I have googled, searched here, searched UTube and tried to search Quilterstv with no luck.

It's been a long time since I made binding and even longer since I sewed it on.

How do I calculate how many strips I need? 2" strips give me 1 in binding...what about 3" strips, would that work?

I bet I could make 3 in strips of all the different fabrics in my quilt, sew them together, and have a great multi-color binding....but then what?

Do I sew it to the front and hand stitch to the back or vice versa? Do I use a 1/4" seam or not? How do I make those corners nice? Is there a tutorial or nifty trick out there somewhere?

HELP!!!

Melissa


EDITED TO ADD: Saw a tute on binding at quilters cache, but I think I just ended up with more questions. How com 3" strips only give you 5/8" binding? What if I want bigger binding than that? Is double fold really necessary?

There are many different ways of attaching binding to a quilt. Here is a Youtube video on one method that is done all by machine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw

With the above method you sew the binding to the back side of the quilt first, then turn and finish from the front.

If you plan to finish the binding by hand, you would sew it to the front of the quilt by machine first, then turn and do the hand sewing on the back.

Mary

I made a 38" square wallhanging with a finished 3/4" wide binding. Cut 4" wide strips, fold & press in half wrong sides together, position the raw edges 1/2" FROM THE RAW EDGES of the quilt. Use a 3/4" seam allowance and sew, making sure the edge of the binding stays aligned with the edge of the presser foot. Fold the binding to the wrong side & hand slip stitch to the backing. (The reason you stitch so far from the edge of the quilt is that you want the binding to be "full" of the backing & batting) I'll try & add a picture of the project. Not sure if the binding actually show on it.

Melissa, I like your idea of using the different strips of material from your quilt for the binding, bet it will look great. I use 2 1/2 inch strips for my binding.

I recommend searching youtube and watching all the various videos they have on how to do binding. See which one makes most sense. Thats what I did. Then I had the video I liked best set up next to my sewing machine and played it, watched it step by step as I made/attached the binding.

I sew the binding on to the front and then fold it over to the back, pin or wundaweb in place and stitch in the ditch from the front. But I am sure the more experienced ladies on here will tell you the advantages of all the different ways of doing it. There are already some useful threads on here if you do a search! Good luck!

Thimblebug, that is such a wonderful Christmas quilt! May I ask if the pattern is available for purchase somewhere?

Mary

Between this tute and a wonderful lady on the board--Reine--I learned to bind! :
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/pho...ing/index.html

I love using multi coloured scraps from the quilt too, it's a great effect, especially if there are a lot of colours involved.

I use 2 1/2 inch strips, when you join pieces make sure they're joine on a 45 degree angle (so put the ends at right angles instead of together and sew a 45 degree line).

And for attaching it to the quilt, I machine the front, and hand stitch the back. Once you get going on the hand stitching it doesn't take too long.

:-)

Prism99, the link for that pattern is here:
http://www.brandywine-design.com/patterns.htm

ADYLDROP:: Thats a great tutorial for binding, am sending it to my niece as its so easy to understand. Thanks, Nancy