I normally use a 2 1/2" strip for my binding, fold in half, sew to the front and attatch to the back. I read on here somewhere to do what I do but SITD on the front to catch the back.

So, how wide should the strip be or am I already there?

Thanks!

you're about there. since its going to be your first time with the method use 2.5 as you get more comfortable with the technique you can cut your strip thinner if you like.

some people use elmers glue to adhere the backside of the binding before SITD. i used to use glue and still do from time to time.

lately i've been using fusible thread in the bobbin and i like doing it this way better.

then when i do the SITD from the front i use regular thread in the bobbin.

Thanks Klue!

Klue -- sounds like a plan!! :D Will have to try this method as I hate doing all that hand stitching on binding when doing such things as table runners or table toppers!

I use a 2 1/4" binding and sew it with machine to the back of my quilt. Then I pull it around to the front and use a decorative stitch to sew the binding down. I have used scallops, blanket stitch, and stars - whatever suits my fancy. The reason for using a decorative stitch over a straight stitch is twofold. 1. A decorative stitch adds another element of decoration. 2. A decorative stitch hides when you might miss the perfect line.

HaHaHa! I just cut my tube triangles! I must have been drunk when I sewed the tubes together-I don't even drink. My version of the Drunkards Path!

fusible thread? That's new to me! How does it work?

its really very easy. you just put fusible thread in the bobbin and sew the binding strip to the front like normal.

then when you turn the binding strip over to the back instead of having to put down glue to hold it in place you just iron the edge of the binding strip to the seam line on the back.

its a light fusible that will hold the binding strip in place while you SITD from the front.

the fusible washes out or wears away with time so it doesn't make the area stiff at all.

I am loving these tips. Gotta try them! Thank you!

Thanks for posting that. The tips are great. ;-)

Great tip, Klue! I'll have to look for that kind of thread. I pin it now and I always end up poking myself about a million times.

I use 3" binding strips, folded in half, sewn to the front then turned to the back. I used to hand stitch it to the back, but I noticed that the hand stitching was the first thing to go, no matter how small or precise I made the stitches. I've lately been using a zig zag to attach the binding (in a nice contrasting thread colour) but I'm going to try the decorative stitch. Great tip!

Kristy

What a fantastic invention!! Where do I find this thread??

Klue, that is a great idea. I have used fusible thread to hold down binding by ironing it on the seam line but your idea is much better. Thanks

Holy Cow! This sounds interesting!
I'm almost finished quilting that tumbling blocks that I asked you guys about and I was dreading the old hand stitching the binding.

I use 2.5 inch binding and sometimes stitch it down by machine to finish it off. i to use straight pins to hold the binding till i stitch it. i pin in the "ditch" from the front. i want to make sure I catch the binding.
i put about 3 pins in the corners and go slowly there. works well 99 percent of the time. if i miss a corner i hand stitch that down later.

Another thing that really keeps that binding there...if you didnt want to do in the ditch a zig zag or even fancier stitch can help keep it there. Just my 2 cents!!

yes, you could hand stitch with the fusible thread. i've never done it for binding (too much hand stitching for me) but i have hand stitched with it for applique pieces.

when i have a complex applique with lots of pieces i'll hand stitch them together using fusible thread - then when its a nice big unit fused together i move the entire piece to the background fabric and stitch it down.

i get mine online (no one near me has it) i typically shop at Red Rock Threads (online) for the more fancy type threads.

i use YLI or Superior Brand of fusible.

here's a link

http://www.redrockthreads.com/misc-t...ble-thread.asp

I am trying to picture this and guess I'm being a "blockhead", but if you use the fusible thread in the bobbin, won't that wash out and leave the top unsecured when you SID?

If you bobbin threads washes away what is left to hold the binding on from the back? You would have to stitch with the machine from the front to "hold" the back of the binding on the quilt. If you hand sew the front - the back would eventually come apart...or am I missing something?

