Three quilts needing binding....I just finished cutting the binding, but I just don't want to do it.

I am thinking about trying machine sewing front and back on the small one, to see how it goes. Between the three of them, there is over 500 inches of binding...boo!

Yipes! That's when I would stop.

love the quilts, that is alot of binding, have fun!

Lovely quilts!!!

Yes a lot of binding and if you are under pressure to finish something, I can see why you would procrastinate. I have one clipped with the hair clips just ready to sew--maybe I will get off this computer and finish it now.

Your quilts are very pretty :)

Start with the smallest one to learn your own technique.

You can do it and it will work, just don't rush the process.

ali

I have no problems doing it. I normally sew the front, and then hand sew the back, but I really just want to finish these, and if it looks "okay" with machine sewn, front AND BACK... will i feel like I am cheating my recipient with less than perfect work??... ha ha :)

I totally understand. I have a couple projects just begging to be finished(several months), but I really don't like doing the binding. It is time to just force myself.

Great quilts!!!
Hope they all get done by when you need them done!

nice flowers! Don't suppose you have enough backing to wrap to the front & bind or how about a fancy machine stitch on the back to attach the binding - might lessen the 'cheating the recipient' guilt.

Glad it's you & not me - I had little ambition to bind a simple placemat the other day!

Alas....no backing to fold over. I haven't tried that technique yet.

I will admit, the first couple quilts I did I took scissors and just cut around the quilt top to trim off the batting. I have since done it with a ruler and a rotary cutter, and I just LOVE the crisp clean look of a freshly rotary trimmed quilt after the quilting is done.

binding is my least favorite part of it. I usually wait until I have a pile of quilts to do and when I feel like it, I do them all at once.

This is how I usually do it too! Its easy, once I get in the "binding Zone"

Great quilts!

I don't mind the binding so much. By that time I just want to see the finished quilt so badly, that I gladly get to the binding and the final step...the label.

i usually always put down by machine have gotten very good at it but am very luck as dd love to put binding down by hand

I'm the same-don't mind doing it-I look at it as being almost finished-and then I can start on the next one! I like hand-needle work, anyway. I will sit in front of the TV to do it since it doesn't take alot of thought.

I like binding. Put in a movie and sew it down.

If your quilt is for a child or someone who really would not care how you did the binding, sewing it is a really fast way to go. If you need instruction on how to do it, look on the internet. I'm sure there are instructions; might even be on youtube. Good luck.

I machine sew my binding all most of the time. I'm lazy & want to move on. I have been using a decorative stitch on the front. The quilt police have not come for me yet. I just finished 6 bindings on Wedensday night.(only on one side, the other had been done over the weekend. I worked in stages) You can do this! Merry Christmas.

I just finished binding 4 quilts for Christmas and did not want to do all the hand sewing for the binding. I sewed the binding first to the backing and folded it to the front and used my decorative stitching to finish it. It just looks like another part of the quilting.

I must be weird the binding is my favorite part. (the dog too,he cuddles under while I hand sew the back).I guess I like reaching the finish line. The quilts are beautiful so think finish line!!!

Beautiful quilts !!! good job! :thumbup:

Beautiful Quilts!

great ideas

I usually do my binding by machine. Most of my quilts are for younger people and I feel the machine stitched binding holds up a lot better. I mostly use a fancy stitch on the top. Your quilts are very pretty. Good luck with the binding.

Great quilts and as to the binding....put in a great Christmas movie and start binding...they'll be done in no time. I love hand sewing the binding on (after sewing part of it on by machine) and that's what I call TV work!!

I love your tops! All such really cheerful modern colours, combos of old and new. I am no one to advise on procrastinating - very bad at it myself, but find dividing a large task into small steps the best strategy for conquering procrastination.

I love finishing the binding...wish I was close enough to help. Quilts are beautiful.

I am sure you can get these done what ever method you do. I am at that point right now, I have to get a king size hand quilted binding on. For Christmas. We can work together on it.

If it really looks okay, as you said, the recipient will probably never even think about it as less than perfect. After all, the rest of the quilt was done on a sewing machine wasn't it. Just be careful that it is all pinned as straight as it can be and do the short side of the smallest one first. If you are not positive, do the corners by hand and the rest on the sewing machine. The corners are always the hardest for me to get just right.

sincerely
sueinbarre

I almost always machine stitch my binding. Normally I cut the top a little larger than the back and then fold it over and stitch. Sometimes I cut the back larger and fold it over the front.

For what its worth -- I sew my binding by machine on the back, then turn and machine sew on front. My hands would not be able to hand sew binding all around. Also much, much faster. I have heard of others here doing this way also. It works. Quilt police be damned - Full speed ahead. Projects get FINISHED not sitting in UFO

Well, I really feel the oddball because I love doing the binding, sewing it on, and then handstitching down on the back. I think it's because then I know I'm almost done and can start on another project. I usually have three or four going at the same time, so it just means adding another one to the mix.

What is it that people don't like the binding?

I don't think there is anything wrong with machine binding, I just don't get a very nice result when I have tried it. I made 6 placemats as a thank you gift for a friend of mine and did machine binding on those. I wasn't very proud of the way it looked but, I had procrastinated (my middle name)on them for so long just had to get them sent. :)

Here is some encouragement for you. i just picked up my DH quilt from the LAQ yesterday. I am now making the binding for it-9 strips WOF to make sure that I have enough to go around. I sew it on the back and bring it around to the front. I then use either the 3 step zig zag or a decorative stitch and sew it down. If I had to sew them down by hand, I would probably have a lot more UFOs. My advice is to tell yourself"I will work on this quilt for 15 Min. and start sewing. I had to do that on a UFO and I had it finished in no time. READY SET SEW!!!You can do it!

I don't mind binding as much as I dislike Sandwiching. ugh... But I've only sewn One binding by hand. My first quilt. After that I just machine stitch everything. Because I learned to quilt from watching Simply Quilts, and quilting books, and because I've never done the quilting part with a group, I thought I Invented the method. hahahaha... until I joined up with this board. I'm not kidding. I never told anyone for fear they would roll their eyes and write me off as lazy. and I guess I am lazy. Just wanted it to be my little secret. shhh....

Sew the binding to the back first. Then stitch it to the front. Straight stitch, blanket stitch, or decorative. If I didn't do it this way, I'd have 30 quilts in a stack wishing they could be bound and loved. lol...

Love your quilts, love charm packs,too. Once you get started, it won't be so bad. Binding is easier than the quilting to me.

PS: I liked what you said on the other thread.

I am just finishing up 8 throws for Christmas gifts, sizes from 60 x 60 - 78 x 84 and all are machine stitched binding front and back. I start by attching the back binding first bring it forward and then stitch it in the front. Works fine and all recipients have no quilting knowledge so i figured why kill myself?