Monday, June 17, 2013

Binding update

First off, thanks to all of you who left comments on my last post, regarding my binding frustration.  Many of you suggested using a hand-quilting thread for hand-stitching the binding to the back of the quilt, which is something that honestly never crossed my mind!  Hand-quilting thread for hand-stitching.  Hmmm.  Seems obvious, right?


Armed with a new spool of hand-quilting thread, first up for repairs is my Sweetwater Pure quilt.  Closer inspection showed that the binding had come loose in quite a few places.  Ugh.  So I sat down with my seam ripper and quickly took out all of the binding stitches and will re-do the whole thing.  I don't mind - I actually love doing this step of the quilting process.  

I'll keep you updated down the road whether this was successful or not.  I sure hope it will be!

10 comments:

CJ said...

This makes me wonder how many of my hand bound bindings have come undone. :( I have give all of the quilts away, are they unraveling?? I have taken up machine binding but it still makes me wonder about so many previous quilts.

Toni said...

I hope the hand-quilting thread is the answer! I think I would cry if I had to redo very much binding, but I'm one of those odd people who doesn't enjoy hand-stitching them. I really want to love it, but it just hasn't happened yet. Good luck!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Now I'm wondering if I should be using hand quilting thread to do my binding?? I just use regular cotton thread?! oh no!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Let us now if it feels stronger!

Susan said...

I guess it has to be stronger!! Maybe consider how you start and stop the length of thread too. Do you knot?

Susan J Barker said...

Funny, I never thought to use regular cotton sewing thread for binding, I have always used the hand quilting thread to bind with, the main reason I used it was because you can use a bit longer piece and it doesn't EVER get those tangles where you have to cut and tie off and start another length... I now do all the donation quilts I make by machine, but I don't think any of my own quilts have had the binding come loose, they have frayed at the fold before the sewn down part comes loose.

Debbie said...

Good for you - I think you've got us all wondering now! ;-/

Erica said...

Definitely keep us posted! Now I need to go back and check all of my older quilts to make sure that the bindings are still intact!

hydeeannsews said...

binding is my favorite part of the quilt process, so i wouldn't mind too much either. but i sure hope mine holds! the handquilting thread is a good idea. hope it works.

Carla said...

Oh yes! I just started doing this with my quilts after hearing Amy Ellis mention it on her new podcast. Makes total sense. I was doubling up my regular thread after the bindings had popped on a couple of quilts, but hand quilting thread seems to work much better and doesn't tangle as easily.

(And waving hi from Alberta! I found your blog on Sew Sister's Blogathon post, and I've been happily wandering around here for the better part of an hour looking at all the lovely!)