World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of October 9, 2000:
Our question this week comes from Jen Bantl
I just finished my first quilt, and attempted to machine bind it - I began by sewing the strip to the top, andrealize now that I probably should have started from the back. Any other suggestions, as I am pretty discouraged.
hilde :
This tip came from Marilyn in Ohio:
After stitching the binding to the front of the quilt, fold it to the back and pin from the front in the ditch. Use long pins and keep checking the back to make certain you have caught the binding with the pin and that is is even on the back. Go to the machine and remove one pin and start stitching in the ditch. Be careful to remove the pins as they approach the needle. With large quilts you may run out of pins before you are done so just pin a section at a time. (My own experience with this technique showed me I had to cut a wider strip for the binding than I was used to, since I did not catch all the binding on the back, so I added 1
centimeter. The strip I'm working with now is 6.5 centimeter. Good luck!)
lynda laroche :
I have found that using a walking foot when l attach my binding eliminates a lot of problems. Not knowing what your difficulty was it is hard to answer. Good luck. p.s. the book quilts,quilts, quilts is just about the best book l have found for all kinds of help...
Catherine :
It shouldn't matter which side U start from. Fold binding carefully and pin to the back side. You can slowly topstitch it, checking often to make sure your topstitch is right on both edges. I do this often. If you are careful and take your time, you will be happy with the results.
Gerri :
Hang in there! Lots of things aren't easy the first time. Some excellent suggestions have been given. Follow the advice given here, take it slowly and you'll be fine!
Jackie O :
I always start my binding on the front then flip to the back.
Leslie :
I follow Becky's method, but one tip I have to add is to baste the edge of the quilt before attaching binding. Since I started doing that I don't have wrinkles when the binding goes on. Quilters Newsletter Magazine ran a series of article at the beginning of the year on different types of bindings, and that might help, too.
Sue Elliott :
Tomorrow morning, Oct. 10, on Simply Quilts will be a show about finishing quilts. This should give you some good information about putting on the binding.
Audrie :
The American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine has a section in each month's issue called Quilter's Schoolhouse. Within the Quilter's Schoolhouse is a section called Complete The Quilt. I have used their method several times in attaching the binding on my quilts and have been very pleased with the results.
The instructions are easy to follow and there are pictures to guide you as well. Hope you find this helpful.
Becky Kelher :
I always sew it to the front by machine, and then whipstitch it in place on the back side with teeny little invisible stitches. Seems like this is how I have always read it should be done.
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