Sunday, August 23, 2015

Slow Sunday Stitching - Binding

It's Sunday... time for some relaxation and slow stitches.
At FNSI the binding was attached to my August UFO and today I will be hand stitching it to the back of the quilt. 
This is how I stitch a binding, with the edge of binding toward me, and stitching from right to left. I like to use lots of Clover clips to keep the binding snuggly in place as I stitch.



Just for fun, I took a poll of my quilting friends to see the variety in binding techniques.

These are the hands of the infamous Barb - she stitches her binding with the quilt towards her, the binding edge away from her, and stitching right to left. No pins.




These are the hands of Louise, and she stitches with the quilt on her right, the edge of the binding to her left, taking stitches away from herself. Lots of pins.




These are the hands of Deanna binding a quilt. 
Oh look, she stitches in the right way I mean the same way as I do! LOL!
But no pins or clips.

How do you hand stitch your bindings?  Do you use any of these techniques? Have you invented your own method?


We'd love to see what project you're working on today. Link up your blog post below and share what you are hand stitching today? 






40 comments:

margaret said...

I do mine ilke Barb in fact until yesterday I had never seen the way you do your way then someone at our MQG was using your method

Janet O. said...

My binding is also done the right--ahem, I mean, the same way you do, except I use the ladder stitch. Very invisible, and for me it is faster.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

I stitch mine like you do. I use the same stitch I do for applique.I love stitching the binding down a great time to reflect on the time spent making the quilt and the memories we have stitched into it.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

Every time I see someone using those clips I want to order some. Pins here but just a few at a time as I go along :)

The Crafty Creek said...

I bind like Deanna, but I quite fancy having a go with those clips!

JoanG said...

I hold my quilt the same way as you do. The only difference is that I am left handed, so I stitch from left to right around the the edges.

Quilting Babcia said...

I bind like Barb, no pins or clips, same stitch as for applique. I'm a slow binder but find it relaxing to do in the evening while watching tv.

CathieJ said...

I sew left-handed so I stitch from left to right. I use no pins or clips and stitch like your friend Barb does.

The Cozy Quilter said...

I love to do the hand stitching on the binding! I am in the same binding club as Deanna. No clips or pins...I used to use clips but found they slowed me down.

MissPat said...

I sew down binding like Barb with the quilt toward me using the ladder stitch and a few pins or clips which I just keep advancing along the binding as I go.

Kristin said...

I bind similar to Barb, but no pins. Maybe 1 or 2 clover clips. One time I was at a quilting event and was working on a binding will listening to a speaker. The person next to me commented, "oh my! It's interesting how you do that the wrong way!" And later said, "wow, you got a lot done despite doing it so unusual!" How am I supposed to take that? =\

Deb A said...

I stitch like Deanna! The only difference is there is usually a cat on the rest of the quilt that I have to tug and move as I stitch along!

Deanna W said...

Took a second to recognize the hands but I knew that little bunny fabric right away!! Fair is over and now down to FALL quilting. Might even set one up in the frame. Never too early to start on next year's entries for the fair!!! I have two quilts going onto the next level of fairs!!

Julierose said...

Hi Kathy--slow progress on my Poms...but looking forward to working later this afternoon on another block. It helps me pass the time until I go see DH....I use those lil' red clips for binding and sew down by hand--or if in a hurry, on la machine...hugs, Julierose

Cathy said...

I do it like Deanna!

Gina said...

I sew a mixture of your way and Louise's depending on the size of the quilt. Don't use pins though I use clips

Gretchen Weaver said...

I use the hair clips to hold my binding in place and I sew the binding the same way as you. I've tried other ways, but they just seemed awkward.

scraphappy said...

I'm with you on this. Right to left. Binding on bottom. Clover wonder clips.

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

I do it the same way you do...right to left with binding on bottom. I only use about three binding clips ahead of my stitches.

Kyle said...

I'm like you and Deanna, right to left, lots of clips, not the wonder clips, the first ones that came out and then it's easy binding.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I do my binding like you do but I only use two or three clips and just keep moving them as I go. So much easier than pinning the whole thing

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I do like you if I have a very large quilt and I can put the weight of the quilt on the table and work the binding freely. I use Barb's way when doing smaller quilts/wallhangings/minis. I was taught the way Barb does them and told it is so the stitches bring the binding 'into the quilt' and conceals the stitches better. Other ways bring the back of the quilt into the binding. Not sure as that is true as I don't see the difference in my stitches either way.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I use the same clips you use, but I've stitched mine with the binding toward me and away from me, but I prefer the binding away from me. It's amazing how differently we all bind. ;-)

Lisa J. said...

I used to sew the binding on using the Barb method which is how I think I hem pants. I used pins and was always poking myself with them. My stitches were pretty big. Then one day years ago I noticed Jackie's binding looked a lot better than mine so I asked her to show me how she did binding . I now do the binding the right way, sorry your way and use clips. I suspect it was just the size of the stitches that were the original issue.

Kristin said...

Oops-- I confused which picture belonged to which stitcher. I bind like Louise! Kathy- your post inspired me to take a picture of myself binding and write an entry. Thanks for hosting this every week! xoxo

Anne said...

I'm a combination of you and Barb - I like to use the Wonderclips, but my binding has to be above my line of stitching like Barb's. I just find I have a better grip when holding the work when I do it this way. But truth be told, my favourite way of binding is to hand it over to someone who actually enjoys doing it! That used to be my mom before she passed away, now it's one of my quilting friends.

sandi s said...

I do my binding just like you, clips and all! :). Hugs,

Kate said...

I bind like you do with the clips and the binding facing me.

Sheila said...

With my sewing machine, I sew my binding on the back of my quilt. I iron press the binding toward the front of the quilt and then sew it down on the front of the quilt with my sewing machine. No hand sewing.

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I bind the same way you do--I can't wrap my brain around doing it any other way!

Suzanne said...

I stitch binding like Deanna....no pins. Congrats on the UFO finish

beaquilter said...

I do the same as you or Deanna, no clips, I tried those but they took just as long/fast as I do and I'm able to hold it with my left hand and do 2-3 stitches then move over and refold...

moosecraft said...

I do the same way as Barb... though I also use the clover clips to hold everything in place.

AnnieO said...

I don't hand bind much, but when I do, I use a few clips that I move along as I sew from right to left with the binding toward me. I usually pin each corner as I get to it. Otherwise I machine bind !

Lisa in Port Hope said...

I usually stitch bindings like you, but with only 2 or 3 wonderclips that I keep moving. But I am bothered by carpal tunnel inflammation, so baby quilts and bigger I machine bind.

audrey said...

I stitch a lot like Louise only a little more sideways and with clips rather than pins. Isn't that the correct way? lol

Jennie in GA said...

Like Barb, except I use those metal hair clips that snap open and closed. I have used them for years....long before Clover clips.

Susan P said...

Kathy, I stitch exactly as you do, right to left, binding toward me and lots of clips.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I stitch the same direction as Barb, but, I use clips or pins.

Zenia Rene said...

Hi Kathy, just a quick question...does it have to be handwork to participate in the linky party? Today is my blog's bday. I'm doing a giveaway and would like to promote it on your linky party tomorrow. What are your thoughts on this?