Some of you know this about me, but if you are new here, you may not know that I really do not enjoy sewing bindings on my quilts by hand. I know many of you will tell me how much you love to sit in front of tv in the evening and happily stitch away. But with my eyesight failing, combined with the couple of glasses of wine I enjoy after dinner, this kind of sewing isn't for me. I have experimented a couple of times with sewing the binding on my smaller quilts by machine, and it has worked out pretty well. However, I never thought I'd want to tackle a full-size quilt because of the weight and bulk of the piece.
Well, let me tell you, I have a lot of quilts that need to be bound. A lot. One of them is actually a pre-Covid project that has been waiting over 5 years for its binding to be attached. That is ridiculous. Clearly I need an intervention. Or help. Or something.
With St Patrick's Day approaching, I was reminded of a shamrock-themed table topper (and matching full-sized quilt) that has been waiting to be bound for well over a year. Maybe two. I decided to tackle the smaller table topper and get that binding attached by machine. You see the cute little piece in the photo above. It is all trimmed up and the binding prepared. Yes, I actually found the fabric I had set aside for the binding.
The first step is to attach the binding to the quilt top as you normally would.
I press the binding down flat, turn it over evenly, and pin it in place. Here is where I differ from most other machine binders: I use pins, not quilting clips. I find them more accurate for holding my fabric in place.
If you prefer quilting clips, go for it. Obviously, whether you use pins or quilting clips, you must pull them out of the way of the needle as you reach them.
Next step is to stitch in the ditch on the top side of the quilt where the binding is attached to the body of the quilt. This is going to be practically invisible when finished. Go slowly and perhaps increase your stitch length a bit.
This is the backside of the piece. All sewn down with room to spare. Once in a great while the fabric doesn't get under the needle right and isn't held down. I don't pick out any stitches; I just go back over that little section and you can't even tell.
And this is what the top side of the quilt looks like. I think that is pretty darn good. For saving me hours of hand sewing, I think it is brilliant.
Here is my finished project. The pattern is an old one by Miss Rosie in her "Little Bites" series, called "Grain". Great for using up scraps!
I was so happy with how it turned out, that I decided to bite the bullet and try to machine bind a full-sized quilt that has been sitting around waiting for years.
I took it slowly, increased my stitch length a bit, and did one side at a time. It turned out perfectly. What have I been waiting for all these years? This technique is life-changing for me.
Here is my quilt on my bed, done and dusted. I doubt the quilting police will issue me a citation for taking a shortcut. Do you do machine binding, or are you like I used to be, thinking the only proper way to attach binding is by hand?
If you want a video tutorial there are loads of them on YouTube. I think my favorite is Vanessa Goertzen's that she did for Fat Quarter Shop.
28 Responses
I love you and you did a great job but I’m one of those who think it looks best by hand. And yes, I love doing it. Mail yours to me and I’ll do them.
I follow a great home exercise channel on YouTube. Because we all have different likes and dislikes, the motto on that channel is “You do you.” Seems like a very appropriate motto for quilting as well.
I remember you once showed how to machine stitch a binding, and you used fabric glue to hold the back of the work. I’m always tempted to machine sew a binding but am also afraid of what it will look like when I turn it over. I have four things to bind; I may give this a go. Thanks for sharing.
So nice to see you sewing again! I have nothing against machine binding, except all my attempts have been a disaster. My latest one I even glued— it had a thicker fleece as a backing, and my stitching was all over the place— great big gaps of 2-3 inches weren’t stitched down. If i could do it as neatly as you, believe me, I would. I have quite a few waiting— I thought this would be a great project for the start of 2025, but so far… nothing. Xox
I still prefer the look of hand-sewn binding, but I switched to machine binding. I’d much rather concentrate on the actual quilt and not stress over the binding. I’m so slow on quilting quilt tops, so the slow process of hand binding isn’t too appealing any more. I save hand binding for truly special heirloom quilts.
Your quilt is so lovely! Well done!
I have to look at the video and try this. I don’t mind hand binding but I don’t love it either. I hardly watch TV. But like others have commented – I’m not accurate by machine. The stitch in the ditch from the front might work better. Something small… One of my goals is to get back to my quilting this year and you are some of my inspiration. I belong to a FB group called Hibernate and Create. The month of January we are challenged to do something creative for at least 15 minutes and make a post. There are all kinds of artists. Glass, fiber, drawing, crochet, quilting, needlepoint, cooking, music. Many of us know each other after several years of doing this and they are from all over the country, although it originated in Omaha. This year I actually decided to mix it up and do some UFOs. I have done some sewing again, some jewelry and of course needlepoint. Let’s hope I can keep it up.
I’ve been binding quilts this way for a few years and love it. I would rather save my hand stitching time at night for cross stitch.
Thanks for the video and the tip. Binding is my downfall. I finally mastered the quarter inch seam and now the binding gives me fits. Like you I have a pile that needs to be done. Guess I’ll try again and go with the motto, done is better than perfect!!😊
Had to learn machine binding for some donation quilts so it was good practice since they were small. I love handstitching, but prefer to save it for quilting itself.
I usually hand quilt gift quilts but, since hubby said he doesn’t care how I finish ours I tend to do more machine now. I will have to try your method again as I’d rather have the edge on the back.
