Some years ago, I bought a beautiful fabric collection called Larkspur by 3 Sisters (for Moda). I loved the fabric, but wasn’t sure what to do with all those lovely vintagey prints and colors. Then Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company provided me with the perfect pattern, Into the Wind. Sometimes you just have to make a quilt exactly as shown.
It could not have turned out better!
I have had the top finished for some time, but only quilted it recently, with the plan to gift it to someone special this Christmas. Yesterday I disciplined myself to get the binding on without further delay. Of course I did it by machine! Here is my process:
Pressing is a key element in getting machine binding to turn out well. I cut my binding strips 2 1/2″ and pressed the strips in half once I had sewn them together. I attached the binding to the quilt top and pressed it over to the wrong side. I took care that it was pressed evenly and that the corners were folded properly on the underside. I did not pin or glue. A thorough pressing was enough. Then I stitched in the ditch.
There were two machine adjustments that helped my stitching come out more even and precise. One, as you see in the photo above, I moved my stitching speed to slow. S.L.O.W. That is my strongest recommendation: go super slowly.
I also raised my stitch length to 3.0, which I think is fine for topstitching. Look, you can out the window behind me….Not the best photo, but you get the idea.
So, what does it look like on the underside? Not too bad. I’m satisfied. I will take it over five hours of hand sewing.
“Well, what about the corners?”, you may ask. I’m satisfied with those too.
I started my machine-binding journey slowly, with smaller projects like coffee mugs, then moved on to table toppers and runners. Then I tackled a couple of small quilts, and finally graduated to stitching full-sized quilt bindings on my machine. It has been a real game-changer. Now my quilts actually get finished and don’t hang around for a year waiting for me to bite the bullet and sew those bindings on by hand. I know a lot of you are going to tell me how much you love sitting in the evenings by the TV and doing your handwork, and that is fabulous. My eyes aren’t so good anymore, though, and sitting in anything but the brightest (even outdoor) light is the only way I can do good handwork. And frankly, I don’t really enjoy it. I am so glad I forced myself to try something new, and now I love machine binding all my quilts.
I wish all of you a marvelous weekend and a blessed time in these days before Christmas. Our son Ahren arrives on Sunday from Ireland to stay through the holidays, and it will be a busy time for us in the coming weeks. I promise to post when I can, and you can be sure there will be lots of recipes, because Ahren is full of cooking plans!
44 Responses
The quilt is absolutely gorgeous 😍 it makes me want to make it!
And kudos to you for tackling the machine binding. It is done perfectly! I recently had a quilt quilted and decided to have them also do the binding by machine (i can’t do hand bidning anymore) Yikes! It was such a disappointment 😞 looks great from the top but the underside is a mess. It’s usable of course, but I was sad how it turned out.
Enjoy every moment with Ahren and don’t worry about posting! We all out here in blogland just want you to have a wonderful visit!!
I am so glad I practiced machine binding enough to do a halfway decent job of it. What a time saver!
Beautiful quilt! You will make someone very happy receiving a special gift!
Thanks Doris. I hope they like it.
Lovely quilt! The fabric was just right for that pattern.
I’ve had to learn to machine bind for donation baby quilts, and now that’s my go-to method. Just did a king size in less than an afternoon on my domestic machine. Love hand binding, but…..
I have always found hand-stitching binding kind of tedious. I can only see well enough to do it if I sit outside, which can be pleasant on a nice day with a good audiobook to listen to. Otherwise, I’d rather get the job done quickly and move on to something else!
Pure perfection, Nicole!!
The fabric I used for the binding had been starched, which made it press well, which helped keep things in place while I stitched.
What a lovely quilt and those fabrics are just beautiful. I miss the 3 Sisters fabrics.
Thanks, too, for the lesson on machine binding.
Hope your family and Ahren have lots of fun and good food while you’re all together once again.
Hugs!
