World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of December 21, 1998:

Our question this week comes from Brenda

Does everyone sew a binding on by hand or would I be able to sew it on the machine ?

Katy Coleman :
Brenda- What "everyone" does is not important. I like to sew mine on by machine, then flip them to the back and hand stitch them down. But I have tried and used (successfully) many other methods, depending on what the particular piece called for.
Irregularly shaped pieces sometimes need to be "faced" with the binding strips. There are many different ways to do this. None are wrong. Find out what works best for you! Katy

Ruth :
That's a tricky question, those that do only
hand piecing wouldn't dream of doing it
on a machine. Me, I'm a machine piecer,
I couldn't imagine doing it by hand.
That would be entirely up to you, which
are you the most comfortable doing? Which
would you be most pleased with? My sister
does all her piecing by hand but she has
to sew her binding on by machine. I doubt
that I've helped your with your question
but I think you should do whichever you
feel the most comfortable doing.

PackRat@kvnet.org

Shirley :
I sew it on either way depending on how I feel or how I think it will make the quilt look. When I do a baby quilt I like to do it by machine as it will get used often and washed a lot. Probably more in the first couple years than most other quilts do in five or ten years. Sometimes I don't do a regular binding but do what is called Amish Brothers. That is a method of bringing the backing fabric up, over and fold to make the finished edge.

Juanita in Wheaton :
I'm happy with the way my quilts turn out with french binding by machine on the front, then turning the back by hand. But I'm intrigued by Shelli Fiorenza's response and will try it on my next project!

Kathy :
I make a binding out of 2" wide strips folded in half, wrong sides together, to the top of the quilt sandwich by machine. Then I sew it down by hand on the back, unless it is a baby quilt, then I sew it by machine to the back and finish it on the front with the machine. I started doing bindings this way many years ago while making a Piecemaker's quilt pattern and it always works for me.

Bea Kasebier :
I sew my bindings on by machine. I feel I get a more precise result. After I apply my french binding to the front of my quilt I fold it to the back and then hand sew it down . By combining both steps I get invisibe stitches. Hope this helps

mamajayne@msn.com :
i sew by machine using a french binding method - it's the neatest way i know to do it - i think what is easiest for you is best

shelley dimitroff :
I personnaly sew my binding on by hand just b/c my hand stiching takes to long and after hand sticking the quilt im ready to be done by the time i get to the binding plus it goes faster and i like to way it looks. Plus I am only a beginner.

Andrea from Alaska :
I always sew it on my maching. Just sew right sides together on the back first and then sew over the pressed under edge on the front. Leave a little extra fullness in when sewing the corners so they don't curl.

Shelli Fiorenza :
When I sew a binding on by machine, I deliberately use a stitch which will enhance my projects theme. Since I own a Viking #1+ my choices of decorative stitches is unlimited. A good example would be to use the flower and leaf repitition to the secure the binding on a floral quilt. Also, always use a complimentary thread when doing machine binding- it will make "mistakes" invisible.

Dottie :
I use the same method as Darlene, it's the method I learned first,and seems to be very satisfactory. One exception-I zig zag when I do the final sewing on the top. I like this best for two reasons: When the final machine sewing is done on the front, I have control of the way the front looks, and when I use the zig sag, it reminds me of the binding that comes on commercially finished blankets, and it surely won't ever come off.

Barbara :
The quilting police might arrest me for this one, but I'll take the chance. Which ever way I do the final sewing, I always machine sew my doublefolded binding on by machine. However, I use the fusible thread in my bobbin. This allows me to press the binding over to the final side and not use pins. Now I can choose to hand or machine stitch and not get stuck. You can attatch the binding with a Z-Z for more hold or just the straight stitch.
Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Margaret Hall :
I sew the first part on by hand then finish on the machine.

Ro :
I always use a french binding. Sewing the front on by machine then hand stitching the back. Have seen them sew both sides on by machine on TV quilting shows but I am not successful at this.

