Has anyone used the Martelli Quickbind system? I've watched the video and am intrigued, but it is pretty expensive. Anyone here use it? Like it / hate it? Inquiring minds want to know...


http://www.martellicatalog.com/mm5/m...egory_Code=BIN

Haven't seen this one before. would be interested in see others responses.

I've only been quilting for a little over a year, but I'm very skeptical about this product. For starters, I went to the website and couldn't find a video demonstration (tho it's entirely possible that I'm at fault.) The only video I found cost ~$10!

That said, I have found that making and attaching binding to a quilt is the easiest step of all! While I've spent many $ on supposedly premium gadgets over the years, most have been great disappointments. Most sellers of same target those of us who question our skills and our ability to learn.

I strongly recommend that you save your money and learn to bind your quilts without this product. If you like, I can tell you how I do my quilt bindings. Others on this site can help you, as well. There may also be tutorials available if you use the "search" engine on this site!

Sushi

I have never seen that website but I'm in LOVE! :D
Did you see the special foot for doing circles or curves?
I wonder if that works? Cool stuff!

I didn't like it at all! Waste of money for me. I find it is easier to just do the binding, rather than fiddle with all of the little pieces to this system.

I went back and looked and realized that it doesn't do the hard part :( Ironing a piece of fabric in half, machine sewing it to the quilt, etc. really is the easy part. It's wrapping it around to the back and hand stitching it with the "blind stitch/hem stitch" or whatever it's called that is hard :(

I'm with sushi on this one. I think it's a lot of gadgetry that is unnecessary. Making corners with that would be a nightmare. And for anyone who likes "perfect" bindings by handsewing them down, forget it with this thing.
I've used similar attachments on my Singer and it's not as easy as it looks. You need 3 hands to work it well.

Hi
I have also wondered about this system. It seems to have received good reviews.

I bought the circle foot. I tried with three different curves. I always came out with about 1/2 inch of the top fabric left over. I plan to return it.

We were talking the other day at quilt guilt about borders and bindings. Someone was suggesting pieced borders and fancy work on them. We all agreed that we look forward to a simple border because we are so nearly through. Even quilts we love get to the point where then seem to never end. Why would we extend the process. We were kidding, but only half kidding.

Looks good but is way out of my price range.

I got if for Christmas.. It's Still in the package!!! Well Ive got a quilt to bind guess Ill try it this weekend..

Oh well :( Thank you so much for letting us know! I'll learn to do curves in time :D

I have the Magic curves foot for doing curves. I hate it, it is very time consuming, not very good instructions, and I hate it. OR maybe it is just me, and I am not very good at adapting to new gizmos. With all the time it took trying to use it, I could pin & sew the curves quicker.

I watched the video a couple of times because it looked intriguing. It was expensive so I started reading the reviews and I have to say they were not positive so decided to skip it. The company will send you a free dvd if you ask, they have other products on the dvd also. I do like their rotary cutter

The CurveMaster foot really is the bomb for Drunkard's Path type blocks. And it will take very few of these blocks to catch on - the foot really does a lot of the work for you. I was using a vintage quilting foot to make these until I broke down and bought the CurveMaster - what a difference!

I bought the Zip Bind system, and I've watched the video on the site twice in preparation for using it, but I always get sidetracked and decide to just sew it on and hand stitch like always. The clip that pulls the fabric around to the back and holds it over the seam line on the back of the quilt is the "magic trick" part of this kit.

It can take four evenings to hand sew a binding on a large quilt - but I don't dare put them on by machine because I can't keep the placement consistent and it looks terrible when I'm done. I think it will be wonderful to be able to get the binding finished in just a couple of hours *and* have it look good on the back! :)

Here is the page for watching the company's videos about its tools:
http://www.martellinotions.com/productvideos.asp

There is no charge. The one for the Zip Bind system is almost an hour - it's in the video box at the bottom of the page.

That's where I am at. I can and do bind by hand with no problems, but I'm looking at whether there is another method that looks just as good and is faster. I've tried the gluing method and it doesn't work for me, neither do some of the other methods, they just don't look nice enough. Maybe on this there are no shortcuts... :(

I've tried gluing, too and Steam-a-Seam tape, but the edge just isn't consistent. When it's wandering around "in the vicinity" of the edge of the binding, it's very noticeable, even if the thread matches the binding.

I can understand how the Zip Bind system works, I just need to practice with it. If it works well, it will be a much more secure method of binding and if you make a lot of quilts for Project Linus or other comfort quilt projects, this thing will be amazing for productivity. :)

I bought a foot for sewing binding and it works beautifully on items that have curved corners - you cannot stop in the corner and re-position because the binding is locked in a fold inside the foot. You have to put curves on the corners and sew right around them. (this means that the binding must be cut on the bias)

It only took a little bit of practice to get that foot working well for me, but I don't want to have to put curves on everything - and the foot also won't handle a quilt with a medium or high loft thickness. It works fine for edging low loft quilts or two layers of fabric, such as you might use for a reversible apron.

Well, from reading all the comments, I am going to stick to my hand stitching the binding. I actually enjoy that part.

I do too, but it's very slow compared to sewing by machine. And if I'm going to be hand sewing, I'd rather be doing some applique. :)

Please put up a photo of the foot you are using for the binding.
I wouldn't have a problem making more curved corners on my quilts. They fit the bed better!!!!

Here you go: :)
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Low-Shan...er-SCF6287.htm

For $150, I'll keep doing it by hand while I'm watching TV. :thumbdown:

thepolyparrot,

When you do try your zip bind system can you start a thread and let us know if you found it useful?

Thanks. :)