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-   -   longarm quilter trimmed to close to edge; question re: binding (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/longarm-quilter-trimmed-close-edge%3B-question-re-binding-t59513.html)

sarge1 08-15-2010 12:20 PM

The woman who just finished one of my quilts trimmed it too close to the edge of the quilt. She did a wonderful job quilting, I'm not complaining, I just want to know what I can do now to "fill out" the binding when I attach it. There isn't enough batting to do the job. I had thought about just making the binding much wider, and then folding it a few times-would that work? Any other suggestions?
Thanks

JJs 08-15-2010 12:28 PM

I always trim to the edge - so don't understand what you are saying. I make a 2.5 inch strip, fold in half and press, stich on the topside, right sides together then bring to the back folded in half and hand stitch on back....

I have never had batting in the binding..

tooMuchFabric 08-15-2010 12:40 PM

I'd like to see a picture of the edge you are talking about.
As a longarmer, I never trimmed the customer's quilt. I left that for them to do.
Unless I was commissioned to do it, or to even finish the binding process as well as the quilting.
Anyway, let us see a picture of it if you can.

One thing you could do is cut narrow strips of batting and "couch" the batting strips along within the binding as you apply.

kristen0112 08-15-2010 12:42 PM


Originally Posted by JJs
I always trim to the edge - so don't understand what you are saying. I make a 2.5 inch strip, fold in half and press, stich on the topside, right sides together then bring to the back folded in half and hand stitch on back....

I have never had batting in the binding..

Ditto.

dakotamaid 08-15-2010 12:42 PM

A "full" binding does look better on SOME quilts. My bindings do vary in width.

This is my first thought. Cotton/poly blend batting cuts beautifully into strips. Can you sew on a strip of that along with the first stitching of binding, than fold over to the back and stitch down. You would have to experiment with how much batting to use.

Prism99 08-15-2010 12:43 PM

I think you could just sew a strip of binding along the edge and use that to "fill" in a regular binding strip. For me, that would be easier than trying to multi-fold the binding.

Shelley 08-15-2010 01:11 PM

I like my quilts with a little extra batting, too. When I trim quilts for customers, I ask how close they want it trimmed.

There are a couple of things you can do.
1) make a filler piece of batting to go into the binding or 2) make your binding a little narrower, say 2-1/4" wide. Your binding should then wrap around and end up right on the seam line.

hcarpanini 08-15-2010 01:13 PM

Could you move your binding in a little from the edge? Instead of raw edges even, just back it in a bit.

kayquilt 08-15-2010 02:53 PM

I usually trim my quilt making sure that the sides are straight and then insert a 1/2 inch strip of batting inside the binding before folding it over to the backside. It makes it look full and not flat.

littlehud 08-17-2010 07:39 PM

I like mine full too. I trim my own though so I can leave some batting around the edge. I like the idea of sewing a thin strip of batting when you attach the first edge. It would give you that full effect.

AudreyB 08-17-2010 07:52 PM

I like my binding full, too. I cut the strips 2-1/2 inches and fold in half. Then I align the edge of the binding to the edge of my quilt and use the regular sewing foot...not the 1/4" foot.

Using the regular sewing foot makes it the perfect width to fill the binding. It's closer to 3/8" than 1/4" and looks good. When I fold it over to handstitch and finish, it's just perfect.

tooMuchFabric 08-17-2010 09:05 PM

I always trim my batting/backing an additional 1/8" wider than my quilt toop. This extra gets folded into the binding, which I cut at 2-1/4", sew onto front, and hand stitch onto back - in the normal method.
This process does 2 things for me, makes a neat, narrow binding and makes a nicely filled binding.

ckcowl 08-18-2010 05:30 AM

so, i really don't understand i guess; when i trim/square up a quilted quilt i always cut it even...top, batting, backing. then to make binding, bias or straight. i use either 2" or 2 1/2" strips, fold in half lengthwise wrong sides together; press. line up raw edges on the front of the quilt with raw edges of folded binding. stitch 1/4" when i pull the folded edge over to the back for hand stitching the binding is always 'full'; it has the 'sandwich' inside it.
i do always ask a quilt owner if they want me to trim it for them when i finish quilting it, but never thought about someone saying yes, but not wanting it trimmed even.....now i have to think about this; and a question...
if you do not trim it even after quilting how do you trim it?

Bobbielinks 08-18-2010 05:54 AM

I would cut a strip of batting and sew it onto the quilt with the binding then turn both to the back making sure I tucked the batting inside the binding as I stitch the binding down. As a longarm quilter I usually trim the backing and the batting 1 inch from the edge of the top. I just think (and my customers like it) that it makes it easier to stitch the binding on. It also leaves plenty of batting to fill the binding. If the quilt is entered into a quilt show Judges will look to see if the binding is "filled". (At least in this area, it's important that the binding be full.)

pieces 08-18-2010 07:55 AM

It surprises me that your longarm quilter trimmed your quilt.
I always sew on my binding before trimming. Next time it may be a good idea to ask her not to trim your quilts.
My binding does have the quilt front, batting and backing in it.
Hope the binding works out for you which ever way you go.

hobo2000 08-18-2010 08:05 AM

I quilt out to the edge of the quilt but when finished, I lay it out and square up the corners and trim off about an inch all around so I have batting to the edge of the cut quilt then I start to sew on the binding. I like a narrow tight binding as it doesn't take away from the quilt and is very strong.

montanablu 08-18-2010 08:07 AM


Originally Posted by JJs
I always trim to the edge - so don't understand what you are saying. I make a 2.5 inch strip, fold in half and press, stich on the topside, right sides together then bring to the back folded in half and hand stitch on back....

I have never had batting in the binding..

Me too--batting isn't really necessary in the binding.

justwannaquilt 08-18-2010 09:29 AM

This is why I make narrow binding. I trim everything even with the top. I cut my strips 2 inches wide, fold in half sew raw edges to edge of quilt using a .25 inch seam. Then when I fold over to the back and hand stitch it down I don't have ANY "flat" bidning (the binding that exceeds out past the seam allowance without anything to "fill" it) left. I taught myself to quilt, including doing binding and this is how I always did it! lol Maybe I have been doing it wrong all this time, who knows.

tooMuchFabric 08-18-2010 11:57 AM

I have seen all kinds of ways of doing bindings.
I started off bringing the back fabric over to the front for the binding.
Then I read that although I don't make quilts for shows, they do have some guidelines by way of some kind of standardization; so since I had no one in person to learn from, I thought that this might be some quidance I could use.
I have read that judges like to see firmly filled bindings, so I make mine pretty full with no slack areas.
And I handstitch the back side of the binding to just meet at the line of machine stitching where I attached the binding on the front, with ladder stitch.
Seems to be a workable method for me, and I like the look that it yeileds.

ube quilting 08-19-2010 03:58 PM

I have always trimed quilts right to the edge of the quilt. When the binding is sewn onto the front at a quarter inch it is then folded to the back for hand stitching and there is always a full binding. I also like to knife edge quilts and also turn the backing to the front and not make any binding at all. All these methods give a nice edge.


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