Another Irish chain baby quilt
07-06-2018, 02:57 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Boothbay Maine
Posts: 9,518
Pam, that is a wonderful pattern for a baby quilt and would make up great in all sorts of colors. You did a fantastic job and I love your machine binding stitch...what a great idea. Thank you for sharing.
07-06-2018, 12:34 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Leesburg, FL
Posts: 368
I love two color quilts and yours is wonderful. Like how you used the red thread for quilting. And I love your binding technique. I stay away from machine sewing binding because it usually ends up terrible, no matter how careful I am. I will have to try using a fancy stitch.
07-06-2018, 01:16 PM
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posts: 919
A number of people have commented on the binding, so I will Describe the way I do machine binding. I think a firm quilt edge is key to getting the fabric wrapped smoothly. I use a serger, but a relatively close 3 step zigzag would also work. I apply a folded 2 1/2” strip of binding using a seam that is half way between 1/4 and 3/8. On my Bernina 440, that is two clicks left for the needle position and keep the quilt edge even with the edge of the standard zigzag foot. That is enough so my back binding is just a little bit bigger than the front, for wiggle room. When I finish the first stitching on the top, I press the binding away from the quilt so it lays nice and smooth. I then recenter the needle and set my machine for a feather stitch, folding the fabric firmly to the back as I go, only a few inches at a time. This is where the firm edge is required. If the edge of very soft, I have found it impossible to keep the fabric roll even. I also haven’t had luck with pins or clips. The fabric seems to creep in between them, and it shows up as an uneven binding.
While the feather stitch is my favorite for this, any stitch with a well defined center line can work. A three step zig zag looks nice, as do many other decorative stitches that swing on both sides of the seam. That gives a little extra fudge room to make sure the binding is secure. I do a number of Quilts for Kids, and they required machine attached binding, so I have had a lot of practice! Oh, and make sure your machine is freshly oiled before starting a wide decorative stitch. If my machine isn’t oiled well, it has a tendency to skip the left swing. I have had two different repair guys look at it when in for service, and there is nothing wrong with the timing. That tiny touch of additional friction when not freshly oiled messes up the stitch just enough to be a bother.
While the feather stitch is my favorite for this, any stitch with a well defined center line can work. A three step zig zag looks nice, as do many other decorative stitches that swing on both sides of the seam. That gives a little extra fudge room to make sure the binding is secure. I do a number of Quilts for Kids, and they required machine attached binding, so I have had a lot of practice! Oh, and make sure your machine is freshly oiled before starting a wide decorative stitch. If my machine isn’t oiled well, it has a tendency to skip the left swing. I have had two different repair guys look at it when in for service, and there is nothing wrong with the timing. That tiny touch of additional friction when not freshly oiled messes up the stitch just enough to be a bother.
Last edited by CanoePam; 07-06-2018 at 01:20 PM.
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