Saturday, October 9, 2010

Single Fold Bindings

I don't claim to be an expert in this quilting art, but if it's one thing that really bugs me lately, it's fat, sloppy bindings. I noticed them on different things from the doll swap this time, but lately, while looking through the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap they were really apparent. You find these big fat double bindings on these cute, tiny little mug rugs that are only 5 x 7 inches or so to start with. And tell me why in the world do you need all that fabric to bind something so tiny that probably will hardly get handled at all?

Let me show you my method. First of all, I cut my strips 1 1/4 inches and attach them with a walking foot at the 1/4 inch mark, right side to right side, just like if you were going to do a double binding. See below:

Note, that I left a tail, just like you'd do on a normal big quilt, but the binding fabric is only single. I sew it on and turn corners just like you would a regular binding.

And you'll have to excuse the pictures here cause this next one should go after the one after it....I'm such a dunce on this thing, it's a wonder sometimes that I get anything loaded. Anyway, skip this next picture and go to the one following........do it now, please.......

Yup, right here!!!!!! When, I'm done attaching the binding, just like I would a double binding, instead of turning it over, I iron the binding away from the top of the quilt and try to get a crisp edge so that when I turn the whole mess over................now go back to the picture above.......see, it's flipped over there.........it almost sticks up by itself.

Oppps, I guess it's here too.......don't tell me I loaded the dumb thing twice???? E-gads! Anyway, here it is upside down. You're looking on the backside. And it's a real shame I don't have 3 hands here because I couldn't hold the camera and do the fold over at the same time, but that's what you do. You almost fold that fabric in half and sew it down. See the next pic.....

See...here I have it pinned. I know, I could use clips, but I always have pins handy so pins it is.
See how skinny and tight it looks? Well, that's because it is! When you're all done sewing it down in the back, I iron both sides and get it looking perfect. I wish I could have shown you the finished binding on the front of this, but the dumb computer would only let me load 5 pictures from my computer. Besides, my swap partner hasn't even seen this placemat yet, so I'd hate to spoil the surprise. I will post a different quiltie though so you can see what I mean about skinny, flat binding on these cute little wall hangings, mug rugs, or doll quilts.

Wall Art

Try it, and you'll never go back to double, fat, bindings except on your bigger quilts. I guarantee it!!! Besides, this will save you fabric too. :D

25 comments:

Brenda said...

I'm with you on that one. thanks for the tutorial. re moving pix in blogger: do you ever go the html code window and move them there by cutting and pasting?

Vickie said...

What a great idea! I am gonna have to try that! Thanks for sharing! (And the extra photo problem made for a 'cute' post!!!!) Hugs!

KarrieLyne said...

Very clever! Thank you for sharing this with us, and for the bits of humor...hee hee :D

Vivian said...

I think people do "big" bindings because pretty much every quilting guide, instruction book or t.v. quilt show tells you to "cut your binding strips 2-1/4 or 2-1/2" wide...." and people don't realize that that's not written in stone!

In fact today (well yesterday considering when I am writing this) I saw a demonstration of a binding attachment for my sewing machine that sews it on in one step (that part was very cool). The demonstrator used a 2-1/4" bias strip. I asked if you could use strips of other sizes and was told no, the guide was only calibrated for that size strip. Well that's one less gadget I'll have to worry about buying!

Benta AtSLIKstitches said...

Thanks for the clear instructions (and the giggle). Just to amok sure I understood - this is a straight cut, not bias cut? It looks great. I am guilty of at least two inch borders, but will try your method next, it looks lovely.

Benta

Benta@SLIKstitches.co.uk
www.SLIKstitches.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Why have i never thought to do this???? I'm so glad you showed me!

carol said...

Yes, ladies, these are straight cuts, not bias cuts. I sure hope you'll try it and let me know how you like it. I can't remember the last time I did a 2 1/2 inch binding.

Susan said...

Yep, this is how I do it, too, except I use a 1.5" strip and sew it on with a 3/8" seam. I just like the binding so much that I like to see a bit more of it.

Next, Carol- show everyone how to join their binding edges together, those huge lumps where they overlap them bug me, too. :) Either the straight way (easiest) or the bias(harder to show), but it's so much better than the lump.

As for more than 5 photos, you can add more. Just close out the photo window and then click on the photo add button again and you can add up to 5 more, every time. Also, to move them, either click on them and drag or cut and paste. This is easier with Mozilla than it is with IE, though. I don't know what system you're using....

Jan said...

Thanks for the great tutorial. I was going to give you photo advise, but you've already received it.

Rettabug said...

Its PERFECT!!

Now, tell the truth...you did this just for me, right? I'm afraid I'm guilty of lumpy bindings. ~blush~

Amanda Jean said...

I've never did a single fold binding before. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm excited to try it!

Kandra said...

I so needed this tutorial! I'm never happy with my bindings. Yesterday as I was making the quilt for the place mat swap, I used this tutorial. (She's not going to use it, but put it on the wall - so I figured single fold would be fine.) The binding came out so well! Thanks so much for the instructions! :D

Kandra (aka mindboggld @ flickr)

Char said...

I agree, even some bindings on the quilts I've been seeing are big and lumpy. I use a double binding on my large quilts but I always cut it 2 1/4 inches. Narrow bindings always look better.

Jo said...

Oh Carol, I knew how to do this, but as a new quilter and never having seen people use the binding single I thought I would be a committing a big crime if I did it. NOW I will follow your advice and not feel afraid. Thanks.

karen said...

ohh I wish I had seen this before doing my mug rugs - well I have a few more to make so will use this method for them. Thanks for the tute!!

melanie said...

well this is what you get from learning by trial and error, this is what I always do! I did it first time I needed binding, and it worked, so I don't even know what double binding is... why would you do that anyway?

Amy said...

thank you for the tutorial. I will have to try it on my table runners.

Kim said...

Sweet!
I'm gonna try it :0)

Thanks and Happy sewing

Kristyne said...

Just found you from Quilt Mom! What a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

Karen said...

Thanks for the tut! I haven't tried single fold binding, but am planning on making some mug rugs, so I'm really glad to see this.

Frances said...

I was wondering if you hand sew the binding down or if you machine sew....

Alicia said...

hi i do it just like you in all my smallquilt and wallquilts and only use the double binding in bedquilts because you used it everyday and wash them a lot
your tutorial came out great

Kae said...

Fabulous! Never thought to do that before.

Unknown said...

Your post was not only informative but so cute. I've had the same problems here on Blogger and sharing the pain makes it more funny.
Love your work

Clothed in Scarlet said...

Hi Carol, I came over from Amandajean's blog where she mentioned your tut on single fold bindings. I agree sometimes it's just too much fabric to work with :o) I used single folds on the mug rug swap thru Michele's quilting gallery site. Something I did was iron the in half fold and the quarter fold to make it easier for me turning under the raw edge. I haven't had a lot of raw edge practice and it seems I unravel it! Thanks, Sarah