Thursday, March 24, 2016

When Do You Make Your Binding Strip??

So, I realized something a little funny yesterday.  As many of you know, I am not much of a hand stitcher, so all of my bindings are either machine done, or my wonderful MIL, Barbara tacks my bindings down when it needs to be done by hand.   So no, I haven't found the joy in sitting and hand stitching a binding down yet . . . However, I sure do love making the Binding Strip!!!


I realized this yesterday when I was cutting out my Ruby Jubilee Braided Irish Chain quilt.  As soon as I was finished cutting, I immediately grabbed my strips for the binding and stitched them into a binding strip.  I just love making the strip and thinking about how it will finish off my quilt!!! I pressed the strip last night and this morning checked it off of my little Quilt List Spreadsheet and realized that "Binding Made" was more at the end of the quilt making process in the list.    This made me wonder if I am the only one that makes their bindings at the beginning instead of the end of the quilt making process???


I love having my binding all ready to go as soon as I take the quilt off the long arm.  And they look so pretty all stacked up ;)   They also have the added benefit of reminding me of a few WIP's that have been forgotten in a closet somewhere.  7 of those bindings are fairly recent and their quilts are being worked on in one stage or another, but 2 have been been sitting there far to long waiting for the quilt top to be quilted.   It's a good little reminder to squeeze them in at some point ;)


And just in case you are wondering, that scrappy binding on the bottom comes from here ;)   I keep all of my little leftover binding pieces and then when I finish a scrappy quilt I just pull from the basket to make a super scrappy binding.  So fun!!!


So back to my little process . . . I really am curious . . . When do you make your binding strip???  Are you like me and make it at the beginning, do you save it to the end, or do you squeeze it in somewhere in the middle.   Can't wait to hear when you make your binding strip ;)
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58 comments:

  1. I like you have a pile of leftover binding pieces so usually make the binding at the end so that i can pull out scraps that match the project. however if i am making a special project that I know what the binding will be and then I make it as I go. I am starting to think about making more striped bindings ahead of time to expedite the binding process because like you I hate stitching the binding down and rarely do it by hand.

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  2. I always make the binding strip as soon as I finish the quilt top. Like you I like having it ready to go as soon as I finish quilting. I roll them into tight rolls held with a pin. I admit that I love seeing the roll sitting there waiting to do its job. A scrappy one is very pretty with all the variegated colors on top of the roll.

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  3. I always wait until after I've finished quilting before I make the binding - just in case I change my mind based on how the quilt looks after it is quilted.

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  4. I always make them at the end, after the quilt is finished and quilted. I don't like to waste fabric, so I have it with the project, but at the end it might need a different binding, so my fabric is not cut up or made into binding until I know for sure what I want. I also rarely know what size the quilt will end up, so I don't want to make too much or too little.

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  5. I usually wait until after it's quilted as well. But I love the idea of having it ready to go! But, then again, I also sometimes change my mind about what I want to use. Also, I'm not the most organized quilter and might have it ready to go and not remember where I put it!!

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  6. Depends on the quilt. If it is preplanned, specific fabrics, then (like you) I do it at the beginning. I love that it is there waiting for me to use it!!! However, when making a scrappy quilt, I wait until the end, so I can let it talk to me as to whether it wants a scrappy binding or a complementary color binding. Thanks for your blog -- I always enjoy it!

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  7. I make about 75% of my binding (or at least cut the strips) when I'm cutting out the quilt. Sometimes, I wait until I've completed the top (and sometimes back) so I can make a scrappy binding out of the leftover fabric (depends on the type of top I'm making). I don't like making the binding, so it's a stopping point at the end of a project if it's not ready to go. The pile of ready-to-go binding DOES remind me often, "Hey, you need to finish that already." I'm picturing a couple that need to just get done already.

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  8. I almost always wait until I see my finished quilt before I cut and prep my binding. I usually go with what I planned, but I guess I like to wait and see first. Also, I loathe cutting strips, so once the quilt blocks are cut, I'm happy to not cut borders or bindings until they are needed!

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  9. I like to make my bindings as soon as the quilt top is completed. Then I have no excuse not to finish the project once the quilting is done. I would do it earlier, but I have been known to change my mind about the borders on a quilt.

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  10. Binding is the last thing I make!

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  11. I always leave mine until the very end. Not that I am opposed to making it earlier, it is just something that I've always done. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm doing for the final borders, and that might be the deciding factor for the color of the binding.

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  12. I usually leave mine to the end because I like to see "what fits" and it's easier for me to decide when I have the quilt top finished.

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  13. funny, i never gave it much thought. i tend to make my binding at the end.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  14. I live in a VERY small condo (535 sq feet) so I don't have a lot of room to keep stuff. In order to alleviate UFO's, before I can move on to a new project I must have: Make and square up the top, make and square up the back, make the binding and make the label. Then, and only then, can I move onto the next project. Must be disciplined in a very small space.

