I have been trying to machine sew my binding on the back of my quilt instead of doing the blind stitch by hand and it doesn't look good! But it takes forever to do it by hand. I would like to stick to doing it by machine so does anyone have any ideas how to keep it straight and looking good on the back and STILL catch the binding?

Sorry can't help you there but I know what you mean. Let's hope someone has the answer.

Sew the binding to the back and turn to the front instead. Then do a decorative stitch -- this won't detract from the pattern/design/"look" of the quilt off the edge of the binding on the back as it might on the front. Use a decorative stitch rather than a close-to-the-edge stitch.

Jan in VA

Hi

I machine my binding to the back of the quilt then fold it over to the front and machine sew it down from that side. I follow the usual instructions for attaching a binding but do it in reverse, I think since I machine quilt anyway, another row of machine stitching visible from the front won't make much difference. If you are careful to fold your binding evenly your stitching will look ok from both sides.

I hope that makes sense to you, good luck.

in the past 10 years i guess i have 'tried' to cut corners and do my binding by machine maybe 10 times...it has never come out looking good, in fact in my eye it totally ruins the quilt i worked so hard to make look good. the only bindings i have seen that do not hurt the over-all look of the quilt is hand stitched ones.
i know there are people who successfully machine stitch their bindings, i'm not one of them. and even when it does 'work' it still makes the quilt look (store-made) instead of loving done by hand.
i have found when i first started quilting it could take me a week to get a binding hand stitched around a queen size quilt, now after doing it alot i can do one in 2-3 hours...each time you do one you get a little faster..does not take that long to get good and fast.

Attaching binding by machine to the back and bringing it forward is a lovely way to finish, particularly for people with health issues and can't hand sew a large quilt, or if you wish to finish quickly. I've done them both ways and have been pleased, however I still prefer the old fashioned way of hand stitching to the back. It really adds the "I love you" factor and when I'm giving the quilt as a gift I'm sewing every stitch with love.

I don't have any advise I'm just thinking.... "oh how I miss my commercial machine and all the folders!" binding was a breeze!

Here's a good way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5...eature=related

When I've done it, I pin in the ditch on the front, parallel to edge of the binding, very close together. When you're pinning, make sure you have a little bit between the pin and the fold of the binding to the outside of the pin on the back. That way when you are stitching, the stitch line is on the binding. I use my walking foot, go very slowly, and stitch in the ditch on the front. You may have to go back and restitch a little, but not too much.

Two ways. I use a solid or mottled on the back and match my bobbin thread as close as possible. I dont use 2 1/4 inches but 2 1/2 I attach to the back but I make the back a smidgen narrower than the front. So instead of attaching with a true quarter I use 3/16. Then I press and stitch from the front using topstitching. Takes some practice not to get the stitching on the binding (and I have a topstitching walking foot) but the stitching line on the back will show up like quilting.

Second I just used the idea somebody posted the other day where you made the two strips and stitch them together. A seam ends up on the edge and you topstitch the front and back at the same time. First try and it turned out good and it was fast. Plus you can have different color bindings on the front and back of the quilt.

Thanks for the link. That is a nice way to do it on the machne.

:thumbup:

There are commercial binding machines? !!! Would you share that information? I would love to know more!

I have a Martelli binding attachment for my machine but have not used it yet.

That is what I do too. I love the look of the decorative stitch over the straight stitch.

When I sew the binding down by machine entirely, I sew it down on the back first, pull it to the front and sew it down usind a decorative stitch. If the binding is not entirely straight (and it never is), the decorative stitch acts as an additional adornment and its unevenness isn't noticed.

Not commercial binding machines... just commercial single needle machine. You can get all kinds of folders to fit them.

do it backwards, stitch it to the back and machine stitch it to the front. much easier.

thanks guys....for all the great advice. I do agree that handstitching looks best but I have not tried pulling the binding to the front. I don't have very many decorative stitches so I'll have to zig zag....can't wait to try it!