Michelle in IN :
I do both. With a small quilt, it's easier to sew the front on with the machine, then hand finish the back. With a bigger quilt, I find it easier to sew it on by hand, but I'm not really the best machinist!

Peggy :
I like to sew bindings by hand it is quite fun. But, if I must hurry I have used my machine. You can either sew it to the front first. Then stitch in the ditch on the front, catching the binding on the back, or you can sew it to the back and top stitch on the front. Good Luck!

Jan :
For heirloom quilts sew the binding by hand but for quilts that are going to be "used and abused" machine is best. I sew the binding to the front by machine, I then turn the binding to the back - the edge of the binding should cove the line of stitching that shows - I then pin from the front, I pin in the ditch parallel to the binding, the pins catch the edge of the binding on the back. For sewing, I use nylon monofilament "invisible" thread on top and a thread to match the binding in the bobbin. Stitch in the ditch of the binding on top, remove the pins as you come to them and you will catch the edge of the binding on the back. This results in a neat and sturdy binding in a fraction of the time of hand sewing. See "Heirloom Machine Quilting" by Harriet Hargrave.

Rachel Tamm :
You may sew it on by machine.

Doris :
RE: Darlene's answer. . . . . . Darlene, which stitch do you use to edgestitch the quilt binding on the top? A straight stitch, invisible hem stitch? I hand finish bindings on hand quilted quilts, but machine quilt my GIVE-AWAYS so I put the binding on by machine totally also in order to save time. That's why we machine quilt, isn't it? Pinning carefully and about one inch apart, I make sure the wrap-around on the back covers the initial binding stitch to attach to quilt. I am intrigued by Darlene's method and would like to know more about it. Does your bobbin thread show up on the binding on the back side, or on the quilt backing? Please post on BB or reply to dorwald@aol.com

Sandy :
Sew it on by machine to the front side, then fold it over and hand stitch it down. to do this by machine you would have to control both sides of the binding and it would be very difficult.

michelle :
I tried sewing it on by machine one time, but it was way too difficult to line it up on the back side so that the sewing line did not show, I much prefer hand sewing. I find it a very relaxing and satisfying end to my projects.

Gerri :
Here's another vote for Maureen and Rebecca's method! Especially if the quilt is hand-quilted, I think it looks better than a binding where the machine stitching shows! Merry Christmas!

Charlotte :
I am in agreement with Maureen. Sew your doubled binding to the front on the machine, and stitch the back by hand - it's very relaxing to hand-stitch the back - just turn on your favorite music, have a cup of tea, and stitch away. Take a break when you're tired. A binding stitched on the back by hand always looks nicer than one stitched entirely by machine.

DorisGail :
I agree with Rebecca. Machine stitch to the front, turn and hand sew to the back. I always use double fold bias binding. So strong and looks good too. Merry Christmas.

Darlene :
I sew quilt binding on entirely by machine. First trim and square up the quilt, then sew the binding on to the BACK side. Use a seam allowance equal to the finished binding size. Use a bobbin thread color which will match or blend with the top edge of the quilt as a precaution. Then bring the binding around to the front of the quilt to just cover the seamline and pin in place. Edge stitch the binding to the front using both top and botton thread to match the binding. The edge stitch should also catch the edge of the binding on the bottom side. I definitely recommend practicing on a sample in order to fine tune the size of the binding strip and the seam allowance. Once you have the right combination and are consistent, the binding will look good on both the front and the back.

Rebecca :
Sew the binding on the top side first by machine. Then you turn the binding over to the back side and hand stitch it on.

MAUREEN :
I sew the binding the the quilt by machine but I hand sew it to the back. I don't like hand quilting but for some reason this is one of my favorite parts of the quilt. Maybe because it's the last thing to be done. Also because of liking to sew the binding on by hand I tried Celtic quilting and can't seem to get enough of it. Happy Holidays to all QUILTERS!

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