Machine Binding
 

Does anybody have a picture of the back of a machine bound quilt? My binding work needs a TON of work. I clearly don't have it right, so I was wondering what it really should look like.

OK, I'll admit right up front that I'm dumb as a bag of hammers. But I don't quite understand. Do you want to see the back of the binding after it's been sewn on the machine attaching it or tacking it down on the back?

I didn't take any pictures but I can tell you thaat it NOT easy to make it look decent let alone nice. When they give instructions it sounds simple but I tried several times and I consider myself a pretty good seamstress. To me it's worth the extra time nd effort to do it by hand so that ot looks presentable. good luck

Yes, I want to see the back of a quilt that was machine bound. I want to see what the binding on the back of the quilt looks like.

i have never been happy with a machine applied *front & back* binding---mine always just (in my opinion) ruin the quilt- i don't even try anymore- i figure if i'm going to put the work into the quilt it makes no sense to ruin it by taking a short cut at the end- so i machine stitch to the front- fold to the back & hand stitch into place-
i know there are a ton of tutorials out there showing ways to do it- & some people will use a decorative stitch - but the few quilts i have tried them on i have been so horribly disappointed with i would never take a picture of it- the quilts generally wind up just going to goodwill

I personally prefer to hand-stitch mine down, but I have a friend who does beautiful machine binding. She sews the binding on the front side as usual, then turns the binding to the back, tacks it down with Elmer's glue, then does a decorative stitch that looks like a snowflake on the back. It looks pretty on both sides of the quilt.

I do this do with some type of decorative stitch. Some I sew down by hand, but not baby quilts.

Sounds beautiful! Would she share a picture?

I sew the binding on the back first, then bring it to the front, make sure the edge is just over the seam when you turn it, then I use a decorative stitch and stitch on the stitch line from the back.

I love machine binding. I sew the back first and then flip the binding to the front and use a decorative stitch. I love how they come out. I use 2 1/2 inch strips for my binding. I also use elmers stick glue and iron it to the front then sew.

I have had quite good luck using Elmer's glue and pressing the binding in place..EXCEPT it seems the pressing stretches the binding just enough to sort of flare the edges of the quilt. Then I have to wash it and block it. I am still hand stitching the binding on 'good' quilts but have trying this method on some scrap lap quilts. Any suggestions?

I saw a youtube video showing how to do this using those neat new clips that Clover sells - apparently there are markings on them and when you put them on "just right" you get good results - I prefer to hand sew mine down - I enjoy the hand work.

Here is a video that explains it well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GVA05MxXTU

It is by Jennie of Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I am never happy with my binding but all of you have given me some good hints. Thanks loads!!!!!!!!!!

This is the way I do machine stitched binding. Always turns out looking nice. Stitch the binding to the back then turn to front and use a decorative stitich on top. Why hand stitch when the machine can the work.

I never had good luck till I started using a skinny strip ( 1/4 inch) of heat and bond lite to hold the binding exactly where I wanted it to be. It makes no difference if you bring the binding to the back or the front .. just make sure you cover the first stitch line by a few threads . If you are bringing it to the back , I stitch in the ditch on the front side. If you are bringing it to the front I top stitch on the right side.
Having the binding fused in place will make a world of difference . Use a decorative stitch if you like , but I perfer not see the stitches, and often use invisable thread .
Note : they even sell 1/4 inch wide fusible on a roll at Jo'anns.

That's a great tip!

I too sew to the back first then flip to the front and I use the 3 stitch zig zag, but I have since bought a new machine and am really looking forward to using the decorative stitches....

I want to be in outer space....you having fun? I also have increased my binding to 3 inches that way I have enough to go around...

Yep, what she said!! And I totaly agree. To each his own however, but I personally enjoy that last bit of hand work.

I always use 3" binding and teach 3" binding too. I saw one of the published quilting instructors used 3" and thought if it was good enough for her it was good enough for me. The reason she gave was that it gives just a tiny more of a bite to hold the binding to the quilt. I have a fear of using to small of a binding and the edge raveling out. I do use a
2 1/2" for wall hanging since they aren't washed. There have been many, many different threads on the width of binding. As with every topic we have here, it's what works for you.

Binding Foot
 

I have been using this binding foot for a couple years now. I think it does a really nice looking binding and saves a lot of time!

