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| Blue Roses Binding |
I love using these wonder clips for this. They do tire my hands though. It takes a bit of pressure to squeeze them open and my arthritic fingers do not like that. I started the quilting by stitching in the ditch all around those sashing strips. Then I measured the border, marked it and basted all the way around and trimmed it before putting on the binding. I still have all the free motion quilting to do in the blocks. This will be a simple scribble of hearts and flowers. I often do it in this order so there is less bulk around the outside for shoving into the machine opening. Sometimes I have a deadline for the quilt and quilt until I run out of time, but the binding is already on. This way, I only have to change the presser feet once. I started out using the walking foot. I will now drop the feed dogs, put in the see-through darning foot and go free motion. I am using a WonderFil wt 80 thread for the first time. It is finer than I am used to but it seems strong enough since I have not had any thread breakage so far.
When I get home I have my one monthly goal of completing 5 Ben Biggs to get done. I still have to prep 20 buds and 20 leaves to machine applique in the corners. I have 3 weeks to get that done. I can do this.
Also, I have to get another wedding quilt going. And No, it will not be hand appliqued.
Blessings,
Chris
Have fun at your daughter's. I'm sure Ellie is going to enjoy playing with her cousin.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the snow has mostly melted now so they cannot play in it. There will be mud. That should keep them happy.
DeleteA Quilters work is never done. The most organized group of people on the planet!
ReplyDeleteTravel safe and have fun.
I am so organized that my quilt room is totally cluttered now that I am trying to complete this big quilt on 2 tables in the middle of the room. That and because I moved the elevated cutting table out of the hall for my treadmill that is supposed to help me get some exercise.
DeleteI too find the clips hard to open. I now use the "magic binding" technique, and don't need to pin or clip my binding (except the mitres on the corners) when sewing down. Here's a link
ReplyDeletetechniquehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8N6nv90H2c
Give it a try, I know it saves my arthritic fingers.
I usually sew the binding on from the back first then turn and top stitch the front. I only do up one side at a time. I do not usually use any pins or clips except at the corner. I cut the binding from straight of grain not the cross grain from selvage to selvage because that stretches too much. I've only used the clips on the last 2 quilts.
DeleteI like your process! I always sew binding on to the front and stitch to the back. Why do you do it that way if I may ask? Neat about binding and then quilting. I wondered about that but never attempted it. https://pegsplace.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteOne common way of applying the binding is to sew it to the front by machine then hand stitch it to the back. Another is to machine stitch it to the back and hand stitch it to the front. I have done both. I have also turned backing to the front and machine stitched it in place but this is not so neat after a few dozen washings.
DeleteI stopped doing them by hand when I realized that it was my quilt and I could. And that most of my quilts are gifted and are intended for everyday use. The machine stitching will last longer.
I have seen antique quilts that have the backing turned to the front and turned under 1/8 inch and stitched by hand.
The first time I added the binding before the quilt was done, I had to have it completed for my niece to catch a plane as she was moving to Korea. I had already done all the machine stitching in the ditch around all the borders and blocks but was not sure how long it would take to do the free motion scribbling that I do. So my logic was to quilt until I ran out of time and who would notice if there was enough quilting or not since most of my quilts never make it to the any shows. I use a domestic machine and this way the excess batting and backing are removed so there is less bulk to squeeze into the opening.
You've started a good discussion about binding, Chris. Isn't it interesting how everyone has their favourites methods?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting to TN&TN's WIP Wednesday!
Lovely fabric!! Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful blogging holiday with your grandson.
ReplyDeleteI love those wonder clips, too! I wish they had longer ones for when I bind minky backed baby quilts with satin binding.
ReplyDelete