I have never done it that way or thought of being able to do it, but it is a great idea! I will have to try it. Don't listen to your mom, like someone said, "She is miserable" and wants people around her to be miserable also. Get above it and enjoy your quilt making. I have tied some quilts and they are just so cozy looking. You should try stitch in the ditch on your machine, it is not hard. Enjoy your quilting you are doing a good job and are a very good person and don't let anyone tell you different.

It is definitely not cheating. It is a completely acceptable way to bind any quilt project. The only time I don't do it is if I want to change the color/fabric of the binding. On the Downey Quilts for Kids, they suggest this method to alleviate one more area that can get caught on equipment or frayed by the laundry. Sorry to hear your mom has a "mean voice" you are so familiar with. Bad mommy!

{Deanna},

Without speaking to your Mom's problems I will tell you something. If you are putting love into your quilts, that love will come back to you. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about how you do what you do, because you are doing your best with what you have, and that is virtue.

My church has a sewing day every month, and we "sew" comforters for "burn-outs"; people in a several-county wide area who have lost their homes in fires. We use pretty sheets for the fronts and backs, and batting in between. Then six or eight of us tie the comforters with yarn or floss, and another one folds under the edges of top and bottom and machine stitches around the edges.

It's not "quilting". But guess what? We get a LOT more of them done, and the need is so great. The people at the local American Red Cross office do not criticize our work, or tell us that we are "cheating". They are so thankful. They tell us stories about the people who have received these comforters, and how much they mean to them. That's love.

Prayers are coming your way (and Mom's too).

Hi to u I have done method--it work just find.
I have learn binging now next is to learn now to do my own quilting

We are not sitting in little desks, waiting for a teacher to "grade" our efforts. No one will go to the principal's office if they don't do things the approved way. THere is no "cheating" in quilting. There are various methods, all of which work, and the method that best fits your project/time/money is the method you should use.

My first quilt was tied and the backing was brought to the front for binding. Those are the kind of quilts I grew up with, and I have many fond memories of them. I still do the backing as binding thing once in awhile, and will probably tie another quilt or two, although it is no longer my preferred method.

Is your mom a quilt police. I think that very creative and it's your quilt your rule.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not cheating.

I wouldn't pay your mother any mind. Some people just cannot be happy for someone - because they for whatever reason are not happy themselves. Every method you are using to accomplish your quilts are one of several methods any one of us on here could employ to finish a quilt, all without machine sewing. If sewing/quilting makes you happy - and your methods are in line with working with what you have for the time being, and it makes you happy being able to complete the quilt - she has ZERO business telling you what you should and should not do.

(IMHO) - Unless you are borrowing any sort of money from her to buy your supplies etc, or are starving any children you may have to support your quilting habit (which I'm sure isn't likely the case) you're a big girl that can do what she pleases with her income and quilt in whatsoever manner she sees fit. As for your mother - she has not a single iota of say in how you spend your personal income (whatever its source). Who made her the quilting police?!? Furthermore - If she herself has any experience quilting, and has personally owns a sewing machine, then perhaps she should be offerring you some time on her machine, or offering to do it for you. However, on the flip side - if she doesn't have any quilting/sewing experience, but is instead basing her opinions and regurgitating what she knows from reading a book/magazine/or simply buying or being gifted a quilt, then she doesn't need to contribute commentary on a subject she knows nothing about. Sorry, I don't pull any punches. ;)

Explosive blessings, abundance and inspiration to you all!
- The Creative Seamstress

Deanna,
Please read the beautiful piece under your signature:
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE...Getting back up is LIVING...

It is perfectly ok to finish your quilt that way-that is how my grandmother taught me and I tend to like it-gives a more tailored look- unless the quilt calls for a fancier binding. Moms tend to get on our nerves-we just need to try to remember what bothered us so we do not turn around and do it to our own children one day. As we so often hear "there are no official quilt police, just self-proclaimed ones". Your quilt is your own work of art and you can finish anyway you wish1"

I notice you have 17 pages of replies! Just goes to show you the reaction you get when you mention mothers and advise being given. It strikes a chord is us all. My mother would sometimes look at something I was doing and say to me "Is that the way I taught you?" I would look her straight in the eye and reply - "No Mom, but that is the way I do it now." It usually worked.
Folding the binding is FINE!

I too am sorry that your mother is so negative. Isn't it so much better to finish your lovely quilts (and they are lovely) and use them or gift them than to collect the unfinished tops in a closet? There is absolutely nothing wrong with tying or using the self binding. This is YOUR QUILT to be done your way. Enjoy the process and don't give anyone the power over you to take away your joy. Many, many, many quilters do not have the money to send their quilts out to the so talented LAQ's. There is NO SHAME in that! Again, finish your projects and enjoy them. Do them YOUR WAY. Sorry your mom is like she is. Maybe you need to screen your calls when you don't feel able to deal with her. My neighbor has to do the same thing because her mother is so jealous of the daughter's successful life (has her Dr in Childhood Education and leading principal in our district-well loved and respected by all).

God Bless and enjoy your quilting, we are here for you!

TOTALLY agree!!!!!!!!!

I see there have been a of of responses telling you it's done this way all the time, it's a perfectly acceptable way to finish the edges.
Just appreciate you mother the way I appreciate mine (though for a totally different reason) - she has shown me the type of mother I never want to be, so she is serving her purpose. I should thank HER

I think a quilt finished in the fashion you choose is just fine. The use is the same whether sewn on binding or folded from the back to front! It still takes time to hand sew it down... so smile and be happy and don't let the small stuff get to you :) :)

It stinks when your own mother is the quilt police. I'm sorry she is so mean to you. Ignore her comments and do your own thing.

continue....

"Well, mommy-dearest, a FINISHED quilt is much, much less of a 'waste' than those 100+ tops you've made that are just sitting on a shelf, completely useless!"

Sometimes it is not easy, but forgive her. It is a gift to yourself. Carrying a grudge only hurts you. Foregiveness lightens the heart.