I tried the other day and ripped it out the time it took to sew and rip I would have been done. the decorative stitch might be your best bet but you stillhave to worry about getting the seam in there. Good luck!! Jade

I use plain ole school glue. I put a very very thin line and then heat set it with an iron. Sew the binding and then toss it in the wash. The glue washes right out. I also use it on everything else instead of pins. Its been a life saver for me. Especially when working with Triangles and such. Hope that Helps. =)

I do it just like BJ does it. Just pin, pin, pin, go slow, & take the pin out as you come to it.

What kind of decorative stitch do you use?

I machine sew to the back of the quilt ... then iron the binding over. Sometimes i use a glue stick if the project is large. Then I use my decorative stitches to overlap the binding on the front. Works every time. Of course I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches wide for ease in doing this.
ali

I always bring by binding to the front and sew it on, I am SO not a hand sew the binding on type of gal. On the following posting I did you can see a project I did using this method and I also give you the link for instructions on how to do the binding and the project.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-52843-1.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MRfADz_pyg
Try looking at both of these videos, and it will give you one approach. I don't try to cover the stitching when I turn it over to the front. I bring the folded side over to meet the stitching and sew along the edge of the binding. That way, it is neat on the back as well.

I enjoyed the answers here since it was a question I had too. Thanks everyone.

:-D :D

Ido mine this way and it works beautifully!I was sewing it to the front then hand stichting to the back when a friend told me she does hers this way.I tried it and now thats the only way to go :D :-D

I tried this with my last baby quilt and had to tear it all out and ended up hand sewing

this is worth trying - thanks!

Ok so this is backwards - but I sew it to the front, then stitch in the ditch on the front to sew it on the back

I am pretty sure the bulk of your answers will be to sew it on the backturn it to the front, and then machine stitch it down. This has been the subject of several topics lately. You can use a fancy stitch on your sewing machine or just a straight stitch. I think we all agree this is the best way.

Since my quilts go to charities, and I make a lot of them, I need all the fast and easy methods I can find.

I sew my binding to the back, with the back side UP and then turn it over. Just like the video. Then I pin the 4 corners and stitch on top using thread that matches when possible. I can bind a quilt in about an hour. I use my walking foot. It helps keep the layers smooth.

Previously I tried to sew the binding to the back by putting it underneath the 3 layers of quilt, with the TOP facing UP. For some reason the top of the quilt would creep and when I got to the corners, no matter how carefully I had trimmed the layers, I would have a shortage on the corners. Once I changed my method, I have not had a problem with creeping fabric.

I have made and delivered 33 quilts so far this year, and every one is bound this way. I cannot handle a hand sewing, so my quilts must be machine stitched. If the Quilt Police are looking, they would have to give me a lot of tickets for violating the rules, but as you know, Rules are made by the quilter and sometimes are created as we go along.

Happy Quilting.
June in Cincinnati

If you glue the binding before stitching it will stay in place and be straighter!

I got a tip off a website and this is what I do. She said unless you are having it judged in a show, do a small zigzag by machine. I sew it on the front, using 2 1/2 in binding, at 3/8", straight stitch, then I flip it over and fold my binding down on the stitching line I just made, and sew a very small zigzag with invisible thread hitting both sides of the binding with the stitch. I have really good luck with YLI in both my bobbin and top thread and my stitching doesn't show. I use regular cotton thread when I first sew it on my quilt from the top side, invisible only on the back side for my zigzag. I use the folded edge of my binding as my center for the zigzag stitching. It looks good, is fast and I love this way.

thanks for the videos I found another one on youtube but I can't get mine to look that good on the back but I'll post it anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jw0E...eature=related

I have a tutorial for a faux cording binding. You sew two strips together one 1-3/4 inch and one 1-1/2 inch. When you press the fold you end up with a 1/8 edge of contrasting color. Sew the binding to the back (contrast color on top) and, when you bring it to the front, you stitch in the ditch and it makes a gorgeous binding.

Try making the binding 2 3/4 in. That extra 1/4 in makes turning so much easier.

Where can I find your tute?

excellent idea