Moda does still release new collections from 3 Sisters. There is a group coming out in July that is all blues. It is called Breathtaking Blues and is gorgeous. Here’s a link to the preview: https://webfiles.modafabrics.com/webfiles/fcc_breathtaking-blues.pdf
Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilt! Miss Rosie patterns are the best. You do a wonderful job with machine binding, I’ve followed your instructions but I need to practice more. Starting with mug rugs is a great idea, even a table runner seems cumbersome. So glad that you recovered from the vertigo. I have two friends that had it in the past 2 months, one recovered completely in 24 hours with medication and PT, the other is still struggling after almost 2 months. Take care! 🎄❄️🎄
I have collected almost all of the Miss Rosie patterns and think I need to start making the ones that I haven’t gotten to yet. I have also made some that I’ve given away and maybe I should consider remaking them for myself!
As far as machine binding goes, start really small, go slow and use pins as you go along. Eventually you won’t need the pins. Really good pressing first helps too.
Nicole,
Someone is going to be so lucky to be receiving such a beautiful quilt! I do love hand sewing a binding but I also want to learn how to do it by machine. I am going to start out small for my first attempt. I wish safe travels for your son, Ahren, and may you have a wonderful time during his visit.
Thanks Carol! I can’t wait for him to get here. Last year he got a bad case of flu while he was here, and I sure hope that doesn’t happen again! I told him to wear gloves and a mask on the plane!
I’m a sucker for 3 Sisters fabrics! They’re so soft & cozy looking no matter what pattern you use. You’ve really gotten proficient at machine sewing bindings! I’ve had cataract surgery, but by late afternoon I still need to stop sewing–machine or hand—apparently, I need a lot of light! Enjoy every moment of the holidays with Ahren! Your readers will be right here when you return!
I was so happy with the results of my cataract surgery, except for the sensitivity to light. Now the macular degeneration in my left eye has messed things up for me. I am grateful that it is treatable and that I have had improvement.
Gorgeous fabrics! They made a beautiful quilt. Some lucky person will be getting a prize gift!!!!!!!
I hope they like it and can keep their dogs off of it! Oh well, it will be out of my hands…
Your machine binding looks great! I too have moved to machine binding in the past year and use the same process. Have been practicing on donation quilts. I have a bi-level foot for my Pfaff that helps with the top stitching. The corners are still challenging but are getting better!
The corners are the trickiest. Sometimes I stick a pin in to hold things in place, but with really good pressing, the fabric will stay put.
man, I still love the vintage 3 Sisters fabrics. so soft and dreamy. have a wonderful time with your son. don’t forget to pull out that pasta machine. I want one so badly but I know it will kill me to clean it. I’ll have to live vicariously through you. ;p
I don’t mind using it when he’s here because he is willing to clean it after. This time he wants to make lasagna. I’ve never used it to make broad pasta. I just ordered our Christmas prime rib yesterday. 6 pounds at $17.99 per pound. Oh well, it’s only once a year, right?
I haven’t cooked a big prime rib in years. I have a recipe for Prime Rib For Two by America’s test kitchen that I use. my husband LOVES meat. I just find it to be so heavy. I made beef fajitas last night. I wish I had just stuck to eating a veggie one for myself. oh well. it was good. just not my cup of tea.
have a wonderful time with the family!
Meat is hard to handle if you aren’t used to eating it. We eat a lot less of it than in the past, but a good prime rib is a treat once a year. Love the smell of it roasting in the oven. Truth be told, the mashed potatoes and gravy are my favorite part!
Such pretty fabrics. I have a couple of Miss Rosie books – so many pretties to do! Love your quilt too.
Miss Rosie patterns really stand the test of time.
I like the quilt a lot. Love Miss Rosie’s patterns!
I recently finished a top I made as a Sew along a few years ago. I had to add a few rows of borders though, because my friend is 6’5″! And I chose to hand finish the binding as a special touch. He has been admitted to the hospital for chemo and a bone marrow transplant and was very pleased. Sometimes it pays to have a top set aside for another day!
I have a bin full of unquilted tops! Some I will definitely get quilted, others aren’t so much a priority.
I love this quilt!! You did amazing piecing in it I’ve saved your binding tutorial and I now machine bind my quilts
Thank you for taking the time to post a detailed narrative with close up photos of your binding process, very helpful! That quilt is a lovely gift, lucky receiver🧵
Thank you so much Carolyn, and happy holidays!
