Binding to brag on

Good for you!!! YAY! I gave up counting corners several quilts ago. I just keep on going till I reach the place where I started. LOL

I sure do wish you'd get a digital camera! I know I speak for everyone here when I say that we would *love* to see your quilts and other projects.

What did you settle on for your studio floor covering?

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Ah Leslie, the dear one who sent me my first spool of silk thread, thank you. I still have not resolved the studio floor cover. The only redeeming virtue of the floor in here is that it's indestructible - installed by the builder for a pool table or demolition derby. There are just too many choices. What did you choose? Polly

My fave so far was the very, very dense and very, very short pile carpeting- a commercial grade. I think the next house will have 12 in. vinyl squares in my studio. I like the look of black and white, but I think forest green and ivory will suit me better. There' s just no perfect flooring. Wish there was- for the entire house! Everything I have had and have seen has it's own set of draw-backs.....

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Well done Polly! It's been lovely to share the stages of this big quilt with you - thank you. The recipients are sure to love it. That's a great idea to sew the binding down with silk. It must look just beautiful - I mean, not the stitches 'cos you won't be able to see them! but the very fact that they *are* invisible. I had never thought of using silk for that. You're close to the end of the happy 'road'.

I have binding to do today - but my little quilt is only 10" square - so, not a problem >g< . In message , Polly Esther writes

Sounds like you have been thoroughly enjoying yourself, Polly! Binding has always given me a challenge and your technique of using fabric beside the selvage edge is one I will try on the next one. =20

-Irene

------------- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

- Mae West

Thank you, Patti, but I think there 'is' an advantage in binding a bedsize quilt over a minature. Nobody is going to be able to see all 4 (or 5) of my corners at once. That's a challenge I don't think I'm ready for. Polly

30 or so years ago went into a friends new and very expensive one story house and ALL the floors were vinyl squares that were all in shades of brown/tan to look like stone. It was beautiful and I've never forgotten it. Barbara in SC

I read. I like to read. I can even be found reading instructions. (Safety Warnings on catsup bottles not included.) That said, it seems to me that lots of instructions for cutting binding call for cutting from selvedge to selvedge. I am firmly persuaded that a lengthwise cut has less stretch. There are probably exceptions such as batiks or Kona Bay solids. Please do try the lengthwise; it is a beautiful finish. Polly

-Irene

------------- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

- Mae West

I like to cut mine selvage to selvage... here's why- if there's a little bit of lump-y in the border/edge that won't lay flat I can stretch the binding a bit as it's sewn on the first round and the teensy bit of 'gather' will make the edge lay flat. This only works for little boo-boos not big mountains of wavy borders. Glad your lengthwise works for you! I need a bit more help than that..... VBG

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Only thing I really am sure about floors is shiny ceramic tile is not safe. The last house had that and I still think it had a lot to do with Georgia's bad knee. Just a little moisture and the stuff is really slick. I don't think I'd go for any hard tile after living with that stuff. Anything that hits it is a goner, including your bottom if you fall or trip over a cat. I bet cork would be good. We did laminate in the kitchen and bathrooms here. I think if I had it to do again I'd go with the vinyl like Butterfly did. With all the animals running around here flooring was a big concern. We did get the pad that has a moisture shield so liquids won't go through to the pad itself. Not sure how much difference that will make but worth a shot. Woohoo to that binding Polly. That is always such a great part of quilting to me. Finished is truly a fine thing. Taria

Bobbie Sews More wrote:

Light at the end of the tunnel! Well done! The clothes pins are a good idea, although I don't bother to use any sort of fixative, just fold as I go. I bet your corners are perfectly beautiful :-) Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

I was thinking about floors the other day, Leslie. And thinking that I really like the old fashioned, "hard" surface with a bound edge carpet. That carpet can be rolled out of the way when needed/wanted, changed around, moved to even out wear, and all sorts of things. I have decided that I really dislike wall-to-wall carpeting of any sort. Invariably the "tack strips" end up poking through somewhere, and usually where I end up stepping with bare feet. It always develops wear in traffic patterns, and is a real pain to have to replace.

12" square tiles can be wonderful if you have enough floor space. Non textile floors are so much easier to clean too. Yep, I wish I could completely redo the floors in this house. I do miss the "old" house in Tucson that was my grandparents, then my parents. It had hardwood floors that were really nice. And comfortable to stand/walk on too. Several of the rooms had bound carpets in them, which is what I was thinking about the other day.

Pati, in Phx

Leslie & The Furbabies > My fave so far was the very, very dense and very, very short pile carpeting-

Oh good! Someone else that just does the fold as-you-go finishing. Whenever I mention that I get very strange looks. Just can't see the need to fasten it that far ahead. Doing it as I go keeps my hands moving in different motions and keeps them from cramping as easily too.

Although, I have been known to hang a quilt with the binding taped down in back. Then go back and stitch it down later. It does go faster then, but only because I am not doing all of it 'at once'. (WonderTape--double faced basting tape that washes out. Made to sew through so it also doesn't gum up your needle. Buy it at Jo-Ann's when the "Notions wall" is on sale. Great stuff. you can also use it to position appliqué pieces and there are no pins to stick, catch thread and so on. )

Pati, > Light at the end of the tunnel! Well done! The clothes pins are a good idea,

Howdy!

Many of us have preached this for years: strips cut along the selvedge, length-wise; less rippling and stretching, great for straight binding (curves will get bias binding) & connecting strips & borders. Welcome to the choir. ;-D

No silk thread here; I've re-pieced several bits of quilts where the silk gave up, esp. on appliqué (who said one strand is enough?). I like to wash quilts in BIZ which isn't recommended for silk threads.

Congrats! Finished is the best kind of quilt. Challenging & delightful is a real bonus.

Cheers~!

R/Sandy

Polly, you definitely have a way with words! :) I can almost see you stitching away and giving that fifth corner what for.

I love the hardwood floors in the living room, dining room, bedroom, and sewing room.

Julia > 30 or so years ago went into a friends new and very expensive one story

Same here. I've never seen the need for much pinning or whatever when stitching down bindings, though I do sometimes use a pin or two to keep a miter in place while stitching it.

I'll have to look for the W> Oh good! Someone else that just does the fold as-you-go finishing.