I always machine bind my quilts. I have gotten quite good at it. I cut my strips 3.5 inches. I like a little wider binding. Sew at the binding to the front at half an inch turn to the back and stitch in the ditch from the front. I like the fact that the binding is stitched down so it won't come loose. If you use a matching thread color you don't see it on the back. But there are no rules in quilting, you do what you feel comfortable doing.

That is how I do mine too. I put too much work into a quilt to ruin it at the last minute by machine stitching the binding on the back. I look at it as my time to look over what I've done and pat myself on the back for finishing.

I consider myself a lousy hand sewer and I really hated doing bindings and I did not think they looked nice at all. This has been said many times here, but I machine sew on the back and turn to the front and machine sew with a decorative stitch. Sometimes I use a contrasting thread so it really pops out. I am going to try the idea of invisible thread sometime. I really think it makes a stronger edge to the binding to sew it down with a zig zag. I also use 3 or 3 1/2 inches for binding. I like the bolder look

To each her own, and how wonderful that we are all so different! I almost always apply binding by machine, like most others, sew on back, color match thread for both front and back, top stitch on front (just barely on binding) almost looks like stitch in the ditch.

I like "narrow" binding so I go the other way. I cut my bindings at 2 1/4".

Let's take it from the beginning. DON'T just start sewing at one end of a side and stitch to the other end. Your quilt edges will be wobbly.
Here's how to do it, whether by hand or machine.
I'm assuming each side will be sewn on separately, make adjustments for mitered lengths.
1. Measure the middle of your quilt from side to side and top to bottom. Don't measure the edges
2. So if the edge measures 86 inches, but the center measurement is 84.5 inches, cut the binding 84.5 + 2 inches extra for corner turns.
3. Fold the binding and quilt into half and quarters and mark. Match the binding markings to the quilt markings. Yes, the quilt will have ripples because the binding length is shorter than the quilt. The excess for corners will hang off the quilt. Pin the binding to the quilt, working in the quilt's excess. It won't show when sewn on. Now stitch, using either hand or machine. It doesn't matter if you attach to the front and roll it to the back or attach to the back and roll to the front, that's personal preference. After the one edge is attached, and when it is rolled over to enclose the raw edges of the quilt, I hand sew the final edge on. Now repeat this process for the opposite edge, then do the top and bottom edges. If the quilt is slightly larger than the binding measurements, the quilt will end up square and flat--no rippled edges.
SandyQuilter

to those who use the decorative stitch, a pic would be so awesome! Im curious how it looks on the back. Does the stitch go over the binding and the quilt? I guess it would have to wouldnt it? The only decorative stitch I have is a scalloped stitch and I use it on my bag handles. I would love to try this technique on my next quilt.

I, too, do the binding with the flange method & I really like it. I never did have lots of problems with binding but I just prefer this method to just plain old binding.

I am working on this with each quilt - I found that the average 2 1/2" binding is too large, my most recent was 2 1/4" and it matched almost perfectly for machine binding. Quick finish but I do miss the handstitching part, rather calming for me.

Beautiful binding jjuhl! I will look to see if I have this foot.

I purchased the Zip-Binding System from Martelli at 1/2 price during a sale. My BFF recommended it to me. Sadly, I have not used it yet, but I have 3 quilts ready for binding so I plan to try it out. My BFF uses it all the time and loves it. You might check it out on their website and also see the demo on You Tube.

Here is a link to a blog using decorative stitches. It looks pretty straight forward.

http://blog.ajpadilla.com/2010/10/05...along-binding/

This is what I have been doing for community service quilts. I know they will get a lot of rough and tumble and I feel the machine applied binding is more durable. It took several tries for me to get comfortable with the decorative stitch - I usually do a serpentine - but now I am satisfied with the finished product.

I machine bind by sewing on back then flipping to front, try to match bobbin thread with back as i usually top stitch - only time I hand bind is when I'm putting into a show....

This thread is making me wanna go bind a quilt, just to use the decorative ditch stitch! :)

Sorry the picture is a little blurry but you get the idea. I used a hem stitch and same color thread to make it inconspicuous as possible. It is difficult to get it perfect. Practicing on scraps is really helpful.[ATTACH=CONFIG]345413[/ATTACH]

I machine bind all my quilts with mitered corners. I've gotten very good at it and it goes quickly.

What a great site. While I think I've mastered binding & mitered corners there were some great ideas that I loved here to make it easier.
I also loved the links on the R side. Prob. is most of them are a foreign language that I couldn't get to translate the usual way. It's so frustrating to see patterns made that are by video but don't tell how to get the patterns.