Beautiful quilt and beautiful job on the binding Nicole! As much as I like hand work I don’t have time for it. In addition, I now feel if a quilt is going to be used a lot the binding should be machined. I’ve had some of mine come undone in spots with usage. Have a great Christmas with your family and do share any recipes you make!
Funny, with all the quilts I have made, none that I’ve kept have come apart when I’ve hand sewn the binding. I don’t really wash my quilts that much, since they don’t get used for very long before getting switched out. The machine binding is indestructible though! I just spoke to our son who will be traveling tomorrow. He is so excited to arrive. I told him I’d have clam chowder and sour dough bread waiting for him. Happy holidays to you too!
We have worn out quilts, that I made, but the sewing on the binding is still intact. The fabric of the binding wears out, but not the stitching. Also I have a lot of old family quilts, and that binding stitching stays intact too.
I would be so tempted to keep that quilt. It’s beautiful! What ever happened to Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie’s Quilts? I know she worked with Moda for a while but haven’t seen anything of her for years. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
Believe me, I had quite a discussion with myself about whether to gift it or to keep it! It turned out so great.
Carrie Nelson has had some very serious health issues and had a lung transplant a little over a year ago. She is doing well, but has had to curtail her professional activities due to her condition.
I hope you have a fabulous Christmas too Jane!
That’s a shame about Carrie. She seems like such a sweet person and what an incredible talent! I miss seeing her work. Thanks for the update.
Lung transplant? Wow.
I hope that quilt is going to someone truly deserving because it is spectacular! I haven’t jumped on the machine binding bandwagon yet, but I’m sure it’s coming, I have arthritis in my thumbs that’s getting bad and I’d rather preserve them for applique and crochet than doing binding! If you have a second, can you let me know what they’re doing for your macular degeneration? Right now I’m just taking the AREDS vitamins, as mine is dry and they haven’t mentioned doing anything more aggressive. I didn’t know that about Carrie Nelson, I hope she’s doing okay. Have a wonderful time with Ahren, I hope you all stay healthy this year!
I get monthly eye injections from my retinal specialist. He has tried several different mediations, and we have settled on one that is working well for now. The medication is Eylea. The vision in the affected eye is much improved, but still blurry. Colors are also more dull. I am not able to see very well in dim light or super bright sunlight. I still take AREDS.
Ahren arrives today! He wants clam chowder and sourdough bread and his Grandpa Larry’s Cranberry Coffee Cake. I will be busy today doing some cooking I think.
I have terrible arthritis, especially in my hands, I cannot hold nor pull a needle anymore.
I have a lady who does all my hand binding. But since you have been writing about machine binding here, I have been machine binding my utility quilts – baby/toddler quilts, charity quilts. I use the same pressing method. No glue, no pins, no clips.
I finished just under 30 quilts this year. A big chunk of that number is donations and gifts. I did about 10 kids charity quilts (donated 3, saving the rest for future years), 5 military charity quilts, 3 Xmas quilts for my kids, 4 big baby/toddler quilts, family quilts, gifts, etc.
That number is high because I had a bit of a backlog. My long time longarmer had problems. I now have two other longarmers. They got me caught up.
The fact that I can finish the binding myself, on many of these quilts, has also helped tremendously. I would not be machine binding if you had not written about it.
I am demonstrating machine binding for my guild in the spring. We have a techniques demonstration from 6-6:30, social 6:30-7pm, meeting at 7pm with short announcements and speaker/presentation, we take a 20 minute break, then finish with show and tell.
I have signed up to do four of the pre-meeting demonstrations this year –
My current quilt labels,
machine binding,
chain piecing rows,
stabilizing T-shirt fabric for a T-Shirt quilt.
So glad to hear that machine binding is working for you! With this latest quilt, the binding fabric that matched best (leftover from another project) had been starched. That made a surprising difference in the ease of pressing and keeping the fabric in place perfectly. Something to try if you haven’t already….
Have you ever used the machine binding on a flannel quilt? Any special tips?
I have not. I don’t see why anything would be different. Flannel might be harder to hold in place, even with good pressing. Maybe pins or those little clips would be needed while stitching.