What makes for good binding?
Twice now I’ve just cut and sewn the binding on a quilt without really auditioning the look. As I joined the ends it occur to me, and that ‘oh no’ feeling struck. Luckily, the result was splendid and I didn’t have to get friendly with my seam ripper for the night. I guess intuitively I knew it would work.
Here:
and here:
Most of the time I not only audition, but I actually cut the binding. Wasteful? No, if it doesn’t work out the binding goes into my strip piecing box for future projects or classes.
It allows me to plainly see…red?
No, too overpowering.
Beige?
Yes, that completes the look stunningly.
Of course I always want it to work with the backing too and that’s another story.
What do you do?
I usually fold the fabric into a long strip and lay it around the quilt to see. With my first ever quilt (the Colorbrick) I attached a bright yellow store bought binding and then SO REGRETTED it. I ripped it out and made my own. I’ll NEVER use store bought binding again. It’s not even cotton.
I know, that stuffs icky.
I attempt to audition it. But looking at yours, I really do like that red! LOL.
I generally try to make it work with the back. I have seen some quilts that I would never have made that choice with and they look spectacular.
So I try to think outside my own little box.
glen
It’s so personal isn’t it?
I just do it!
awesome.
I lay my quilt out with just a thin strip showing of what I’m considering for binding. That way I get the feeling for how it will work without any cutting. I’m too lazy to cut something that I’m unsure of.
I’ve done this too. Sometimes I have folded it over and pinned.
I do the “let a thin strip show” audition, before cutting anything (although I agree there is no such thing as “waste”, just pre-cuts for future projects). It’s always an intuitive process; the quilt will tell me which fabric(s) work. Sometimes I piece strips of several different fabrics for the binding.
I usually audition a few and I have cut it out before only to go with something else in the end…and I kinda like the red too but the beige looks perfect 🙂
I usually tuck the binding fabric behind the quilt leaving an inch out to see how it looks. I try to make sure it works with both the front and back too. I have, on occasion, just jumped in, cut and attached, only to realize it looks better on the back than the front. hahaha. Usually my intuition works well and I am very happy with my binding choice. Do you like to do scrappy bindings? I have started using up my leftover bindings and I love the way it looks!
I’ve put bits of scraps in, but never the whole thing. Good idea! I think I might have to go scrappy on the value quilt I’m doing right now, otherwise it won’t work with the back.
Oh my gosh. Binding is in the mix when I pick the fabric for the quilt… And I couldn’t choose a backing without looking at the binding, either. No auditions? Don’t think I could….
you’re prepared, I can’t think about binding until the whole thing is together.
I usually go with my intuition or gut but I also lay the choices behind the quilt to see options. It’s funny I like the red but I think the beige really is more successful.
Great post! Very good illustration on how much a binding can change the look of a quilt! I like both your options…
It can take me a while to find the right binding. I think I have only replaced it once, and that was the difference between liking and not liking the quilt. Binding matters!
Wow, actual cutting and pinning is impressive auditioning! I usually lay around with a couple of colours, but stick to folding them up and squinting/photographing to decide whether they’re right. Fortunately I haven’t been disappointed yet!
These are great suggestions! I always have trouble choosing the perfect binding fabric. Thanks for posting about this!
I always lay the quilt out flat and place a piece of fabric behind it with just a quarter inch sticking out. Normally at a corner so I can see two sides.
I love striped fabric for binding.
It’s all instinct. Sometimes I know exactly what I want. Sometimes it is picked before I’ve even finished a quilt! While there are always moments of doubt, I’ve never undone a binding. I have, however, waited months to attach binding because I couldn’t find the right one.
I go to Katie’s (of this blog!) house and lay out my quilt with my audition pieces and then search through her stash, change my mind a few thousand times and finally make a decision.
….and then switch back to my original choice when I get home. Love ya girl!
right back at ya. thanks for the talk last night. i needed it.
Great post! It would be fun to see one quilt with several different choices. A great learning tool. (FYI – totally a red girl!)
The red seems to have gotten great reviews. It’s all so personal isn’t it?
Absolutely! The red might photograph better. Maybe the other looks better in person. Plus it all depends on the mood you’re going for! Thanks for the discussion!