Hi Donna.......glad I'm not the only one with "the question". Now we will wait for Klue to help us out!!! :?

I stitch my binding to the back of the quilt and fold it to the front and stitch with the fusible thread in the bobbin. Then I use a zigzag or other decorative stitch. This way the back is as pretty as the front and I can see what I'm doing.

Thanks for explaining. We wouldn't want a more inexperienced quilter not understand that!

I used a decorative stitch on quilt and it works great. I wish I thought of that on the one I just finished. well, next one will get a decorative stitch in the binding. Thanks for the reminder.

Up until now all my quilts (only five) have been SID; all the bindings have been attached by machine, folded over and hand stitched to finish. As much as I tried, I've never been any good at machine stitching binding or bias strips! This fall my DH bought me a "new to me" used Bernina 730E. I bought a (generic) 2" binding foot for it - or whoa-ez-me - what an invention this is! I used it to bind some quicky fleece blankets for Christmas presents along with the walking foot and you would have thought I'd been doing it forever, they came out so neat and even.

it doesn't wash completely away - it just isn't stiff like the typical fusible web that we're all familiar with - my mistake for not being completely clear on that.

then when you sew the binding again you no longer have fusible thread on the machine - you use whatever thread you like in both the top and the bobbin.

So you are saying that when I sew from the front after I have ironed to the fusible thread, that my SID will catch the back edge of the binding and that will be enough to hold it? I'm sorry to be so dense, but I wouldn't want it to wash away. It does not wash away at all???

your correct it does not all wash away and yes the stitching does catch all the binding edges.

here's a pic of the SITD binding from the front, if you look closely at the binding the SITD is catching the front edge.

Oh! That's great!!!! I'm gonna get some of that thread.....And, thanks for the picture. I am a visual person and that really helps..... :D

Any suggestion as to which one of the fusible threads to buy?

i like YLI or Superior fusible thread

in case some people don't know,

if you click on the download button by the pics it will open up in another window and you'll be able to magnify the pic and zoom in on different areas to examine the quilt and the stitching.

are you using double fold binding?

do you stitch the binding down first and then use the special binding foot to help fold the binding to the back?

how do you do mitered corners with the binding and the special binding foot?

so basically, i would like to know exactly how you're doing this and if you could post a link or pic of the special binding foot that you use that would be wonderful.

or if you live nearby, put on a pot of coffee and i'll be over with some cake/cookies and a few quilts to bind off :-D

WOW!!! I have learned so many tips here!!! Thank you all :D:D:D I will never be able to handsew all of my bindings, so this is really appreciated :D:D:D

I need answers too! :D :D :D :D

ok, you bring coffee cake and i'll bring the cookies :-D

Sounds good to me!! :D

i'm going to be binding a quilt about the 2nd week of january.

i'll take pics thru the entire process and post a tute when i'm done.

FANTASTIC.......I will be watching for it!!! Thanks.... :-)

I cut my strips 2" wide and piece them for a length long enough for what I need. I've only tried corners once and wasn't happy with the result (it will take some more practice) so I just did each side and then finished the corners by hand. I feed my strip into the attachment and it will fold and stitch onto the blanket/quilt as it is fed by the walking foot. I saw a video online and feel in love with it (the generic's are inexpensive - I got mine on eBay); I'm trying to remember what website it was on; if i come across it as I'm working my brain :? I'll post it. In the meantime here is a quicky from the bernina website - it really doesn't show much but you can get an idea of how it works:

http://www.berninausa.com/webautor-d...achment-84.wmv

Here's a pic of my generic foot; it is a bit bulkier than bernina's but it does the job!

Here is the link I was talking about - this website is a wealth of information :lol:

http://www.thequiltshow.com/bernina/301.html

I have the generic binder attachments but could never figure out how they worked....maybe it's time I got them back out and tried again :lol: :lol: I wonder how all my quilts will look with rounded corners??? :lol: :lol: