World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of February 24, 1997:

Our question this week comes from Lorraine Schiedel

How the heck do you properly bind the edges?

and from Jerry Scheel

Is there a better way to attach the back of the binding to the quilt other than blind stitching?

Shelley Hilton Pace :
Nothing beats the look of binding finished on the back with blind stitching, but those of us working on ABC Quilts project have needed a way to make the binding more secure (for multiple washing in commercial machines, and since we don't have the opportunity to repair binding that might come un-stitched). So, for sturdy binding on the children's quilts we make we first zig-zag the unbound edges, then sew the binding to the BACKside of the quilt, mitering the corners, and then turning the binding to the front. We then use a decorative machine stitch on the front to finish the binding. If you make sure the turned binding covers the straight stitch used to attach the binding, it's really a very nice finish. While it's not as pretty a finish as blind stitching on the back, it fills our specific needs...and it's one more way to finish a quilt edge.

Ceola McDonough :
I prefer blind stitching. I have tried
other methods, but, to me, they don't look
as nice, and after all my work piecing a
pretty top, I don't want the binding to
detract from the finished product.

Ruth Pressler :
Using self bias binding . Depending
on style of quilt or your personal prefence prarie points with binding
is great.

Sue Duthweiler :
Because the binding is an integral part of your work, it is important that it look as nice as the rest of the work. In my most humble opinion, nothing beats blind stitching, done by hand to complete your artwork.

Blind stitching your binding is great practice for applique you might want to do later, so sit back and enjoy it. With a little practice it will be easier and easier.

If you truly dislike the work, find a quilting buddy. Offer to press freshly washed fabric, cut strips, make blocks, run errands, whatever you buddy would like, in exchange for her (his work). I have a loving husband who willingly rips seams for me, giving me time to do things I enjoy more.

Ansley :
I guess I like blind stitching the binding.
It's my last chance to handle my finished
work, and sometimes the only hand stitching
I do on a quilt. I like the feel of an
almost-done quilt on my lap, getting its
final touches before going off to whatever
its destination will be.

Jo Griffith - Lancaster, PA :
Although, I've seen quilts where the backing
is cut longer and wider than the top and batting
and folded over the quilt top and stitched
down by machine...the only way to really
get the "look" is to use double fold bias
binding--stitch the raw edges down to the quilt
top, trim the edges and fold the binding to
the back and blind stitch. How to???
I learned from the book QUILTS,QUILTS,QUILTS.

Robin Howard :
I use a neat overcast stitch to attach the
back of the binding; the blind stitch is
too labor intensive for me. I can get two stitches
per needle, and you can't see it unless you look pretty closely.

Anthony(gogators@bigfoot.com) :
Yes, there is a much easier way. Attach your binding around the front as usual, taking care to miter your corners, etc. Then flip the qulit sandwich over, and instead of hand stitching, use a machine topstitch to secure the binding. The switch is that you use invisible thread in the bobbin and thread to match the binding in the top. Works like a charm.

Harriette Schapiro :
Before my Carpal Tunnel surgury, when I couldn't hand sew, I would sew the doubled binding to the back of the quilt. Then, to finish, I would turn the folded edge over to the front. With the edge just over the line of stitching, I would use the same sort of stitch, either blind hem or overlock stitch, you use for blind, machine applique. Thread the machine with monofilament in the needle. The stitching just dissappears. By sewing the final edge from the front, there is a minimal chance of seeing either stitch line.

Helen Minick :
You can sew binding on right side and
turn to back, just past the stitching.
Then sew with machine with invisible
thread in the ditch.

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