The worst part about binding
 

The most frustrating thing for me when I am hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt, is the constant tangling/knotting of the thread. It drives me crazy! I've tried Thread Heaven which helps some but not enough. The second worst part is ending a thread when hand sewing and trying to hide the knot. Has anybody found the perfect solutions?

Probably is your thread you are using. I use Mettler Silk finish with Thread Heaven and have no problems for 25 years of sewing binding to the back.

I have two thoughts for you: don't cut your thread longer than 18 inches, and use wax on your thread. Good luck.

Thread Heaven. You'll never regret getting it, and wonder where it was all your life!
http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Heaven-.../dp/B0019CYD42

I got an idea a while ago on this forum and tried it out: Instead of hand-sewing down the binding, I used a decorative stitch on the machine. Forgot to take a picture, but I think it turned out looking quite nice - and it was so much less work and hassle!

Try threading your needle before you cut your thread off the spool. Try it it cant hurt and might help.

I have done mine by machine and hand. When I do anything by hand, I usually have multiple loaded needles so I can just move along without having to stop and reload. Like others have stated sometimes you have to stop and dangle so it will untwist and not knot up on you.

People love thread heaven but I am cheap and just use any old candle wax I have. Thread and knot the needle
w/ 18 - 20" of thread. Run the thread over the candle to load it with the wax and then the magic step I do is to run the thread under a warm iron to melt off the excess wax. This gives the thread a nice body and I never have twists or knots.

I learned this on the QB and wish I could remember who posted it years ago. I give thanks to them when ever I use needle and thread.

peace

I used to knot the end that was cut from the spool and I would get twisted. I also used the thread heaven without luck. You will get some twists, but not like before.
Now I take a few needles and thread them onto the thread still on the spool. I do not cut the thread. Then knot the end. When you need thread, hold the end needle near the knot, pull the amount needed and cut thread. Knot end holding the other needles still on the spool. Pull the needle where you want it on the cut thread.

While stitching binding, when you get to the end of the thread, make a quick knot with the needle (loop needle around stitch and pull), then make a quilter's knot (wrap thread around needle and pull needle thru loops) about 1/2" from the quick stitch and put needle under open binding area and pull knot through to the inside seam. You can tack again if you want inside the seam. Then bind over the inside knots.

I hide the knot under the binding and then just back stitch one or two stitches and then again when I finish a thread I also hide it under the binding.. that is just me.. oh yes, do not cut the thread too long.

I use a new (Bounce or Downey) fabric softener sheet, and run the thread (after it's threaded) through it, and the softening agents keep the thread from tangling. Works like a charm.

The other thing you can do is use quilting thread. It's thick, and does not tangle.

Thank you all for your advise. Could you tell I was having a frustrating evening? I do use Mettler Silk finish thread, and I do use Thread Heaven. I need to shorten my thread length I quess. Will also try some of the other suggestions of threading several needles and dryer softener sheets. Thanks again!

I used to have problems with that all the time but not at all lately. I am not sure why. There are a few things I do differently than I used to. I read here to thread the needle on the end you take off first and knot the end coming off the spool last. I use better thread (Superior's Masterpiece 50 weight). I also would stitch hems etc. right to left, now I do the binding stitch away from me to the north. I use to have to always lift up the piece I was working on and drop the thread to untwist. Not anymore. Great.

Use good quality thread and the right size hand sewing needle. To hide the knots, run your needle under the unsewn binding, take a back stitch, run the needle through the batting, pull taunt, and snip, the thread will disappear in the batting. This is how I hide the ends when handsewing binding.

Sometimes my thread tangles and sometimes it behaves (and I always use the exact same procedure). I think the tension with which you are pulling through has something to do with it. I think pulling slowly with a relaxed grip gives better results.

I hand sew my binding onto the back also and what I have been doing is sewing into the 1/4 seam area under the binding and knotting there. Then I'll start about the same place under the binding and come out from underneath so it hides my beginning and ending knots. Of course I can't finish the very last knot but I run my needle between the binding and out about an inch or two, tug a little to pull the final knot into the fabric and then chop the end of the thread. Similar to how we hide thread tails on the quilt frame.

I will repeat several things that have already been mentioned here. I use a single strand of thread that I measure from where I'm holding the end to my elbow (this is the length I am most comfortable for almost all my hand sewing -- hemming, sewing on buttons, applique, embroidery, hand-quilting). I use the Clover Domed Threaded Needle Holder and thread several needles at one time http://www.joann.com/clover-dome-thr...e/2184992.html. I do use Thread Heaven but don't run my thread through it until I get ready to sew with it. Then I hold the thread on the top of the Thread Heaven and run the thread over it two or three times, then pinch the thread between my thumbnail and forefinger, which flattens out the thread. I am one of those who have a tendency to twist my needle, so every 5-6 stitches, I let the needle hang and untwist the thread. When you hide your knot, hold the knot with your thumbnail and give a tug so the knot "pops". I use the same thread to hand sew binding that I used to machine sew it on, if I matched the color. Otherwise, I use a matching Mettler Silk Finish 100% cotton thread. I wouldn't use hand-quilting thread, as someone suggested, because I think it's too heavy. I use an applique stitch, so my binding stitches blend into the binding.

Please thread needle
then cut thread from the spool.
This should do it.
Also use a milliner needle which is longer
and you keep you from spinning a shorter needle. Good luck.

I sew my binding by machine these days. Faster. I use the method that you sew it on the back and bring to the front. What I hate is connecting the two ends. But getting better at it.

Sandy

That was my thought, thread too long. Or even occasionally, just let the needle dangle and untwist itself.

Tartan has explained it perfectly. Give Thread Heaven another try with the shorter thread and I'll bet you'll be much happier.

If you will always knot the thread that first comes off the spool you will have a lot least problems.

I've always used thread that's considered "too long" when I stitch by hand. It started with cross stitching as a young child, progressed through needlepoint and crewel, and carried over to quilting. I seldom cut less than 36" strands of thread when hand stitching the binding of a quilt and never, repeat never, have knots or tangles.

I use the right size needle for the thread, thread from the lead end, knot at the spool end, and when the thread starts to twist back on itself, I simply roll the needle in the opposite direction between my thumb and forefinger until there's no twist. No need to coat the thread with anything or drop the needle to let it spin out on it's own (tried that once on someone's advice and the needle fell off onto the carpet). It may be against all the "rules", but it's certainly worked perfectly for me for decades so I'm sticking with it.

To end the thread, I just make the thread equivalent of a french knot in the seam allowance bringing the needle back out a needle length away and pulling the knot through the seam allowance and into the batting.

Hand quilting thread solved the problem for me. No need to wax it. Never tangles.

Make sure you don't pull the thread from the cut end. Thread has a twist and has the least twist when the part coming off the spool goes into the eye of the needle. That way all of the little thread hairs are going in the right direction. When mine starts to tangle, I generally let it hang and untwist itself. Every little trick helps.

You got all the great advice. I don'tuse any special threads or wax. I just use a thread to match andit's usually a cotton quilting thread. I do keep my length to the18” or less rule and I like the idea of threading up severalneedles at a time so you can just zip along. What a great idea! Oh,and I always use single strand, never double. To hide the knot I gointo the raw quit edge from the back (side near the front sewn downbinding) so that when I pull it, it the tail goes up in there and iseasier to tuck in. Just make sure your tail isn't too long either. No need for that. Just long enough so your knot doesn't undo butshort enough to fit in without it sticking out. :) Hope this onemore opinion helped!

I sew my bindings on by machine and avoid all of this angst!