The good thing is it means I'll have finished projects to show you soon. But it sometimes feels like it takes FOREVER to bind a quilt. These three quilts have been languishing in a pile for longer than I care to admit. It was far easier to start another quilt than to actually finish these.
I stitch my binding to the back by hand and have normally done it while
In order to speed things up, I'd love to master a machine method that really looks good. The one method I've tried is to stitch in the ditch from the front and catch the binding on the back. It's never even and there are always a few places that get missed alltogether. My perfectionism is showing isn't it? So far my attempts have been less than satisfactory so I stick with hand stitching.
Recently though I heard of using glue rather than pins or clips to keep the binding in place. Supposedly more accurate since there aren't any pins causing distortion. Has anyone tried this with success? If so, any tips? Perhaps I'll give it a try with one of the quilts in the wings. For now I better get back stitching.
I'd love to know how you bind your quilts.
And yes, spring is back and the tulips are once again in full bloom . . . yippee!!!
Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
How I do my binding often depends on who is receiving the quilt. Utility and charity quilts are usually machine bound. Otherwise its by had for me. I have never tried the glue method, but I have read about it before. I don't even pin, except for the corners, so its not always perfect. I machine stitch from the front.
ReplyDeleteI machine bind using the SITD method you mentioned. I also have the same problems with it that you mention. It turns out better if I take the time to use lots of pins. I much prefer the look of a hand-stitched binding, but lack the patience and skill for it.
ReplyDeleteI stitch by hand to the back too. I rather enjoy the process and usually listen to music while sewing. I like the gray stripe you used for binding.
ReplyDeleteI bind a quilt as you do, Anne. No trick to it. But I don't mind that hand work. I too most often sit in front of a table to do it, so the weight is supported. Then, I listen to an audiobook to help pass the time. I have used Elmer's School Glue to bind a quilt that I want to enter in a show, but that's just to help the binding look better - more smooth. The binding is still hand sewn down. I learned how to do this by watching Sharon Schamber's YouTube video about it. Good info there, if you haven't seen it.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow perfectionist I bind my quilts just as you do Anne. There's something special about adding the stitching by hand too. Basting is the stage I don;t like. By the time I make it to basting stage I can't wait to see the fished quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love sewing the binding down by hand : )
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the hand sewing bit. I tried machine sewn binding, but it never came out just right. Then you have to go back over it and "fix" the mistakes. Grrr.
ReplyDeleteI like the meditative repitition of hand sewing.
I'd rather applique or do EPP (or knit!) than hand-stitch a binding. There aren't that many hand-sewing hours available to me in a week. Spending that time on a binding is a low priority, so I machine finish as much as possible. No SITD for me: I just wrap to the back and edge stitch from the back. It adds another line of stitching on the front, but most quilts can handle that just fine. After all that quilting, what's one more line of thread? I also love a faux-piped binding because it can all be done on the machine while still looking fancy and like you went to a lot of trouble.
ReplyDeleteI have always hand stitched my binding until the past year or so. I think it's easiest to do at the kitchen table. A friend convinced me to give machine binding a try. I know what you mean about missing part of it sometimes. I stitched the binding on the back and then stitched the front down. So unfortunately I don't have any suggestions but am curious to what works successfully for others. I enjoy hand stitching binding and will do both depending on the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI stitch in the ditch from the front and the glue makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tulips! Can't wait to see the finishes :)
ReplyDeleteI always hand stitch my binding to the back too! I love the opportunity to sit down, watch something on the TV (as long as it doesn't have sub-titles!) and finish a quilt! I say it's like adding the exclamation mark to the end of a sentence! I love your stripy and spotty bindings BTW!
ReplyDeleteAll your commenters have noticed the challenges with machine SITD, but the other factor, at least for me, is that the machine SITD is stiffer and less pliable. I like the movement in the hand-stitched quilt, and as long as I don't too it for too long, my hands don't suffer (old age--ACK!!)
ReplyDelete