Ok I have a questions for all of you. I'm am ready to actually bind my first quilt. Usually my quilting lady does it for me. I have read several different methods. What method do you use and why. I think that I'm going to cut my binding 2 1/5 in. Does that sound about right? One more question do you sew all of it by machine or do you sew one side and then hand stitch it to the back. I have read both ways and don't know which way would be the best.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi
I usually use the same materialas the backing,but that is your choice, and cut strips.the width is personal preference.Ialso (most of the time)machine sew one side and then hand stitch the other,but I always have the hand stitching to the front.Hope that helps

I cut my binding strips 2 and a quarter inches. I then fold strip in half, with the raw edges matching. I do this because the binding is normally the first part of a quilt to show wear. I sew it on by machine, then hand sew it to the back. I like the way that looks best.

Here are a couple sites that may be helpful to you.... I usually cut my bindings 3 inches for larger quilts and 2 1/2 for smaller ones and for table runners and wall hangings. I cut either straight or cross grain for mine. I double fold and place the cut edge along the quilt edge, stitch it all the way around and join it, then flip over and handstitch to the backing.

http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingfive.html
Start Quilting 5 - Binding

http://www.quiltwoman.com/hints/EndlessBinding.pdf
EndlessBinding.pdf (application/pdf Object)

http://www.quiltsmart.com/Pages/completing_your_quilt.htm
Quiltsmart 101: Completing Your Quilt

I do mine the same as Country Quilter, except I cut the strips 2 3/8 inches.

I cut binding 2 1/2 inches wide, fold in half, sew on front of quilt, then hand stitch the back. This works best for me. Nancy

Thanks everyone for your help. I don't like to do hand stitching but I guess I'll give it a try this time. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thanks again
Barb

I sew my binding on the same as Patsy but I always cut it on the bias at about 2 - 2.25 inches. I like that little extra give I get when making the mitered corners.

Ditto

M

Shelly Q has posted a real good lesson on quilt binding complete with pictures. Maybe this will help. If I did this correctly! LOL I can sew, but am helpless with computers! :lol:
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/215-ezl.jsp

I've done the binding totally by machine once, but I didn't like it as well. Cut binding 2.5", fold in half and press. Sew to top side of quilt, raw edge of binding at raw edge of quilt. Turn and pin in the ditch on the top side of quilt. Make sure your pin is catching the binding on the back. I pinned really close together. Stitch in the ditch on the top side of the quilt where the binding is attached. It will catch the binding on the back as you sew. I used my walking foot so I wouldn't get wrinkles on the back. It turned out okay, I just didn't like it as much. I'd suggest practicing on a small sandwich with both methods and see which one you like the look of the best. Good luck. I would also check out ShellyQ's demo that Vicki gave you the link to; it really is a very good one.

Hey Barb, I've tried several ways but like the one described. Sew to back, double up binding fabric and hand stitch. It is amazing how quickly the hand stitching goes and how rapidly it improves given this kind of exercise.

Also, binding I find a complete joy because it’s the next best thing to being there (I find myself humming a lot!). Once it’s finished, you get to tag or label and that’s it!

ok, steve ... it's official. you are NUTS!!!! joy and humming while you bind? :shock:

you need not worry about the Quilt Police. However, if I were you, I'd run like heck from those guys sneaking up behind you with the nets and straightjacket. :lol:

No, honest Patrice, getting that close to the finish line really does me (maybe I’m too new at this?). Also, I find if you run towards the nets and jackets it freaks 'em out and you miss the maintenance visit entirely! :wink:

I cut my binding the same as everyone else, but at times I have sewed it on the back and brought it to the front and top stitched by machine.......I did a decorative stitch on one I finished for grandaughter..........this wasn't traditional but it wasn't for a contest........and the quilt police were someplase else that was warmer lol :D :D :D

Ditto with sewmuch. I have to say the hand sewing on the back takes me forever. I don't put bias binding on a straight edge.

My method is the same as most; 2.5 inches, on the bias (almost always), fold in half, stitch to front, flip to back & hand sew.
Steve, I've been quilting for 36 years & I still enjoy hand stitching the binding to the back, it's kind of a zen thing. Well, except when I really need to get that baby quilt finished for the baby that was born last week!!! LOL
Jo

allrighty then ... a padded room for two ... comin' right up. :lol: :lol: :lol:

the sight of steve rushing in my direction would freak me out, too. but don't tell him i said that. :wink:

I have tried several experts methods. I sew mine in the ditch using a stiche in the ditch foot. It has a metal guide in the center that keeps you in the ditch.
Also I use iron on thread, it holds the binding in place instead of pins that keep poking you.
Also when you are sewing the binding on the front stop at 1/4 inch from the corner and turn your fabric at an angle and sew off at the point. This helps make the miter easier.

