Wrapping Pieced Front to Back for Binding?
 

Over time, I've tried all types of binding methods. Some were more successful than others. Now I have a quilt top that needs me to decide on binding and I have hit a wall. It's a scrap quilt with squares in squares and fabric that spans generations.

The back is a taupe Egyptian cotton sheet. Batting is a super thin poly, interfacing thin. It has every color under the sun in the top so selecting the binding is a PAIN.

Has anyone ever wrapped the pieced front to the back for the binding? Attempted? This is a huge top and there's plenty to go around. I know there are problems I'm just not seeing. What are they?

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

I'd be worried about so many seams wrapping around the back personally (I am suspecting at least every 12 inches and straight seams vs diagonal ones which are stronger and have less bulk).

Have you tried a dark gray or black binding?

Or do you have enough sheeting to bind over from the back to the front?

Sheet binding? Yes and no. Originally, the plan was to wrap the back to the front for binding. Then, during the layering process, too many quilters aligning and pinning got into the plan. Too much here, not enough there...

I think the seams would be a problem too...use black, cream, or a colour in the quilt like navy or green....something will work....

Maybe cream! I just need something that won't stand out. I've even considered a soft sage green.

Can you post a picture of part of the quilt so that we can see what collfs are in iy?

All my late mother's scraps, my scraps, gift chunks of fabrics, and left overs from past quilts. Each and every color, design, and hue in the fabric shops. If my kids were to ever have children, it will be a grand "I Spy" quilt.

I know it is a pain to do, but I have pieced 12" strips of fabric together (diagonal seams) to make a patchwork binding look on a colorful scrappy quilt and it looked great.

I did one quilt (queen size) where I brought the backing around to the front as the binding. It worked out fine and looks good to this day after 20+ years. You can do anything you want, any way you want.

I have made a patched binding too when I made rail fence quilts - a bit of left over fabric, didn't know what to do with it, so that is what I came up with. I stray away from light colored bindings since a couple I have done seem to look dirty after a while.

These are such great suggestions! I'll spread it all out tomorrow and see what works and is cost effective. So many unfinished quilts and so little time before school requirements start again and I have NO time to sew...

Ave you tried or would it work the birthing method. Not sure of other names. Place right sides of back and front together with wadding/ batting on top. Now machine all round leaving a good gap to pull through to the right side. Then personally I would machine all round close to the edge.not sure how other quilting would work. Although you could tie it.

Personally, I would not like dealing with all the seams in the binding. It sounds like you have a variety of colors in it, so you have many choices. I would audition some colors. I'd go for a solid, marble or tonal fabric. I think a scrappy binding on a scrappy quilt would be too busy unless you had a solid or less busy border.

Check this out, pretty sure this is what Tartan is suggesting thesillyboodillyblogspot.com...y-to-face.html

I have a guild friend that uses black for most of her binding on scrappy quilts Her quilts always look fabulous. It looks like a tiny black frame.

Just remember that the binding gets the most wear and tear in a quilt. Would love to see a photo.

I did do a king quilt from front to back and it came out well BUT it didn't have many seams. I went back and checked it and the seams were definitely not as good as the rest of it. IF you have a lot of seams I'd consider a different method. I have to admit it was so easy to do it this way and got a UFO out of the pile quickly.

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The tenth time is a charm!! Left to right, my sister-in-law, Lynn (good enough to be the quilt police but isn't). My mother-in-law, Gerry. And me, the so glad to have help at the homestead quilter. This was the last layered quilt at the Miller homestead. The huge set up made the process a great deal easier than moving couches, chairs and tables!

Miss this place and those amazing days.

You are getting some good suggestions here. Sorry my mind went blank (happens quite often nowadays LOL)

I have only done this once in 25+ years. I wasn't happy with the way it wore over the years of the quilt especially since it was a well used quilt. If you are not sure and have enough of the top fabric. Make your binding out of the fabric and proceed as usual. I think you will be happier in the end.

I think I did not understand your problem. I would not like all those seams in my binding. The seams would not be on the bias and would be bulky.

I would absolutely do facing instead of binding - maybe sewing the facing on twice to strengthen the seam.
http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/St...ing-technique/
http://mariaelkins.com/2013/02/facin...ad-of-binding/
http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com...y-to-face.html
are locations of tutorials.

Personally I would use a knife-edge finish, aka turned-edge. There's no additional fabric to add, the seams of the front piecing are not an issue, the front piecing goes right to the edge of the front and the backing fabric goes right to the edge of the back. Very neat and clean looking. It's one of the oldest methods of finishing a quilt and can be quite sturdy.

http://welshquilts.blogspot.com/2011...nife-edge.html
This example does not wrap the top over the batting before stitching the top and back together, but I have and would in your case. It adds to the durability of the edge.

If that's not an option for some reason (e.g., already quilted too close to the edge), I'd go with wrapping the front to the back despite all the nay-sayers. I've used 1" piano key binding (single fold) and it was not all that difficult despite the seams.

Example of small pieced binding...1" average 'key' single fold traditional binding. It was not hard to do at all and is (relatively) straight and true.

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/13/49/59/13/007_co10.jpg

I have done it that way, to me it is easier to make a separate binding. Really easier for me and looks better. Your quilt your way.

I really think you would be pleased with a dark blue binding. The dark color will give the eye a place to rest. I have never ever done a wrapped binding, I really love to do cut bindings. I think they look more professional when done well. You have such a lovely quilt top I think you would like the cut binding. Good luck.

I often bring the back to the front as binding. It's dead easy and I think looks nice, if the back doesn't fight with the front (as in a very busy print and the front is also very busy).


Oops! I misunderstood the question. I have never wrapped a pieced front to the back as binding....and would worry about seams coming loose, as others have mentioned.

What you want is self-binding and there are several videos online. Here is one: http://www.thequiltladies.com/2013/0...-tutorial.html.

I haven't tried it, but hope it's helpful.

I am inspired!! There is no longer a need to wrap front to back. I've quilted enough to see alternatives existed but these suggestions have brought out creativity! Next quilt will be finished using the knife-edge. I've done that before on hotpads, not knowing it had such a name.

I am going to pull out all the extra backing chunks and see how much is left. Facing seems to fit what I'm looking for. This will be our summer bedcover/quilt, large and lightweight. The edges will barely be seen, but each square has potential for "I Spy" time.

The wisdom of many- t'is grand!

I have made several quilts on which I wrapped the backing to the front to be used as my binding. It looked nice and I don't think anyone noticed the difference becase a couple of my friends are the type that whould have said something had they noticed. LOL