I wonder?

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Not just on quilts, but also on things like stays and corsets I do a double fold edge because it makes it firmer and neater. Wear isn't part of the equation. For example, right now the sewing partner Su and I are finishing off a silk organza shrug for a customer. The edge is bound in bias cut double folded silk habotai. We are double folding that to give it some stability as the organza is cobweb fine and the habotai very light weight. Two layers of bias habotai give a nice light but form edge with a VERY neat finish, and the 'pokeys' from the silk organza edges don't escape and stab and irritate the customer. :)

On large bed quilts I do a double fold binding because it is less fussing to press the length in half, match the raw edges while machine stitching and hand stitch the crease in place. On my miniatures I do a single fold binding because it is less bulky and more in proportion with the size of the quilt. The width of the binding varies with the size of the quilt. For bed size quilts I cut the bindings at 2 1/2" and stitch at a fat quarter inch because that is an easy measurement to hold on my machine. On the miniatures the stitch width can be as little as 1/8" and the cut width is in proportion with the stitch width.

I am in the process of replacing the backing on a quilt made in the

Just random thoughts, Pat. I can't imagine a time when someone would gently and lovingly replace a quilt binding because it had become scruffy-looking. I'm not saying it can't happen - just most unlikely in my own rather rough and tumble world. But - trying to think with you - would it be a good idea? You know what the Bible and Dolly Parton say about putting new patches on old garments. Polly

I do the double bias binding.

Double because it's easier and gives a firm edge; bias because it snugs up and seems to keep everything straight and even, and hangs well.

But on my wholecloth quilts I stitch (by hand) half an inch from the edge and then turn in the edge and stitch again on the fold. I like this because the quilts are truly double sided. And if I have used two colours there is no 'wrong-coloured' edge on one side.

Nel (Gadget Queen)

One of the guild gals passed away 10 or so years ago and the stack of her unfinished tops became sort of a project for some of us to finish for her family. I somehow got a finished quilt that had the edge caught up in the wheel of the bed and sort of got chewed up. Someone found enough of the same fabric in the stash and I took it apart and did the repair. I guess that is one time a binding might need redone. It made the quilt and me happy. I use a double fold binding mostly because it just seems easier and quicker than a single one. That is excepting scallop type edges. Taria

Just random thoughts, Pat. I can't imagine a time when someone would gently and lovingly replace a quilt binding because it had become scruffy-looking. I'm not saying it can't happen - just most unlikely in my own rather rough and tumble world. But - trying to think with you - would it be a good idea? You know what the Bible and Dolly Parton say about putting new patches on old garments. Polly

My mum made all of us scrap quilts from... .fake fur scraps! Mine is the most colouful but also the smallest because I didn't have my own bed at that point. It has been very well loved, and all the cats love it too! But the binding is in a state. It was teh 70s. My mum used some horrid doubleknit fabric for the binding and it's in shreds. The same nylon, slippery stuff was used on the back so it shimmies off the bed unless weighted down with a cat or two. I am going to replace the backing and binding with something cotton. So you see, bindings do need to be replaced now and then!

-- Jo in Scotland

Without reading the other replies, I like it because there's no fiddling with a loose edge when it comes to sewing the 2nd bit down. The binding remains perfectly even with both raw edges secured in the

Well, now. That paints quite a different picture. Cats do love fake fur quilts to pieces and it sounds like the binding must be replaced. Think about using flannel or corduroy for the backing. Either won't slip/slide so much. Polly

"Jo Gibson" <

My long departed cat once "sorted" the fake fur hood trim on my cousin's brand new winter coat. Well, she should have hung it, not just tossed it on the floor like visiting kids always did :-)

Thanks for reminding me!

Hanne in DK

Den 11-10-2011 14:35, Polly Esther skrev:

Very good point Pat! I too have heard that double fold wears better but I prefer to do single (I find it easier to do but that may be partly because I learned single fold first). And I use bias only on bed quilts not on wall hangings. Since edges won't wear out there is no need to use extra fabric to make bias for the latter.

Also, for wall hangings I use the trick of adding a narrow (1/8") strip of grosgrain ribbon along the seam line of the binding before sewing the binding on. I can ease in any fullness so that the quilt will lie flat against the wall.

Allison

Roberta, that is what I do, also. And, I do not do that trim until after the binding is first sewn down by machine. That way, there is that extra to help me hang on to it! [If the backing/batting is a lot bigger that the top, I will do a semi-trim before the binding has its first stitching]

G> Without reading the other replies, I like it because there's no