm currently working on. So, I need a little guidance. Is it a big deal if I just machine stitch it down? If I hand sew will it hold up to washing? I'm just afraid it won't be as strong. What kind of stitch do you use? If my mom lived here I would bat my eyes and ask her to do it. Probably wouldn't work but I would try. :D

Appreciate your input...

I've done it both ways. I prefer machine stitching cause it's quicker. Both have held up well through multiple washings.

Love your avatar!

I think a hand-sewn binding looks better on the quilt. But I don't do show quilts. Sewing the binding by hand can be relaxing, as well. But if you don't want to, there is no reason not to do it by machine. I attach it to the back and sew it down to the front with one of the simple decorative stitches on my machine.

I was the same way, but once I looked up every single tutorial on handsewing the binding and actually doing it, I'm hooked. It is very relaxing and somehow very gratifying. Try it- you'll love it!

Try watching this tutorial on you tube. It really helped me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--xgi4nux8

I have only done hand sewing (to the back) on my quilts. DGD's crib quilt is 9 yrs old and she still drags it around the house. Through the dog hair, dirt and dust bunnies. :shock: so it gets a lot of washing . . . she has yet to ask 'grammy' to fix-it.

I still sew mine on by machine from the front, pull it to the back and hand stitch it down with a double thread. My stitches are not super small but also not gallopping horse size either and mine have held up to solid use. The binding on my favorite quilt is getting very thin but the seam is still solid. It is a great thing to do while the TV is on.

I like this tutorial video by craftygemini for hand sewing binding on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJvDO...feature=relmfu

I stitch mine down by hand but I love doing handwork. I have even put it on the quilt by hand.

yes, i find that handing finishing is the most relaxing part of making the quilt. I can't seem to master machine binding and hate taking the risk of having to un-sew when i can get it right the first time with hand stitching.

I have always hand sewn my binding and I have quilts that are 30 years old. I used single thread and a small blind stitch. I always like that part of the quilt - very satisfying. I tried doing it by machine once and it looked like c**p. Had to tear it all out.

I machine stitch bindinge because my hands won't let me hand sew any longer without sleeping. My late DM always did it for me, now I do it the way I can.

I have never used double thread when hand sewing my binding, but was wondering if it would help the seam last longer. I will have to try this sometime on my next quilt.

This is my technique as well. I have never seen the glue method.

Sew on one side and then hand sew other...with hidden stitch so it can't be seen...I love doing it at night while watching TV...my favorite part of the quilt...

I only machine sew - hand issues - and even when i could have hand sewn, I stunk at it! The first couple of machine bound quilts were wonky, but I'm improving with each one.

I hand sew bindings on the back side with hand quilting thread, single not double strand, and a small blind stitch. I also sew the miters closed in the corners.

I've been hand stitching in one form or another since I was 7 and find it very relaxing as long as the cat doesn't want to help. :roll: I've never had the binding stitching fail, but I suppose that depends on the quality of your handwork.

love to hand sew mine.

I did it! Hand stitched the binding down and now my quilt's all finished!!! I'll post pics soon!

Same here - my hands won't let me bind for over 15minutes a day any more. I have no choice but to switch to machine binding.

Here's some tutorials that helped me.(Be sure to scroll down to catch the whole tut.) I hope they help ya'll.

Ladder stitch
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-40083-1.htm

Glue basting
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29275-1.htm

That's my method exactly! I have just never felt that hand-sewing for the binding would be strong enough to hold up to all the tugging and pulling that a binding gets. But then my quilts are to be used and loved, not put on a shelf.

:lol: :lol:

I have done mine both ways.

I thought that I was the only person to do the binding that way, except that I was told to use a single thread when sewing the binding ti the back.

I don't like hand stitching of any kind, however, I force myself to hand stitch binding. 1. because it looks neater & 2. I just can't get the hang of machine stitching the binding.

I just went to a quilt show judging last week. The judge we had said even it there are no curves the binding should be on bias because it will wear better in the long run. It should be hand sewn on the back using a ladder stitch. The corners are to be a perfect 90 degree miter and the little flap from the miter corner should be sewn shut. The binding should be full of batting and if it not she advised to cut little strips of batting and lay in there to fill it when you are hand sewing. If it is full of batting it will wear better. Now, if you not showing a quilt and it is for kids to run around with I would machine sew if you don't enjoy hand sewing.

Both are OK - machining is quicker.

I hate doing it, too, but I discovered that what I hate is the mitered corners. So I create a template and round them off. Now the binding goes around smoothly and looks very nice.

Another thing I've done is machine sew to the back and then use a decorative stitch in a contrasting color to machine sew to the front. Very sweet!

Someone from this site was kind enough to furnish me with this wonderful site for machine binding - I don't think I will ever bind differently from now on - it is beautiful! Good Luck.

http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html

I machine sew the bindings down. I do a LOT of charity quilts and children's quilts. Machine sewing is more secure to last washings and abuse.

I sew to the back and bring the binding to the front and topstitch. It looks nice.

For my own quilts, for myself or family gifts, I will do it traditionally with hand sewing. Then I use the school glue to hold it in place so I dont get stuck with pins.

Jean

i love hand sewing, find it relaxing. So, I hand sew mine.

I always hand stitch using a single thread and small blindstitch. I, too, find it relaxing and enjoy the process.

Thank you so much for the link! I wish I had seen this two nights ago when I was doing a doll quilt. It would have been much easier and maybe my hand wouldn't be so stiff now LOL

I hand stitch down bindings for a quilt that's going to the fair, or a show. But for a good ol' using quilt (like for the grand kids or my hub).. I machine stitch the whole binding down.. front and back.

I plan a little a head, and put a binding on that matches the last border. That way.. the decorative stitch looks cute and serves a purpose.

Thank you for this reference. I hate binding. Maybe I can try this method.

I love to do the binding....its a nice relaxing thing to do while watching tv..hand stitching it to the back. If you were close, I'd do it for you! :D

I've never seen a binding that was finished on the machine that looks as nice as a hand sewn. I figure I've put so much time and money into at that point why rush the end. Just to clarify I sew the binding on by machine, turn it and hand sew with tiny stitches that are invisible.
I find it relaxing.

Ditto! And show quilt or not, I think hand sewn binding looks better. It doesn't wander off into the design on the front of the quilt or the back of the quilt. froggyintexas

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That really IS a great Youtube tutorial! I'm sending it out to all my quilting friends.
Thanks!!