Steve: It sounds as if you and I use a similar method, so I hope you do post that instruction. Just yesterday my friends were admiring the mitered binding on my newest quilt, the Angel Quilt. I do manage neat and nice corners, and I do sew the 'flap' both front and back. I would like to point out that when turning the binding, it is helpful to make sure the folds are opposite. This makes for flat corners. HTH. PAT in VA/USA
Steven: I also use one long strip of binding and fold it at the end, etc. So, where do you stop stitching each side of the quilt? I have always just stopped about .25" from edge of next side, locked stitch, then removed the quilt from the foot so I could fold again, then I would sew from off the fold, through the fold and on down the side.
On the recent quilt, I made a slight change that really improves the whole deal! :) I stop at the .25" from edge, and leave the needle down, then pivot the quilt a wee bit so I can sew directly to and through the little corner; THEN I remove, fold, etc. This is way cool . Try it!
PAT in VA/USA
I have heard/read this on several places when 'people' have given clues as to what judges are looking for in show quilts. I would much prefer not to sew down the little fold (on either side!). With quarter inch binding, I think the stitches are far too obvious - however carefully I sew them - as I usually use a plain fabric for binding. However, if it is something I know 'they' look for, I will do it for a show quilt; but I don't for others! . In message , DEM writes
Yes, please do Steven!! and, when you have, come back and describe it fully to us >g< I'm envious that you can make stitches that don't show on that tiny little length! Mine 'hardly' show, but that isn't quite the same. Any tips on how to do that? - that can be described in words I mean >g< . In message , steve writes
Great! Looking forward to it. . In message , steve writes
It surprises me that any of you competition level quilters would be challenged by hiding stitches. My quilts would not get a ribbon at the local Boy Scouts carnival . . . however, I do stitch shirts for 3 pound babies and can easily do 'impossible to see' stitching. The best trick I've been given was when Leslie sent me a spool of silk thread. That is such a lovely asset. The only other suggestion I'd make would be to not pull your stitches so tightly that they dimple. Polly
"Patti" I have heard/read this on several places when 'people' have given clues
I have only entered one quilt into a show. Didn't win anything (did get a gold star) but the only comment from the judge was that my binding stitches on the back needed to be a tad closer together. This quilt was bound with a one piece binding that I folded at the corners to make the miters. I did not stitch the little resulting folds down. Sounds like I should have done so. But if I use 4 individual binding strips and miter the corners after the 4 strips are attached, is a fold still created or does this result in already sewn corners?
Yes. ;-) If you use Steve's mom's method or Tamara's link's method
That's a very good point, Polly. Sometimes, it might just be the 'dimple' that makes the stitch(es) show? Lynne Edwards, who is our Cathedral Window queen, said at a demo. once that, because of the impression made by each stitch when sewing down the folded-back part of Cathedral Window, there seems little point in doing slip stitches. So, she always does tiny running stitches on the top of the fabric - with matching thread, of course - but they really do look pretty and it is almost as if the quilt is quilted. So, an added bonus. . In message , Polly Esther writes
I've wondered about using this method, Alice; but I haven't worked it out yet! I think it might be possible to do it so that there are no folds over the join. It would need some careful measuring or 'putting to' and seeing. I will get round to trying it sometime soon, because I don't like having a 'what if' hanging over my head!! . In message , AliceW writes
Thanks! It's nice to know which techniques made a difference in judging.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who does it this way. Sure makes it nice and flat, doesn't it?
Jenn > Last August I enter some quilts at our local county fair. I
That's how I do it, too, when I'm hand sewing the binding down.
Belonged to a Quilting Group in WY years and years ago and there one gal taught me how to sew on the slinky, silky, satiny binding and she left the corners open on purpose. Seems lil ones LOVE to slide their fingers in/out as a comforting thing before going to sleep. couldn't get the fingers caught as the bindings were over an inch in depth down to nothing. (Hope that makes sense). She won a number of ribbons at the local and state fair.
Butterfly (have things change that much for lil ones enjoyment)
I don't sew bindings down and have never had a judge complain. But some judges are a bit (fill in blank here) and get snarky about it.
Personally, I don't make quilts for judges, I make them for me. So even if I got a comment about that, I wouldn't change what I do. But that's just me. :)
Well, Butterfly, I'll declare. I'd been seriously vigilant about sewing satin binding down at the corners of fleece blankets. Wrong. Even I remember babies enjoying sliding their fingers in/out but it had slipped somewhere in my insufficient memory. I'll quit doing that. Polly
I wouldn't normally 'change habit for judging', but this is such a small thing, and I have no axe to grind about it, so I just do it. . In message , Kathy Applebaum writes
I was lucky to have 'learned' that whilst PG with the first one---would just celebrated his 32nd HB this week.
Butterfly (We both got older this month and DD's is in 2 weeks...where is my walker...passed the cane stage a long time ago.)
Howdy!
That looks 10 times as difficult & takes 20 times as long as it does to just fold the strip over the corner for the miter, pin, sew, move on down the next side w/ the binding. By machine or hand. Kind of like the yo-yo making tool: why? YMMV
Back to the binding question: yes, I make a little (usually) invisible stitch or 2 thru' the front of the mitered corners, just because. ;-)
Whatever works for you. Steve, your miter method works; why change?
R/Sandy-- feel> I got a binding tool when I was in Houston. It sounds like what you do.
Btw, if you have a bit too much bulk on that corner, trim out the batting, just a bit; the fabric will make sure the binding is "filled".
Beautiful quilt on the wall. I need a light over the table similar to yours, that will shine light
*down* on my sewing. Or on the food.R/Sandy
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.