Binding Question

I use what I think is called ladder stitch of mattress stitch, I learnt it from instructions for joining hand knitting and it is completely invisible, though it works best if you don't press your binding, just crease it (I do this by wrapping it around a ruler whilst folded, then running my thumb nail over the edge), because if you press it, it's really hard to slip your needle into the fold and run it along the inside, you tend to find it wants to go through both layers if you press.

I've looked at other quilt finishings and slip stitch is fine, but you can see even tiny stitches and you need to have matching thread. The way I do it I can use what ever thread I have lieing around with no need for it to match as it really doesn't show (I guess you'd have to be careful if it was pale fabric).

Anne

I have nooooo idea if it's the "done thing", but I use the same stitch that I use for applique. I travel thru the quilted layer, come out in the crease of the folded edge of the binding and form the stitch slightly under the folded edge... then travel thru the quilted layer to the next stitch, come up in the crease, etc. It's invisible. Every inch or so I take a double stitch- my reasoning is that if the thread should break during use, the binding will only come undone for an inch at the most. HTH

Glad you've come out of lurkdom. Please join in any time!

Leslie & The Furbabies > I never post to this group but always read it. Now I have a question that

I use a slip stitch too. It's strong and invisible.

marcella

hi Michelle, yup, same as i use on applique. probly is called a slip stitch or the ladder stitch would also work. as long as its strong and cant be seen....a rose by any other name. so you're the one whos been 'lurking' under the cyber quilting frame and eating all the M'n'M's. you naughty naughty girl. you and Sharon in Oz are both naughty. do join in a bit more often. lurkers somehow worry me. cheers from autumn in the south pacific, jeanne

I don't know what it's called but I take small stitches through the fold edge of my binding and then a small straight stitch through the backing and it makes for invisible stitches. My slip stitches are very visible. ~KK in BC~

I'd be most grateful if you could give actual instructions for this stitch, Anne. The Ladder Stitch I found in my little stitch dictionary was not in the least invisible! and I couldn't find mattress stitch at all. Thanks if you can. . In message , Anne Rogers writes

Good question! Anne's stitch sounds interesting; but you can make a slip stitch/hem stitch very hard to see if you have your needle come out exactly on the fold, as the others have said. My little addition to this is: not to pull the stitch too tight. Very often, when it looks visible, it is more the dent in the fabric that you can see than the stitch itself. . In message , Mitch writes

That's exactly how I do it, too. Welcome, Michelle!

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 19:03:37 -0500, Mitch wrote (in article ):

I use a slip stitch.

maureen

Although I usually use a slip stitch, the last quilt I felt had to be stronger so I used a back stitch that looked just like machine stitching on the top, and went through the batting.