I have worked overtime this week, due to the high price of living these days. Frankly, it is unsustainable. Groceries are crazy expensive here! I cannot imagine people who cannot find extra work, as I have been lucky to do. I am going to try and pick up one extra shift per week, working at the hospital. I am also cutting back on a number of things....I don't shop much...but some things I can economize on.
Here is the second quilt top. I love this one a lot....just a down home, fun quilt. It is soft and cuddly. Hurrah for some finishes!!! Well, almost...I have the binding cut, but still need to apply it. I always hand stitch the binding down, but am thinking maybe I should do it by machine, so that it can be washed over and over again without worrying. After all, these are for chemo patients for the most part, and they get sick, etc....these need to be sturdy.
Any thoughts of hand binding versus machine binding? Is it sacrilegious to bind by machine?????????? Haha!
Hope each of you is finding joy...it is a tough world out there, these days!!
Julie
22 comments:
I’ve recently been machine sewing down the binding. Some of the quilts I’ve made years ago that see a lot of washing have the binding coming loose so I decided that machine binding would be best. I am experimenting with different techniques and so far like the faux binding the best.
Beautiful quilts, all of them! I have quilts that have been used and washed a lot over 10+ years and the binding at the edge wears out before the stitching lets go, which has always made me wonder why groups that take donations ask for machine sewn. But I guess it depends on the kind of wear they get (just grownups here) and maybe the length of the hand stitches? But I think it is just fine to machine sew down binding if that is what works for you or what the project calls for. (I used to be more of a purist, but I've realized that a quilt is a quilt, no matter how you get there!)
If I had to hand stitch bindings they would never get finished! After reading, many years ago now, Linus UK prefer machine stitching, I was away! My preference is to sew to back first then sew from front, gives a neater front finish
Julie, look up, on the net, Susie’s Magic Binding.
This is a brilliant way to machine sew back then front binding
with a great finished look. I use it for all community (charity) quilts
and those made especially for little kids/babies.
I love your quilts and your blog - Jane
Jo Kramer at joscountryjunction.com does a double layer machine binding and shows how to do it on her blog, if you are interested.
Love your wagon wheels and those patient quilts.
There are really NO QUILT POLICE!! That is an unfounded rumor floating about hahaha;)))
I always bind by machine...and the bindings hold up really well...I even (gasp!!) dare to use a zig zag stitch on the reverse side...
Your wagon wheel quilt is so pretty--lovely finish...
hugs, Julierose
I've gotten to the point where the only quilts that get hand stitched bindings are the ones I've handquilted for myself or close family. Machine bindings can look really good if care is taken, and way easier.
I love your wagon wheels!! I machine bind kids quilts and any that will get a lot of washing. I flip from back to front and it is one time I can use a fancy stitch on my machine. :)
Your wagon wheel quilt is wonderful. It's so colorful and the movement has my eyes going from block to block so I can see everything. I have a friend that only does machine binding. And it looks very nice. I have tried machine binding and my results were less well made - not the quality I wanted. So, I'll stick to hand binding.
The Wagon Wheels. quilt is looking wonderful, Julie! I love the pinwheel cornerstones, too. A very nice detail.
I always avoided machine binding, unless for a toddler's quilt, or a donation quilt where they required it. I have seen some quilts bound with widely spaced stitched, and some almost appear to be toe-catchers. Machine is definitely preferable to that. But I was never happy with my results until I tried the flanged binding from two posts back. I will definitely use that method for future quilts that need machine binding--very slick method, and a polished looking finish!
I have quilts with hand stitched bindings that have been washed and washed without any issues. They have been used to snuggle and cuddle, turned in to dens, castles and pirate ships, used in tug of war battles and they are still holding up. Close your binding however you chose to do it, the quilt will be loved, no matter what.
I agree with a couple of commenters. First, there are no Quilt Police, thank goodness. And I read Jo Kramer's blog and she finishes all her quilts by machine sewing the binding. And my personal opinion is machine sewn bindings are fine and I reserve hand stitching bindings for heirloom and show quilts, which I don't make. Thanks for sharing.
All the QOV that I make have machine-stitched bindings. I use a decorative stitch, and it adds more texture after the quilt is laundered. I even machine-stitch my own bindings, too. I think it makes the edge more durable.
Great quilts! I've done binding by machine, but really prefer doing it by hand.
We sold our business, but are not retired! Hubby had a temp job for the summer and is now training for another. The price of everything is skyrocketing!
I machine stitch the binding on all quilts that I give to be used, especially charity quilts. I want them to be sturdy and durable. Plus, I want to get them done! Yes to economizing! Glad I have a sufficient stock of yarn and fabric to keep me occupied for a couple of years. Probably 5 - 10 years if I'm honest.
Like starch or no starch, pre-wash or no pre-wash, steam or no steam, I think the method of finishing binding is an individual choice (unless specifically requested by charities). I prefer to hand stitch the binding because I find it relaxing, but obviously, most of your respondents value speed or relaxation. To each his own. As others have said, you don't have to listen to the quilt police. Daily living is a challenge these days, in so many ways, but considering the alternative, I'll do the best I can.
Happy Fourth.
Pat
I love to hand stitch the bindings and I always do, but I don't think there is anything wrong with machine binding. If you lived closer I would hand stitch some for you but if you don't have the time and get more accomplished finishing by machine then just do it that way. No one will criticize you for it and if they do then they don't deserve the quilt. As for expenses and the cost of living these days, it is scaring me. I am on Social Security only and since I never had a good education after high school, I also never had a good paying job so, yeah things are tough. (Sorry. I didn't mean to complain so much.)
Julie, your wagon wheel quilt is gorgeous! I love everything about it and especially enjoy those pinwheel cornerstones. They are perfect for the quilt!
The prices here are going up, too. It's alarming and I keep wondering what we can cut back on or cut out to not spend beyond our budget. I wonder, how high will prices go before they either level off or go back down. They'll probably never go back down.... I'm so sorry you have to add a shift. Nurses already work so hard.
I, too, especially like the second quilt you were given.
I always hand stitch bindings to the back of the quilt (after machine sewing to the front). I have several quilts that I've used for quite a few years and have had not problems with the binding stitches coming undone. I suppose a machine binding would give you a faster finish.
Your Wagon Wheel quilt is pretty - never to late to finish one that has been in line to be finished. I am happy that my stash is such (20 years of it) that I do not need to buy anymore. The heat down here has reached 114 and this week is another dry round of now in SA up to 104 which means we will probably hit 115 here in LV. Today is a holiday so I will not walk - glad I made that decision! It was like a Sauna at 6:30!
Binding. I have tried the machine binding, but being the traditional idiot - My preference is the original way. Now when I do the hand work, my stitches are about 1/8” apart, so I never worry that it will come apart. But it does take time. Hugs and sorry that you are having to add another shift to your hard work just because we have evil in the WH! Hugs
I only hand bind small quilts, generally. I do not think the recipients of my quilts care at all about a hand sewn binding! I want them to be used, and that means washing, so I think machine sewn bindings are better to stand up to the machine action.
Pretty quilts!
Clothing prices are also ridiculous--I got a catalog from a well known store that is charging almost $60 for a Tshirt! Looks like the thrift stores will get more visits from me---they are all overloaded from the pandemic cleaning-out frenzies.
congrats on the wagon wheels.......
as for the binding I only hand stitch the binding down but I have one friend who machines them and hers look fine......tried something years ago and it looked terrible .......I also enjoy the hand stitching but I know what you mean for these quilts..........if you are happy with how it looks go for it I say.......
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