I stitch the binding on the back, and fold to the front Then I topstitch the binding along the edge, more properly called edgestitching, I suppose. It eliminates those gaps of unstitched sections, and the need for gluing or pinning the binding down before stitching. For me, it is faster than folding to the back and ditch stitching. When the edge stitching is uniform, your eye scarcely sees it on the finished quilt. I don’t use this method for heirloom or show- type quilts, but on all my others of all sizes. I think my maximum was 6 twin charity quilts in one day with this method. Then I was pooped!
I have done the binding on some small projects by machine, and on a queen size quilt for my granddaughter. I was running out of time and decided she wouldn’t notice anyway. It worked great. It is very important to have plenty of table space to the left of the needle to support the weight of the quilt. The next time I do this I will use your tip of pressing the binding first.
Binding, I’ve attempted it on a couple charity quilts, so embarrassingly bad, I only use quilters who also provide binding service. I would take Debi up on her offer, sounds like a win win to me.
I’ve pretty much landed where you did. For the occasional very special large quilt I will hand sew the binding; but I worked at improving my technique and speed so it is not so tedious and hard on my hands. Everything else, machine binding! I found a technique video using a specialty foot for my Bernina that works well on smaller, donation quilts (as the binding ends up a bit narrower than the technique you describe).
This is a technique I must try again. I failed miserably the first couple of times. I didn’t like the look of bringing the binding from the back and stitching it down on the front. I also know I need to slow down! When I read through others comments I realized I have other handwork that I enjoy and binding by machine will give me a bit more time for embroidery, cross stitch, wool appliqué and crochet. Thanks for the nudge. I’m going to try again.
I watched the video and I will try machine binding again. In the past, I have not been happy with this method as I had areas that I didn’t “catch.” I didn’t press my binding after attaching so that might be an issue and I haven’t used glue but I am willing to give it a try! I don’t mind hand stitching but this method is certainly faster.
Your machine binding looks great! Eyesight is definitely a worry, so now you have a work-around that is quite successful. Everyone should do what works best for them without judging from others. Hobbies should be fun; not a ‘job’! Cheers to a good week! 🥂
i have ONLY binded quilts your way. sew to top, elmers GLUE in place on back side, and sew in the top ditch to finish. done.
I tried it on a small toddler sized quilt 5 yrs ago? Looked great on the front but a mess on the back. 🙁 I didn’t try again. I really should just do some practicing.
I don’t mind hand binding as I watch tv in the evenings and the quilt keeps me warm too. Lol. The only time I tried machine binding the quilt was wavy and I ended up cutting it off and starting over. Yours looks great though. Glad it works for you.
I’m going to have to watch the video that you linked because I view the hand sewing of the binding to be a chore. Back in my early days of quilting I hand quilted everything that I made. Once there were three bed quilts completed, but for binding!
Your work is impeccable & your bed quilt is great. Looks so vintage.
I’m gonna give that method a try. There are a few special quilts I still do by hand but less all the time. I’m in the same boat with you on the eyes. I guess we are following our dads. I got a nice magnifying glass light. It is on a rolling stand and is really helping. I love to see you finishing. Keep at it. Many healing wishes to your hubby.
After glueing for awhile I took the plunge and started the method you just tried. I’ve never looked back. I am not making heirloom pieces. I want my quilts used and used well. This method is fast and perfect for me.
lol on the extra glasses of wine after dinner! Love how it looks and great way to get it done! Will have to try this. Have also seen a pretty basting long stitch for binding that looks pretty so will have to check that out too.
I have mentioned, I have had a binder assistant for about a year and a half. She loves to hand sew binding at night when she watches TV. I pay her by the inch, I don’t remember the amount. She is happy to do other hand sewing for me too.
This has been a life saver. I have severe arthritis in both thumbs and my hand strength is greatly reduced. I can neither hold a needle or pull a needle with either hand.
But I did just try machine binding a very utilitarian whole cloth quilt and it was successful. I cut the binding at 2.5” instead of my normal 2.25”. I sewed it on normally, flipped to the back, but top stitched on/from the back. I caught all the edges evenly on the back, because I could see. And it was (miraculously) stitch in the ditch on the front.
But the corners did not seem as nice as hand stitched. They weren’t terrible, but not as nice. If I were doing machine binding regularly, and could still hand sew, I think I would hand stitch the corners first.
All your UFO conversation earlier caused me to give away a bird appliqué kit this week. I can no longer hand appliqué. A friend wanted it. It is unopened. I also have blocks from a round robin that have been sitting for 20-25 years that need finished or gifted, mostly likely gifted, clearly I am not attached to them.
Vickie
I also sew the binding to the back and fold it around to the front. I usually topstitch with a zigzag instead of a straight stitch. I think this holds up really well for any quilt that is likely to be washed at some point.
Nicole, I love to hand quilt but hate to see the binding by hand. I do stitch the binding by hand on hand quilted quilts but have mastered machine binding and it is truly life changing. Here is a short video of the easiest machine binding. Great post! https://youtu.be/LnYyVzzIAa8?si=ArvNW–PDhOBGlmg
I am a machine binder and have put quilts in shows and the State Fair and have never received negative comments for the machine binding. I love it – so much better than putting a hole in your finger because you forgot to use a thimble. Your topper and bed quilt look fabulous!