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  15. Your blog post made me smile because I realized I haver never questioned my practice of creating my binding at the very end! Really, I simply have never given it any thought at all! Not that I am principally opposed, but just because I learned it this way. Curious how habits work, right?! For my next quilt I am going to try it your way. See if that fits me better :)

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  16. My last quilt, I did the binding as I was piecing the back, because I needed to see how much of my solid I had to play with (I wanted a solid binding on that one). The quilt prior, it was the last thing I did. And the one I'm cutting out now? I still don't know how I'm going to bind it, so it's gonna have to wait...

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  17. I have always waiting until my quilt was done before making the binding. I like to look at the finished quilt, get a feel for it, sort of what vibe am I getting from it, then I decide on what fabric to use for the binding.

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  18. I make my bindings at the end because I just might change my mind about the width and color plus I need to square up and remeasure. Guess that really isn't so important now that you got me thinking about it. Thanks for the spreadsheet idea. That is what I need to do with my WIP quilts.

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  19. I make my bindings once the piecing is done and I know I don't need it for the quilt itself.

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  20. Most times I leave it until the end, especially if is a scrappy quilt. If it's a quilt that I know I don't want a frame around I'll cut the binding out of the ground fabric right away.

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  21. I love making my binding when the quilt top is complete. I know I have enough of the right fabrics.

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  22. I never know what to use for a binding until the top is finished. Sadly, I don't have the vision to choose a binding before I see the end result!

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  23. I make them whenever the urge strikes! Sometimes at the beginning since I always try to cut the binding while cutting for the quilt. If it's late and I don't want to get started on piecing, but not that late, I'll make up the binding. In the middle if I don't feel like piecing but want to sew, I'll sew binding. And at the end, once the quilting is done and it's off the frame and I now forced to think about binding, it'll get made then. And, once, when I had the quilt loaded I decided to try applying binding with a longarm so had to whip up the binding real quick so I could put it on while quilting. That worked out good, I don't know why I've only done it once. Oh wait, I do know why... I don't get time to quilt for myself!

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  24. Wow- is this like some secret giveaway where you decide to make a binding for EVERYONE WHO COMMENTS??? THAT TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!

    Seriously, I plan for binding - because I love to pick out the fabric for it! And that's about as far as it goes.
    That fabric might sit there for MONTHS, waiting to be cut, put together in a long strip, attached and hand sewn - because I find it very tedious and boring. So to answer your question - it depends. I guess whenever I really have to have that quilt completely finished is when I do the binding.

    Now - how soon can I send you my fabric??

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  25. It's so funny that you would post this today. Yesterday afternoon my good friend and budding quilter Julie came over so that I could show her how to cut, press and sew binding onto a mini quilt that she made. I then pulled out my binding bag (yes, I have a hand sewn bag where I keep my bindings rolled up and clipped until I finally get the quilt done) to show her all the bindings I have ready to go. :-) Sometimes I make the binding after the quilting is done (I have one of those to do today), but I usually take care of it while I am cutting out the rest of the quilt.

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  26. I actually cut the binding strips when I'm cutting the rest of my fabric and set them in a special place. I usually join the strips and press the whole stip in half when I want to do something relatively quick - like maybe I only have an hour to sew and want to accomplish something. Either way, my binding is usually ready to sew on long before I get the quilt back from being quilted.

    I also HATE to hand stitch the binding (plus i have bad eyes) so I machine stitch my binding as well. I've gotten pretty good at it and I honestly think it's more durable than the hand stitched.

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  27. it depends, sometimes I cut them out right away, if I have the fabrics handy, especially if I used the GO cutter for pieces in the quilt, then adding the 2 1/2" strip die is quick and easy. other times I don't have a fabric ready so I wait, but I do have hangers for my tops that are ready to quilt and then I poked holes in large zip locs for the binding to go in when it's ready so it's on the same hanger... all the left over binding strips I have in a large pretzel jar, not sure what I'll make yet, I've made fabric wrapped coiled baskets before where I kept the fold of the fabric strips and made the baskets....

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  28. I always make the binding at the very end... No point cutting up fabric and realizing afterwards that a different binding would work better! Sometimes I need to bring my quilt to the shop to decide on the perfect binding, so the binding is always the last part in my quilting process.

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  29. I make mine after the quilting is finished, but I think your way is better. At the end, I find myself putting off pulling the fabric back out. I think if I had that binding ready to go, I would be much quicker about getting the binding on the quilt after quilting. Thanks for bringing this up.

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  30. I try to make my binding after I finish the top so once I'm done quilting I can trim and bind.

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  31. If the quilt is planned, then I will usually cut and make the binding as soon as all of the quilt pieces are cut. Then I put the binding into a baggy and label it so I know what it is for. Scrappy quilts often get a binding made from leftovers that I've saved. And when I'm just using the stash to make the quilt as I go, then the binding gets made last because I have to dig to find something that works. Or I end up buying something that works just for the binding. But there is something satisfying about having it made and ready to go.