I use a two and a half inch binding for my big quilts and smaller bindings for smaller projects. I sew the binding to the top of the quilt by machine and then sew the binding to the back of the quilt by hand. I have a lot of friends who prefer to sew both the front and back by machine but I have noticed it does not look as neat and I have heard quilt judges remark on it when the stitching goes outside of the area it is supposed to (when the back has shifted and is not perfectly aligned it can cause the thread to veer off onto the back of the quilt or too far into the binding, giving a raised edge) and for me, I find I prefer to bind the back of it by hand rather than machine. I hope this helps.

I have to agree, I love putting on the binding. It's probably one of my favorite parts of making a quilt. It's like being in a marathon and suddenly you run over the hill and there, off in the distance, is the finish line. It's energizing! :!: The hardest part for me is sandwhiching a quilt, especially the king sized ones. UGH! It's the least fun part and to me it signifies that I'm only halfway done, which I find a bit despressing for some reason.
~Tiffany

I have one friend who cuts and folds the strips in half, but applies them to the back, then uses the buttonhole stitch on her machine to sew the binding on the front. She uses this method mostly on the quilts she makes that are given to halfway houses, etc., where quantity is as important as quality. Using a contrasting thread, it gives an added decoration to the quilt.

Thats a great idea.

I'm like most others...cut 2.5, machine sew to front, fold over and hand stitch the back with a blind stitch. Somehow...its comforting to do that. I think they look nicer also

Hi CCBear, as to binding, I have done it both ways, machine and hand. I prefer machine. as i said, I like Closure! This way it gets done. I cut it 2 1/2 in wide, fold in half. Match raw edges to the back edge of quilt and sew. Fold the folded edge to the front, pin or baste large stitches. Then use a decorative stitch in the ditch. this ususally comes out somewhat wider on the front than on the back so that both sides look good. I don't like the stitch to meander on and off the binding on the back side.

I really like the idea of a decorative stitch along the edge of the binding. I'm going to have to remember that and give it a try!
~Tiffany

I use 2" bindings, folded in half and sewn by machine to the top and then handstitched to the back.

It is much easier to sew the bindings to the to the top if you do NOT cut away the excess batting and backing! This allows the quilt to feed evenly through the machine on both feed dogs, instead of pulling away to the left of the machine. After you have the binding sewn on, you trim away the batting and the batting using the rotary cutter. It works nicely, because you measure and cut 1/4" from the seam you just sewed, and you have a perfect binding!

Thanks again for all of the help. I just finished binding a wall hanging to go with the quilt. By the time I got to the last side it looked pretty good. I think that I feel confident enough to bind the quilt. Hopefully I'll get the quilt bound this weekend. The wall hanging is just a smaller version of the quilt.

Very pretty! It is so bright and sunny, perfect for a snow filled day like today. :D
~Tiffany

ccbear~ what a great wall hanging! If the quilt looks that good..u did great!

it's beautiful CC. looks like you did a great job!

I make mine 2 3/4 inches. I machine sew to the top of the quilt and then hand stitch to the back so it doesn't show through to the front. I have mastered the mitered corners and the technique to meet the binding at the end. I was so proud of myself. If I told my non quilting friends how excited I was when I figured it out they would think I was crazy!!!

Thats how I do mine too, Nel. But I can't tell you the number of times I have made the final cut wrong when I come back round to join up again!
I wish I would just learn it once and for all! I am no master yet.

AHAH!!!!! That makes a LOT of sense. :P

No wonder I never thought of it myself. :roll:

Cathe, at your Swedehearts, is the beautiful blue eyed girl your extraordinary granddaughter? Thanks for the tip on cutting the batting afterwards. Never thought of that!

What has helped me the most was Shelly Q's tip on how to handle the 2 ends of the binding when they meet up. I had tried lots of other tricks but hers worked the best. The last baby qult that I made looked mch nicer than any previous ones because there was not big lump where the ends met.

No, that is a little girl from church who sometimes models for me. Isn't she cute??

i think i will try this, hope i understand it correctly! Is the iron on thread so that when you fold over, the fold sticks down after you iron it???

thanks much. also didn't know there is such a thing as stitch in ditch foot.

She sure is. Extremely cute! But how about a picture of the granddaughter? Or did I miss it?

I seem to have missed ShellyQ's tip and can't find it. I'm guessing it's right there in front of me but.... Please help me.
Jo

It is called fusible thread, I found it at Joanns in the Viking sewing center.
You need a hot iron, I use steam. It is better than having pins stick you when you are sewing in the ditch.
The stiche in the ditch foot works very well since you have the metal bar guide right in the ditch, no wandering off.
























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