Bindings
 

So far in my quilting career I have only made 13 quilts and on every one of them I have put the binding on backwards by folding it to the front rather than the back. Until today I was so please with each quilt and while knowing they weren't perfect I knew I had done the very best job I could. However, it was a real downer this afternoon when reading an article about binding quilts I discovered that all of my my quilts had a major mistake. All but one of these quilts have been gifted. I still have #13 with the backwards binding completed. Since I hand sew my bindings using a blind stitch should I take the binding for #13 out and correct my mistake or just look the other way and do things right on future quilts? As an FYI, #13 is a queen size quilt.

If your binding looks okay and is functional, then there is nothing wrong with it. You just found a non-standard (but definitely not wrong) way to do it. And I'm sure you're not the only one who does it that way.

There are many people who machine quilt the entire binding, and many of them sew it to the back first. Other people leave enough of the backing to turn to the front and hand sew it there.

There's nothing wrong with doing it the way you have done it!

If you like the quilts the way they are, there is absolutely no reason to tear out the binding. While there are many different ways to put on binding, none of them are 100% right and none are 100% wrong. I machine stitch binding to the front, flip it to the back and glue down, then machine SITD from the front. Lots of quilters won't machine stitch, sewing the second part by hand. I do what works for me and so should you. Don't beat yoursef up or feel like you failed because you did something different.

Since you sew the binding down with a blind stitch I bet they look just fine and unless you are really worried about it I wouldn't rip out all the binding you have already sewn on. You haven't had any complaints? Your recipients were likely tickled pink to get a quilt from you. Be proud of your work and switch to the standard way on your next one.

There is no right and wrong way to do a binding. Don't even think about it being wrong. Everyone has their own way of doing things and yours happened to be hand sewing to the front. I'll bet they are beautiful too.

Remember, there IS no quilting police...do what brings you satisfaction and joy. I only do machine binding, always square corners, and sew the back first then put a decorative stitch on the front to secure down. That's my way, and I'm sticking to it...not a single person has ever complained about the quilts that are gifted to them. Enjoy the process. :)

Not wrong at all, just untraditional. As long as it looks good and works there shouldn't be any problem.

Do not beat yourself up over this unnoticeable method.
peace

Oh for goodness sake, there is nothing "backward" about your method. It's just a different one of many. Keep doing them the way you want. I"m sure they are wonderful.

No right and wrong way as far as I'm concerned. Some sew to the front and turn back, others sew to the back and turn to the front. It's personal preference and what works best for you.

i have done it that way for many years nothing wrong! i also pillowcase alot of mine!!

The first book I bought on quilting said to bind the way you did it. I didn't know there was another way until I entered a quilt in a show and the judges wrote me a note about it. If you like the binding turned to the front--and binding can be a design element--don't let anyone tell you what you are doing is wrong. As for taking it off--a thousand times NO! froggyintexas

Finish the quilt as is and don't worry about it.

Please do not take off your binding and re do it. I love the way my hand stitched binding looks on the back of my quilts. I'm sure your binding stitched to the front looks just as nice. I'm positive the people who have received your quilts think the binding was applied the way it was supposed to be.

A friend who was a beginning quilter always asked me for the "right" way to do this or that -- I kept telling her to try ALL the ways of doing a particular method and then pick the one that worked best for her. For a long time she thought I just wasn't willing to tell her the "right" way. Now she realizes what I was telling her. Same with your binding - do it the way that works best for you!

There's no law that states you must sew the binding to the front and stitch to the back, I know people who do it that way. If you're satisfied with how the binding comes out, then that's all that matters. As for the possibility of a person receiving one of your quilts and them "noticing" that you sewed it back to front, versus front to back, they most likely don't care, all that they care about, is that you cared enough to make one for them.

I have done many many quilts just as you did... there is nothing wrong with what you have been doing. All that matters is that you like it.

I agree with everyone else. It *may* be different than someone else's technique, but that does not equate to WRONG!!! If it is functional, looks ok, and you are not being judged for a ribbon, don't sweat it!

I am sure they are beautiful. It sounds like you are an excellent hand sewer and the stitches won't even show or minimally. Do not stress and do not redo...and do not point out your mistake to others. We all tend to do that and I don't know why.

First of all, like everyone else on the board has said, there is no right or wrong way to do binding. I just heard from a friend who is a beginner quilter tell me that Nancy Zimmerman uses Heat n Bond to attach the binding before sewing. Never hear THAT before and I have have been quilting over 25 years. Many quilter who totally stitch the binding on by machine will start by stitching the binding to the back and then it is easier to make sure that the binding is caught with stitching by machine on the top. I would prefer to see a decorative design instead of attempting a straight stitch but that is just my opinion.

I would NOT change the 13th quilt because that would be a waste of time and effort. Just finish it as you have done with the previous 12 quilts and then on 14th quilt, try the method that most quilters use when hand stitching binding to the back.

There is NEVER only ONE WAY to do anything in quilting. Just have fun and enjoy the process of making a quilt.

I always stitch to the back and flip to the front. I machine bind all of my quilts so I want the final seam on the front where I can make sure it's landing in the right spot. The back...well, it wobbles a bit on and off the binding sometimes. But I'm OK with that - each one is a little better than the last.

If your binding looks good to YOU, you've done it right. :)

I really hope you will go back to being pleased with your quilts! Definitely do not re-do that 13th binding!

I always sew my binding to the back first, then machine stitch it to the front ensuring the front stitching line lands right on top of the first. To ensure this happens, before I sew it to the back I finger press creases in the binding by folding it into thirds so I know exactly where to sew, often times it will be slightly larger tan the standard 1/4 inch, often 3/8 inch for a 2-1/2 inch strip. Set your needle over to accommodate that exact width and you can complete a kong sized binding, front and back, in 1/2 hour. I have to tell them it is machine stitched on the front, it is so hidden. Of course if it is to be judged at a quilt show do it the old horse and buggy way! Lol

This is my way, also. Always looks ok to me. :thumbup:

Keep on trucking and don't worry about the "correct" way. My mom recently bound a quilt for a friend of mine and did it the way you do. She did that mainly because my friend wanted extra large binding but wanted it small on the back (like normal) and large on the front so that it really looked almost like an extra border. I have to say it came out really cool on that quilt. If you are going your binding by hand one side is hand stitched - does it really matter which side that is - I say NO.

First of all 13 quilts does not warrant an excuse of "only" - that is quite the achievement. Good for you. Now for the binding. If you watch 5 binding videos, you will get 5 different ways of attaching it, and your method is one of them. If you are happy with the quality of your stitching, then there is NOTHING wrong with the way you do it. I have 3 different ways to attach binding, and one of them is to bring it to the front and sew it down by machine. Don't let the "YOU MUST DO IT THIS WAY!" rules get you down. Next time, try it the new way and see which one YOU like better.

I always start on the back and fold to the front, but I machine mine on, so you're a step ahead of me! I do it that way because I want the front of the quilt to look its best. Someday I might try hand stitching bindings on, but I'm not very talented at hand sewing so this is has always been the best option for me. Seems to me that this is one of those things that some people do one way, others do another. No right or wrong.

I sew my binding to the back first, fold it over, and machine stitch to the front -- most of the time using a straight stitch. I like having the binding seam fairly even on the front, and this method works for me, whether the quilt is a "fun" small one or a bed-size one. Plus, I've never pressed the binding strip before I attached it to the quilt. If my binding is a little "whunker-jawed," a pressed edge makes it even more noticeable. I've even begun playing with the binding measurements a little bit: I was taught to use 2 1/4" binding strips, but I've used 2 1/2" very successfully and have even tried 3" strips. It works for me, and the quilt police haven't locked me up yet!!

Just because it's on a printed page doesn't make it law. You can do what you like and frankly I prefer your method and use it all the time. Unless I am going to sew it down by hand it goes on the back and then folds to the front for machine stitching. Don't stress about what someone else think, does, or writes.. Do what works for you.

Why not let it be your "signature"? In years to come your quilts may be identified by this very technique!

No one ever told Jinny Beyer that sewing the binding on the back first and then the front was wrong because that is how she does all of her quilts... And by hand too... No machine quilting on any of her quilts. Look up her quilts on her website. You are in good company.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad about the way you do your binding. You have been given good advice about what you have done. Enjoy your work and continue on! After all, you have given 12 away already and I'll bet not one has come back for a different binding. Don't beat yourself up! Enjoy the finishing of a project and move right on.

Like everyone has already said, there is no right or wrong in quilting. LOL But it really comes down to, will it drive you crazy every time you see it, change it. If you won't see it and it doesn't really drive you crazy, leave it and move on.

There are all kinds of ways to add a binding...and none are unacceptable. (Well, I guess a raw edge might be :)) Just look at some YouTube tutorials, there are numerous ways. If you enjoy doing one way and I enjoy another, who can say one is wrong? I venture to say yours look fine! Keep smiling and quilting!

as I have told so many of my students, if it looks good and you are not entering the quilt in a show, don't sweat it. The only person who will know will be you. The person receiving it will be (should be) so happy to receive a handmade gift from you - they will never notice it or just figure it adds to the charm of a handmade present.

I totally agree, you are not doing anything wrong!! If you were, I'd be also, lol, and I know I'm doing mine just fine!! LOLOL
I ALWAYS stitch to the back first. I am also one who machine stitches the entire binding, due to physical problems I just can't manage hand sewing more than a very small amount.
Carry on! Have fun! Ignore anyone who tries to tell you there is only ONE right way!
Hugs and smiles!

Remember this is your 13th quilt done beautifully, not the 13th floor of a building with the superstitions that go with that LOL :p

I've usually always sewn to the back and stitched to the front. This way I know the front looks perfect to ME. And that's all I worry about!