World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of August 31, 1998:

Our question this week comes from Danielle

I have heard conflicting advice about when to bind and when to hand quilt. Which should you do first - the binding or the quilting? Does it depend on the size of the item?

nickie :
always quilt first, it always easier to nake the sides even when binding.

stephanie :
The binding is applied AFER all the quilting is done. This is done so that all of the work is done smoothly from the center outwards and no extra fabric is "trapped". Even if you baste very cautiously, there is some excess fabric that is quilted out to the edges and also the quilting "takes" up some width and length in the quilt and by doing the binding first, you may end up with uneven edges.
Bette Law :
I prefer to quilt before binding as the act of quilting tends to shrink up the fabric, causing unwanted wrinkles.
Sue :
As a beginning quilter who learnt the hard way - quilt then bind every time!
Kathy Kent :
Unless you are taking the item on vacation and want to have it done when you return, you should quilt everything before you bind the quilt. If you are hard pressed for time maybe you would need to bind it, but otherwise. quilt first.
RC :
Quilt first...Bind last!
Lynne Evans :
My preference is to do all the hand quilting first, then
the binding. That way, if you have any fullness that needs
to be worked out, you can get rid of it at the outside edges
of your quilt. If the edges are already bound, the fullness
can only be worked out to the binding. And sometimes, even
with careful basting, there is fullness to be gotten rid of.
Anthony in Tampa :
Usually I quilt then bind. But why? 'Cause that's how I was taught.

If you're doing a lot of heavy quilting, the stitches can distort the peice. that's why you cut your backing and batting larger than the finished piece. You often have to square up or adjust after quilting. There, binding would get in the way.

But if you're doing minimal quilting, it probably doesn't matter. Mostof us have "finished" a project only to go back later and add more quilting. I don't seem to remember this as much of a problem.

It's probably like most things in qulitmaking: personal preference. Experimant and let us know what you decide.

"A busy needle is a happy needle."

Maureen :
You should always quilt first before you bind your quilt as quilting tends to make the top shrink a little and it will pull and distort your quilt. You may be able to quilt after pillow turning your quilt but even that may end up with puckers. Good luck with your quilting,
Peggy :
On a large quilt, no matter how carefully it's basted, there is some movement during the quilting process. If you have the binding in place, there is no room for adjustment near the edges, & you're bound to be disappointed.
Bea :
No manner what the size of the quilted item is you should always do the quilting first and then put on the binding, good luck to you and happy quilting.
Pat Hays :
Danielle--I first quilt the basic pieced center, then bind by machine sewing the binding to all layers, hand stitch the binding down. Then I do the hand quilting on the borders; this seems to eliminate stretching that might occur by quilting right out to the edge before binding. Hope this is not too confusing.
J. :
ALWAYS quilt first!!!!!!!!! size doesn't matter.
Ima Quilter :
Someone is trying to set you up for failure. You NEVER bind first, it makes no difference on the size of the item.
Squirt :
Quilt first!
Iris Winn :
Quilt first, when you stretch the quilt on the frame it will need to move at the edges and if you have put binding on the edges you may distort the edge so it is not even. The binding just flows onto the quilt after it has been quilted.

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