In my last post I mentioned that I knew what fabric would be used to bind my Snippets quilt from the beginning and that that was an anomaly for me.
That finishing touch generally consists of auditioning numerous fabrics after the quilt top is finished. It seems from the comments I’m not alone in my sequence of this process.
My process involves a cruise of my stash and pulling the likely suspects. I’ve used regular weight quilting cottons, home decor and flannel. All work fine.
I pin them one by one up on the design wall, placing my quilt on top so the fabric peeks out at about the width of the potential binding.
Then I give myself some distance to see how they are working together. Sometimes I take a photo.
One thing I have noticed about this process of selection is that I gravitate towards small scale prints, solids or those that are nearly solids.
Somewhat matchie-matchie to the back is also important to me.
I’ve use the same fabric for the binding as the backing.
I’ve used large scale print leftovers from the backing too.
On occasion, I just use a fabric from the same line as the backing for the binding.
Scrappy quilts are easy as pie for me to bind. Generally any vibrant fabric will do.
More often than not the fabric I bind with has been used throughout the quilt top or is from stash.
I think this is the only quilt I took to the fabric store to find the perfect binding instead of digging through stash.
My Summer Solstice Quilt was an example of a fabric sitting in my stash forever waiting for the perfect use.
Though I don’t have a photo, it has a stripped rainbow added in.
Scrappy binding or added touches can add some design interest.
I don’t slip stitch my binding anymore like above, but I do tack down my miters. This I learned from my Mom and just liked the look so it stuck.
I now use the ladder stitch which creates an invisible stitch unlike those nasty visible stitches above. Turning Turning has the best tutorial on the ladder stitch if you care to learn more.
I am often inspired seeing what fabrics others use for binding their quilts so I created a Quilt Bindings Flickr Group to add your binding photos . Now, we can not only share quilt back ideas (that group here), but bindings that inspire us too.
Do you have a binding process?
Wow, lots of quilts ~ I really like what you did with the miters and I also like seeing the stitches too.
Oh wow, that was a great explanation of your process, thanks for sharing 🙂 As I’ve bound precisely 1 quilt, 1 wall hanging and 3 mug rugs, I think it would be fair to say I don’t really have a process yet, other than that I’ve machine bound them all, as that’s the first tutorial I found on binding! I found it interesting that you mentioned ladder stitch though, as that’s what I use to close over the seams in the teddy bears I make after they’ve been jointed and stuffed, and so I’d naturally thought to use it on my mitred corners. I don’t suppose I imagined how anyone else might do it right enough!
There are some lovely quilts here Katie.
I still whip stitch, guess I’m just odd in that I like seeing the line of neat little stitches when it’s all said and done. Just a reminder that while most of the quilt is machine pieced and quilted, it is still a “handmade” quilt.
Thanks for sharing the binding tutorial. I am going to try this to improve my binding skills. Try as I might, my stiches always show!
I like your variation on the mitered corner.
Little did I know, until I looked at the tutorial, but I’ve been “ladder-stitching” binding on. Yay. If I purchase new fabric for a quilt, I’ll often buy an option or two of what I THINK I’ll like for the binding – sometimes it works out, sometimes I change my mind. If I’m working from my stash, I usually do the test & trial method, slipping options behind the edge of the quilt, to try & see what it’ll look like. I have a tendency towards stripes & plaids when it works. Thanks for this post, Katie – it was really helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing the process towards the perfect binding! My first quilt still misses the finishing binding, I’m just waiting for the RIGHT fabric to come along. In the meantime I just keep on quilting 🙂
Thank you for your inspiring blog!
Thanks Camilla!
I love to pick binding and I love to make the binding tape, but actually sewing down the binding was one of my least favorite things to do. My whip-stitches just did not look so good. I learned about the ladder stitch fduring a KC MQG meeting and now I am a total convert. Seriously, you all should try it ASAP!
I use the ladder stitch, learned it from Jacquie via the turning turning link. Thanks!
I’ve enjoyed looking at all the colors and patterns in your modern-style projects. I’m still nervous about using these fabrics because I’m not yet very good at combining the various prints. I’ve used more traditional fabrics for a much longer time, and they seem to be more available in our local shops than these wonderful moderns. Someday, I hope to take the plunge!
A great topic! Sometimes the binding can be sooo hard to decide on. I have unripped and replaced a few. Not a joyful task. But it can make all the difference… I am leaning more and more towards solids for binding. Maybe because I have finally learned to buy 1/2 yrds and not FQ of solids….
; )
I just love how you tack down your miters that’s so cute!