I Cannot Bind!!
 

I watch videos, follow directions, and my corners always look like something is bunched up. What am I doing wrong??

Can you post pictures of how YOU do it?

if you are using a 1/4" seam to attach the binding to the first side- when nearing a corner stop- place a dot (pencil works) 1/4" from the corner on the binding fabric- then stitch right to that dot- stop- raise the pressure foot (with the needle down) turn the quilt so you can stitch a diagonal line off the quilt/binding...stop, cut threads, remove quilt. fold binding fabric straight up- then back down-lining up the raw edges again- start sewing the second side-starting at the 1/4" dot...continue around the quilt stopping & folding each corner-
now- when you fold the binding to the other side to stitch down when you reach a corner fold one side straight - then fold the second side forming your miter.]
try it on a small practice piece (like a pot holder) to get the hang of it

I've had that happen and when I looked at it closely I had caught the fold that should tuck in but not be stitched into the seam. I unstitched about an inch and freed that fold. Then restitched with the fold out of the way. Hope that makes sense! If not pm me and I will try to explain more clearly.

One of the "rules" for corners is that you *must* stop the exact seam allowance that you are using. For example, if you are sewing your binding on with 1/2" seam allowance, you must stop *exactly* 1/2" from the edge (and backstitch to secure). If you sew binding on with 1/4" seam allowance, you must stop exactly 1/4" from the edge.

Until I realized this really is a rule, my mitered corners were terrible. Nowadays I mark the stopping point and then make sure my needle enters that stopping point and is not one stitch over or under. Really makes a difference!

Binding corners are something I still struggle with. I think the tips here so far are great and it's how I mess mine up a lot, too...making sure to STOP at the right spot is vital!

I usually get three points just right and for whatever reason just totally screw up the 4th one. "I MEANT for that corner to be rounded!" That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! LOL

I found out the same way Prism99 did. Also, when I reach my 1/4" from the corner, I do a backspace and take my quilt out of the machine. This, too, helps me make the fold of the binding more precise. Then, I stick it back in and I line it back up at a 1/4" and start sewing again. AND a couple more backspaces to get it really secure.

I didn't know that about stopping. I go right to the edge. That is probably what is wrong. I so appreciate the info!

I think we should form a Sisterhood of the MalFormed Binders lol

I suggest stopping a stitch or two before you get to your dot. This will allow the space the fold takes up. Just like a scant 1/4" inpiecing - which allows for the fold. Also make sure you are maintaining a consistent stitch width down to your dot or end. I believe most problems occur when the stitch width wavers as it gets to the end.
Also when you fold to begin the next corner, put the needle in just inside the fold. This will hold all layers together while you straighten the binding for the next side. Also make sure your stitch width begins the same as the other side.Most problems occur when you don't maintain seam consistency at the corner.

I have never done the diagonal stitching to the corner. That seems to be a perfect way to make sure the miter will be perfect. I'm gioing to try that. Thanks for the tip.

I didn't even try to miter my first 2 quilts. The 3rd one I just finished I tried it. It wasn't perfect and I started to really get frustrated, but decided that I have read so much on this board about how there aren't really any 'quilt police' and that it didn't look horrible even though not perfect. After reading these guidelines I know more of what I did wrong....which is stopping exactly with the same seam allowance you are using. I used a 1/2 inch and stopped a 1/4 inch. Not too old to keep learning something new. Never learn unless you try! The next one will be better for you.

Unfortunately all or most al binding instructions give the 1/4" seam. Very rarely do they say that if your seam is larger than 1/4" then you must stop that distance from the end. But as I said in my previous post, stopping a stitch or two before you get there will give space for the fold and makes the corner fold flatter.

I usually have 3 good corners, then 1 ucky corner. You're not alone.

I had a teacher that had a different idea with corners. Since we all don't use a 1/4 inch seam she taught us this way. It seems to work for me.
1. When you get about 2 inches from edge stop and fold a 90 degree angle with the binding. Make sure the angle is 90 degrees and either iron or finger press a crease on the angle folded edge.
2. Lay the binding straight and stop exactly where you needle reaches the crease.
3. Back stitch a few inches. Cut your threads and move the quilt away and fold the binding at the 90 degrees and then down, making sure the turned corner is exactly at top of quilt
4. start sewing again at the top edge the distance you are using.
Works every time for me. Hope this helps

Take a look at these Sharon chamber tutorials on binding using Elmer's School Glue. The one on mitering corners really helped me. Don't let the glue scare you. Try a mini quilt so that you can get the hang of it. You don't have to have the special tip. You partially open the regular bottle tip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vHI7rgZpw

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

I use Sharon's method and it works really well for me!

uou sew to 1/4 " from the end needle down now pivot sew 45% angle to the outside cut threads now turn quilt and work on side

my problem is the which direction to do the 45 degree angle for the corners to make the mitered corner. Do I angle to left or right of the corner?

You would have to angle to the right -- sewing directly into the corner's outside point. Sewing to the left would make it impossible to cover the corner with the binding fabric.

