I have a question about finishing a quilt

Hi, Usually the quilt has been sandwiched and quilted - then the binding is put on the quilt. It's the last step before the quilt is finished.

The binding usually waits until after the sandwiching and at least stabilising quilting have been done. Never worry about questions! . In message , GrammyKathy writes

"The only silly question is the one you never ask..."

Binding is the road test of a quilts warmth and snuggle-ability, as you wrastle with it in your lap hand-sewing it on after everything else has been done... in my humble opinion anyway....

Suzie B

It's usually done after the quilting, so as to take into account the fact that the quilt will shrink a bit during the quilting process. Binding and/or adding the label are usually the last things to be done to a quilt. HTH. :)

Suzie,

I learned this a long time ago even tho I think some of my questions are pretty dumb. But, then you usually are when you first start to learn how to do something. Thank you all.

Kathy D in Il

Sandy,

I have heard that if you sew the label on and then quilt it with the rest of it no one can take the label off without destorying the quilting.

One of the wonderful quilters in my guild attaches the binding to the quilt top before sandwiching. Sometimes it's a while before she gets it quilted and the binding stabilizes the edges so they don't stretch. Not a bad idea, unless you are having it machine quilted by a longarmer. I doubt she would appreciate that! KJ

So does she stitch it again after quilting? Or does she just sew the fold to the loose backing? Roberta in D

"KJ" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:ouw_g.1030902$084.885137@attbi_s22...

Oooops. I may have sent a blank message. She layers the quilt and quilts it up to the binding, then trims the batting and back, and folds it to the back as usual. I've tried it with some that I machine quilted, and it worked ok. The only problem was I cut the binding too narrow and it was pretty much just a teeny piping when I finished. It worked for dorm quilts. I can see another (besides saving some stretching on unfinshed top edges) advantage of doing it that way. You wouldn't have a straight line of stitching on the back to cover with the binding. KJ

Well, we are all more than happy to answer any questions you have Kathy

- thats what I love about this NG, everyone is happy to pitch in to help everyone else!

I may not post very much these days, but I still read the group when I can (still busy with my online shop site for the craft shop where I work) and am still working on my Nikki Tinkler "Quilting with a Difference" quilt I started in May in Spain! I think I got addicted ot the idea of quilting in Spain, as I have now booked to go again next year, but this time with Gail Lawther doing a Stained Glass Art Deco Quilt!

However this time I'll go by myself, rather than with my 2 friends, as unfortunately one of them was diagnosed with breast cancer not long after we had got back. She has had a lumpectomy which thank god got rid of everything nasty, and is now undergoing chemo, to be followed by radiotherapy. She is in fairly good spirits though, but does not know whether she will be really well enough to travel next summer, based on how she is feeling at the moment. BUT she is alive and fighting, which is currently all that matters.

So, back to binding - does this mean you almost have a quilt to show us? We all love photos!!

Suzie B

If the sole purpose is to stabilize the edges, you could get do that by running a row of machine stitches around the edge of the top a bit less than 1/4" from the edge. It probably wouldn't stabilize as much as sewing on the binding, but it would certainly help, especially if there is any bias on the edges.

Julia > One of the wonderful quilters in my guild attaches the binding to the quilt

But it saves a step to use the binding as the stabilizer....plus you don't lose the binding before it's done!!

KJ

Suzie, I have 1 top ready to be sandwiched, it looks ok but I messed up and the size is wrong, made it for my mom. Also have a baby quilt almost done.

Kathy D > GrammyKathy wrote: