institches33

The easiest and fastest way I've found to sew binding is the Martelli Binding System. (not affiliated) There is a learning curve, but once the system is mastered, it's heaven!

Fizzle

Have the Martelli binder. Have not tried it. Better get it out and start watching videos!

came with my table and i have never seen it in action...

juliasb

I have yet to find a trick that works every time. For quilts that go for gifts I will always do the bindings by hand.

leighway

This was all I needed to see to give me a quick kick in the keister! I've had that thing in my sewing closet for a couple of years now and I guess it's time to take it out and master it!! That wandering line on the back is why I hand stitch my bindings but with all I have in my 'to-do' pile and watching my years grow shorter, I guess it's time. Thanks!

anonymous

Thanks everybody for the replies. To you dear ladies that own the Martelli binding system, let us know how it goes. I also think nativetexan's method is an option, but I would not be fast with all that pinning either. For now I will probably continue to hand sew because the way my brain is wired that line should be straight. Lol.

cindyb

I just watched the quick video on this. Wow, it is really is very precise. one more tool and probably pretty expensive as all of the Martelli tools are. Hmmmm Something to think about.

anonymous

Martelli used to have 50% off of everything as a black friday sale. Not sure this still happens, but I may check it out.

klswift

the easiest way to avoid this is to use a decorative stitch. My favorite is one that is a bit wavy and has a tiny leaf. It will catch everything and if done with a variegated thread, it can add a nice touch. I often find myself sewing very late at night and the old eyes don't want to work that well that late! If the top screams for a straight stitch, just go very slowly and keep looking at your stitch line underneath so that you are sewing either directly on top of it or a thread or two next to that line. You could take the time and pin it like crazy, but I do not have the patience for that (the same reason I do not hand sew the binding!). I am in awe of all the folks who do hand sew it and if entering it in a show, I know I will have to - but for now.......

Jeanette Frantz

I cannot say that I'm really "good" at binding quilts, but I use Jenny Doan's (Missouri Star Quilt) method and I've found it to work very well. One thing I do differently is that I cut my binding lengthwise of the grain. Unless I'm doing rounded corners, I don't use bias as a matter of course. But, I have used bias and have no problems with that either. Using Jenny Doan's method, I've found I can attain very good corners. I hand-hem all my bindings. I don't make a great many quilts, but I put a little of myself in every one of them.

ClairVoyantQuilter

This is the number 10 foot on my Bernina, but most machine manufacturers have an equivalent to the edge foot.