I first square up and trim the quilt. I make my binding 2 1/2" wide, folded and ironed in half. When attaching binding to a quilt, you do not use a 1/4" seam. What you do is sew in 1/3 from the edge, lift presser foot. One third is in the seam allowance, one third is on the front, and 1/3 is on the back. When sewing to the corner, stop at the same distance in from edge, fold fabric diagonally up, line up the edge and fold down. Start again at the very top and sew thru all fabrics, continue sewing till the next corner. I always check the corners and sometime have to go back and take a stitch or two more, they usually come out perfect. Since I do not want to spend time hand sewing the binding, I sew my binding on the back of the quilt, turn over (I iron it), the sew the binding on the front. Some of my friends even use a fancy stitch on the front. Here is a video of exactly how I do it (minus her measurements and seam allowance). Good luck.
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccal...nding_to_Quilt

I recently switched from stopping 1/4 and sewing off in an L shape to stopping 1/4 from the edge and turning and sewing on the 45 degree. I do this by folding a post it note (free binding tool ), laying it on the edge and sewing along the angle. I'm super pleased with how sharp the point is.

I finally can do nice corners. when you get to the corner sewing the binding on, cut your thread and then fold the binding back. It works. Heard this one on Fons and Porter, that is how Liz does it. Never thought it would work, but it does.

Sign me up :D

Fons and Porter had a wonderful show called Binding Bootcamp. I have been binding for more years than I care to admit and it helped me so much. See if you can find it on You Tube, or Fons and Porter . com. I think it was series 1900. I recorded it on my DVR and have watched it three times. What helped me the most is their method of connecting the end pieces. See if you can find it. Watch if more than once...it will help.

Another aspect of great looking corners is to sure they are absolutely square before you start to apply the binding. It is very easy for them to be a little bit off because the quilting in the borders either goes through to the edge or stops short of it-depending on your pattern. I square the corners with a 12 inch square ruler. At the same time I usually work my way around the quilt to be sure the edges are straight and even before putting the binding on. I usually make my bindings the width of the outside flange of my walking foot-I always use my walking foot to add the binding.

I sew my binding on the right side and very close to the binding edge. I stop an inch or so from the corner and work the fold then stitch. I can attest to the fact that it takes practice as I have ripped out quite a few.

EllieGirl, I'm so glad you brought your frustration to the board. They have helped me so many times and right away, too!! I was reading through this post before commenting and everyone has written so clearly how to make that corner work! (I could not have written it as clearly!) The ONE thing that caused me to be able to bind was taking a class on binding. One of my favorite LQS in OKC offered a class and my quilty friend and I signed up right away (this was years ago) and it has been the most helpful class I've ever taken!

Don't you just love all our quilty friends here on the board... Love you ALL!!!

Practice makes perfect. But there a few things here that I do differently. First, if your binding is going to be 1/4 inch, you need the binding a little wider than 1/4 inch times six. We need to make allowance for the thickness of the quilt. I usually sew the seam about 3/8 of an inch from the raw edge.
When you get the corner, it's very important to stop exactly on the spot that is the same distance from the edge of the edge of the quilt as the seam allowance you are using. Sometimes I have to lift the presser foot and back up half a stitch so I don't go over that spot. Then I sew on a diagonal into the corner. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE YOUR QUILT OUT OF THE MACHINE! I leave the needle DOWN at the very edge, the tip of the corner. If you have a little excess backing and batting here, that helps. Now with the needle down, turn the quilt so that you will be sewing down the next side. Now is when you do the folding of the binding; straight up and then straight down. The presser foot is a little in the way, but if you know what you are doing, you'll get around it. When the folds are all ready to be sewn, lift the needle and move the quilt over to the seam line and sew. I sew from the top. No threads to cut and no new seam to start with bunched up threads! You have just a seam's width of loose threads there, and they can stay there.

In total desperation I tried single fold binding. Sooooo much easier and it looks great. Not sure the reason for double fold???

Double fold binding is stronger. Binding tends to wear out faster than the rest of the quilt, so it helps to have a double layer of fabric in the binding.

I sew my binding on, then turn it to the back and use Ellmers Washable School Glue to hold the backside down. Miter my corners carefully with the glue and press everything. Then I don't even need binder clips. Makes the whole process much faster and easier for me

Oh yes you can girl!
 

With help from this group you can do ANYTHING!

There is always every month a full page of quilting tips published in the Quiltmaker magazine. It is worth the price for this one page alone. Long ago I ran a copy and put it in my sewing room where I can quickly lay my hands on it. The page shows you very clearly how to get perfect corners. The best part is the trick for joining the 2 ends with a bias seam, I have to look at it every time, but I love it. One thing you must do is press your binding first and be very careful to maintain a consistent seam, especially at the corners. You might also try reducing the downward pressure on the presser foot, and if you are not using a walking foot, you should.
HTH
Pat

LOL! So do I. 3 points good and 1 totally off the mark. Follow the pointers given by others and you shouldn't have much trouble coming up with a good mitered corner. Good Luck!

I watched a YouTube video where the gal cuts the triangle piece of the binding off on the mitered corner before she sews it down. She says that will bunch up the corner. That little piece will wreck havoc on a corner, she says.

You have to be ***really*** careful if you do this! If you even nick the binding fold, you will have ruined the corner. I do sometimes trim a little of the *batting only* at the corner. I once trimmed a whole little triangle off each corner before turning the binding; had to remove all of it and start over again, as there was a hole in each miter!

Kaye Wood has the best video on binding ever. Learn how to do it like Kaye does. You'll have wonderful mitered binding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf7Mm_mkbCc

You can bind! I thought the same thing, it just takes time and practice :), I do it by hand though, I like the way it looks and actually, it use to be my biggest fear and now it is my favorite part :), but just have patience with your self, you can do it :).

The video that has helped me the most is Sharon Schamber's Binding the Angel. She uses Elmer's school glue and it works perfectly every time. Heck, even my corners are looking pretty good now!