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  32. Oh you are so neat and tidy, Lord help me.
    I thought the binding elves come in and make the binding.
    I am so indecisive about stuff, I change my mind quickly so I usually make the binding after I have quilted and ready to bind. And then I find some better fabric and make more binding.
    You are so inspiring and I am thankful for that ♥️

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  33. Sometimes I cut my binding when I cut my quilt, but since I rarely know what size my finished quilt will be, I often wait until the top is finished and make the binding then so I get the size right. I also save all my binding tails and put them together to use to bind scrappy quilts. I also hate hand sewing and put most of my bindings on by machine...but I found someone who will trade hand sewing my bindings for machine quilting!!!

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  34. I make the binding after the top is finished, and usually around the times I am quilting. I never know until it is loaded on the longarm what size it will be. I often make up my mind about the number and size of the borders after all the piecing is done.

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  35. Obviously not often enough. I have a quilted queen size quilt waiting for over a year for its binding!

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  36. At the end, but I love your pile AND the reminder! bindings! That is so great, because really...get it sewn on! :)

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  37. Its interesting to see that you prep your binding at the very beginning. It's always something I do at the end because the binding I choose is based on how the quilt turns out, the borders I ended up using, etc. My projects are always quite scrappy, so I really can't plan ahead as it would always change.

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  38. I do it at the beginning too! It also prevents me from accidentally using that binding fabric for something else in the meantime. The only time I wait to make binding is when I'm not sure what I want to bind in & I want to audition things with my finished topper. that doesn't happen often

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  39. I do it at the end - most of the time.

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  40. I usually do it after I have pieced the top and backing, but before I quilt. Even though my Bernina makes changing the feet so easy, it is just a habit to do all of the piecing at once while my quarter inch foot is on.

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  41. I always make mine at the end, mostly because I like to use up leftover fabric from the top or back. And I never fold and press mine... Am I the only one? I always hand stitch it down, so it's easier to just be lazy and not press it in half. :)

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  42. I always try to make my binding after I cut. The fabric is already out and my work area is set up for cutting, so why not? Binding is my least favorite thing to make and do. If I leave it until after pieceing and quilting, it makes me grumpy to pull fabric out again, cut, iron, etc...

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  43. At the end as I never know if the quilt size will be what I think it will be and sometimes I add other fabrics which changes the look and then I'd want a different binding.

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  44. I usually make mine one I have sewn the blocks together as I tend not to quilt them!! but am learning, then when I finally get round to the quilting I have the binding ready. I so enjoy the hand stitching part unlike you

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  45. I get my quilt completely finished up to the binding stage before I make the binding, then I get a better idea of what I would like to put with the quilt. x

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  46. I sometimes use the cutoff Backing for my Binding. That means it get made after it's quilted and trimmed. I keep a basket of Scrappy Binding also!

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  47. What a great idea to make them in the beginning. I usually make them right before I start the FMQ or send it to my LAQ. I don't always decide on the binding until the quilt is done!

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  48. I usually wait until I get it quilted or get it back from the quilter. I like to see what is going to work with it after quilting. Sometimes I already know, but mostly I wait. :)

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  49. I do it at the end, because I design as I go along and I don't know for sure what color or fabric will look good until I get the top together.

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  50. What a great idea Melissa to keep your leftover binding pieces and use them to make a scrappy binding! Neato! I tend to sew the binding when I sew together the backing.

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  51. I usually make mine after I trim the quilted top.

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  52. I cut and sew together my binding when I cut my quilt but don't press it till right before I use it.

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  53. I usually make my binding at the end of the project, but I'm starting to do it as soon as I finish adding the borders. That way it's ready to attach when I get my quilt back from the quilter. I too have a problem getting my bindings finished. Guess it's more fun to sew the pieces together when you make the top!

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  54. Once I am absolutely positive about the decision, I make the binding. Quilting sometimes changes the size a bit, and I may decide to use a different width than originally thought. A couple times I have changed my mind about the fabric selected for binding, after already making it(!), but I usually keep what i think I will be using with the flimsy so I will not (oops) and use it for something else.

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  55. Almost always towards the end of my project. However, I have spent a few cold winter hours making some binding and keep it handy in a container for smaller quilts.

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  56. Almost always towards the end of my project. However, I have spent a few cold winter hours making some binding and keep it handy in a container for smaller quilts.

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  57. If the project is for someone I LOVE the binding process!! I always make mine at the end because I tend to change my mind way to often!! When I bind I find myself thinking of the recipient and I pray for them! I also sleep under the quilt proir to giving it away! Its my thing!

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  58. I normally do it at the end. Often in the wee hours of the morning when I finish quilting it because I was on a roll and couldn't see stopping until I've finished... and then going to bed seems futile because I just won't rest until that binding is on the quilt and ready for me to handsew the next day.... so I should make it at the beginning so that I might be able to save myself some sleep time... maybe I'll try that next time... I do love the look of all your bindings stacked up there :)

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa