Bindings
 

I sew on a lot of bindings as I make about 30 comfort quilts a year, plus I trade bindings to my long arm quilter. After 3 years of experimentation I believe I know what makes a beautiful corner... don't pull your binding too tight when initially sewing it to the quilt. I've read, you-tubed, experimented, cussed and asked others what they do. This spring I purposely have loosened my hold on the binding and the corners are near perfect. I sew my bindings to the front first, press, turn to the back and pin, then sew in the ditch on the front side.

Not sure what you mean by that. Do you loosen the tension, use a longer stitch, don't go into the miter, or do you mean not to PULL the binding in the corner? ANY tip for better binding is greatly appreciated. I just taught my BFF how to sew the binding on by machine and she had 2 nice corners and 2 that were a little wonky.

I glue baste the corners exactly how I want them, then sew. I get perfect corners and miters every time.

I watched Patrick Lose on F&P PBS show and I now cut the tiny dog ear of excess fabric in each corner which makes the corner lay flatter. Also make sure the direction of the fold of the corners on the back is laying in the opposite direction as sewn on the front.

Here's my tip. Did that on my last quilt and was very happy that all corners turned
out as it should. Of course you have to sew the binding straight, etc. Using same
method as gigigray, when I turned the binding to the back, folding like maniacquilter
described...I basted across the mitre (with a loose stitch) then when I S.I.D, the mitre
stayed put.

MadQuilter, I just lay the binding down when initially sewing onto the quilt. I do not pin, nor tug the binding. I just completed my sixth binding of the week, and all 24 corners were perfect. It does take some practice to get this right, but oh, what a difference it has made in my bindings. I discovered this trick when my quilter used her long arm to attach the binding initially (we were experimenting to see if we liked it... we didn't).

I have always mitered my corners and I hand stitch the back. I think that once you learn a way that works for you then I'ts a piece of cake.

I have tried this and always end up with it looking terrible. I think I'm going to start gluing it down first and then clipping it. Mine really does look better by hand - it just takes forever.

I have always done exactly opposite of this - must try the idea! Thanks for posting it.

Thanks. I don't force mine either. Most of the time I clip it on with clover clips.

I do not trim off the excess batting and backing before starting. First I sew a narrow zigzag along the raw edge of the front. Then I use the walking foot to apply the stitching which has been lengthened to 2.6 or 2.8 on my Bernina 350. Then I trim out each corner - Patrick Lose's suggestion as noted earlier. Finally, I stitch the binding to the front, trim off the facing and batting, and hand sew the binding to the back. Been doing this since the mid 80's when I got my first walking foot. Have tried many times to master machine sewing on the last step, but have not been able to achieve anything but mediocre results - hence the hand stitching for the final step. My hat is off to those of you who can do it well!

some great little tips here... it appears everyone has there favorite little tricks. It never ceases to amaze me the things I continue to learn from this board.

I do it just like this. I used to pin and then used glue, but the last two I just folded the binding to the back and stitched from the front, sewing about 5 inches at a time before peeking under to put the next section in place. On one, I never missed a stitch, on the other I missed about an inch. I was using my featherweight, and that presser foot helped a lot to keep the seam at the right spot.

I do pull my binding a little as it is being sewn on. Just a little tug to make it taut, hold that down with my fingers, and through the machine it goes. A little tightness is better than wavy.

I agree wholeheartedly!

That makes a whole lot of sense but I've never heard this before. Thank you so much for sharing the information! Now to see if I can remember it when I next bind a quilt!;)