Another binding discussion
#13
To me, I thought your binding looked great. I too sew on the back, then flip it to the front. I glue my front binding however. That way I can adjust it and place it exactly where it will catch the back binding when I sew it down. Works great. I have never been disappointed in my binding once I discovered glueing it. I am not a fan of hand sewing I must say. For those that are I truly admire your work when I see it at shows.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posts: 923
I do my bindings the way the OP does. My arthritis won’t let me do hand binding, and I don’t like the extra time and fabric needed for a flange. One thing that helped me keep an even width is serging my quilts before binding. It gives me a firm, even edge to roll the binding over. I also found it best if I place my pins right in the seam line, parallel to the edge of the quilt instead of pinning perpendicular to the edge or using a clip.I have even played with water soluble tape and glue. The serger and the pinning had the most improvement in my binding by far.
#18
That result is the main reason I don't like doing that way. I sew to the back and then fold to the front and topstitch down. I line up my fabric so that it is just covering the first stitching line, and then a narrow topstitch ends up pretty much right in the ditch or a bit past it (on the quilt) on the back side.
I've found the main thing is I need to be extra careful to get a consistent seam allowance when sewing on the binding. After I take the quilt off the LA, I use my longest ruler and rotary cut a very straight edge for sewing on the binding. I sew it with a fat 1/4" seam, and that works for me. Then when I pull the biding forward, I've got a full binding and it just comes forward to where I need it.
if I am doing something with points I want to watch for, I'll cut the binding at 2" instead of 2.25" and then sew a smaller seam allowance. I will also sew several inches and then fold the binding around and see if it's coming out correctly, or if I need to adjust the seam allowance.
I've found the main thing is I need to be extra careful to get a consistent seam allowance when sewing on the binding. After I take the quilt off the LA, I use my longest ruler and rotary cut a very straight edge for sewing on the binding. I sew it with a fat 1/4" seam, and that works for me. Then when I pull the biding forward, I've got a full binding and it just comes forward to where I need it.
if I am doing something with points I want to watch for, I'll cut the binding at 2" instead of 2.25" and then sew a smaller seam allowance. I will also sew several inches and then fold the binding around and see if it's coming out correctly, or if I need to adjust the seam allowance.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: lexington ky
Posts: 1,418
[QUOTE=Jingle;8414186]I will stick with the way I sew them on. I sew on the back turn to front and sew it down. It works everytime. When something work I just stick with
That's how I do mine too. I have sometimes even made the backing big enough that that I just bring it around to the front and stitch it down. No separate binding.
That's how I do mine too. I have sometimes even made the backing big enough that that I just bring it around to the front and stitch it down. No separate binding.