From Small Things: Episode 5.1: Binding

[@DeborahGrissom-p8z]

I love finishing a quilt with scrappy binding, it just adds to the homely feel of the scrappy quilt.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I agree! It's a little surprise, too. And, we don't have to throw away any fabric!

[@antheatweedie4255]

😊 I am pleased to have found your channel Sue. I find your channel is very informative and inspiring!! I love your scrappy quilts. ❤😊 Thank you.

[@practicaldesigninc.5593]

I own a manufacturing company and we go through a lot of thread. We save all our empty spools and combine them with long skate laces. About 20 spools in a zip lock bag with a few skate laces makes a great kids toy for learning manual dexterity. We donate them to pre schools and day cares. Suitable for kids ages 2-5 plus. Can also be used for counting, math and sorting.

[@EstherGonzalez-x2y]

After 35 years you inspired me and I made continuous bias binding!

[@fromsmallthings509]

That's amazing!

[@audreycando3537]

Love your channel ! Great ideas and lots of inspiration. Beautiful work!

[@shelly5505]

You have really inspired me to go to my scrap bins and make a stunning scrap quilt like the ones that you do. Also to finally cut into my father’s shirts to make a memory quilt from him. You are a joy to “visit” with and I eagerly look forward to more from you. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I'm so glad you've found more ideas to add to your to do list! They will both be magnificent. I have some memory pillowcases recently added to my to do list. I'm glad you're enjoying spending some time in my sewing room!

[@brendamc3535]

You make some of the most beautiful homemade quilts. And they are truely homemade from beginning to end. I really enjoy watching your tutorials.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I found my niche through necessity-- I just wouldn't be able to make many quilts if I sent them out to be machine quilted, or purchased patterns and fabric collections.

[@jwestfalldavis3574]

I really enjoy watching your show. I am a long time quilter who is self taught and who mostly works alone. I find it amusing to see some things that we do alike but I also enjoy the small things that we do differently. I will think of you the next time I put on a binding. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your quilts.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I love that there are so many different ways we can do the same jobs. There are always more techniques to consider, and people figuring out new tricks! Thank you for joining me in my sewing room.

[@stitchann]

The couch quilt that you finished is gorgeous. The Quilting surely makes the quilt.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I'm surprised people seem to like that quilt, when I really just threw together the scraps I had put off using! My cat is enjoying it very much.

[@pbar8439]

I am 68. I sew my bindings on just like you do. I learned the stitch i n home ec class many years ago when I was 12. We were taught to repeat the mantra, "a pick of the fabric. A pick of the fold." It was never referred to by name.

[@cathyriles3063]

I’m really enjoying your videos…I love making scrappy quilts also. Thank you for sharing your projects with us. I never thought of taking a few stitches before pulling the thread all the way thru….thank you for the tip!

[@fromsmallthings509]

When I hand quilt I also take 3 or 4 stitches at a time, and think I just got used to working the needle that way on the binding as well. I think it also helps keep the thread nice-- it has seemed to me that taking one stitch at a time curls the thread into a corkscrew and it gets tangled.

[@angiec2509]

You have a great eye for arranging your tiny scraps to look so coordinated!

[@fromsmallthings509]

I'm more likely to use my scraps if I keep them in color families-- then I just think of them as "blue" or "green," etc. I think it's definitely true that the wider the variety of fabrics, the better they will meld together-- you won't notice that one crazy fabric sticking out!

[@jwestfalldavis3574]

I love the quilt in the background! As a long time quilter I really appreciate your work and it feels so comfortable to join you in your sewing room. Many thanks!

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! Welcome to my small and messy sewing room! It is a place of great joy for me.

[@zoepoutoukalis1109]

Hello Sue, my name is Zoey & I'm from Tasmania, Australia. I am a beginner Quilter & I discovered your Channel today. My favourite type of Quilts to make, are Scrappy Quilts - I feel that that Scrappy Quilts can be extremely colourful when using Scraps & shopping for suitable fabrics & Sewing Supplies at a Thrift Store can be so much fun. Anyways, I am so happy that I have found your Channel & I'm looking forward to learning from you & so I will be watching each & every one of your Videos as you upload them. Warmest Regards, Zoey 🙂

[@fromsmallthings509]

Welcome from Australia! Scrap quilting is a lot of fun-- every one of them is totally unique. I also love the depth and interest you get from using so many different fabrics. I hope you love quilting!

[@mbkile6762]

You really made me laugh when you pulled out your "jar" of empty spools. I'm admiring the quilt in the back gound and of course i love the neutrals on the 60 by 60 couch quilt.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I started saving the spools just out of curiosity, and I'm glad I did, it amuses me too.

[@Lauren26Reg]

I feel like I've made a new friend in you. I love your techniques and the way you present them. You are now one of my favorite channels and I look forward to your posts. I'm not a hand quilter but think I should try it soon. Your quilts are absolutely gorgeous!

[@fromsmallthings509]

I'm so happy to hear this. Give hand quilting a try! My recommendation would be to start on a smaller project, and be forgiving with your first attempts. If you don't enjoy the process, don't feel bad about machine quilting; whatever helps you be your most creative is the best method for you.

[@GCBGIRL]

Oh my goodness. Spools, yes, I do keep all my spools after I finish all the threads and keep them in a jar. Nice to look at them, give me some satisfaction.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Absolutely-- think of how many miles of stitches that must be.

[@patriciaberger5279]

Sue you are such a ray of sunshine! Thank you for all the teaching you do in your videos. I love how you sewed your binding onto your quilt. I do something similar but I think your way will be less stressful on my hands. I really want to learn how to “quilt” my quilts by hand. Is there a book that you used to learn?

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I started off with embroidery when I was very young, and when I started quilting by hand I just thought of it as a running stitch, with smaller stitches. I wish someone had showed me how to quilt early on, because then I'd be doing it "correctly!" But in the end, whatever works for you and holds the quilt together is correct.

[@HRHDMKYT]

I have watched *a lot* of quilting videos, but have never seen your technique for hand sewing it down. Thank you for sharing!😊I love your scrap quilts, they’re very beautiful. I would love to watch your thread basting technique if you feel like video-ing that for a future video ❤

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you for watching! I will probably be showing thread basting in the future. I learned how to sew my binding on from my sister-- originally I used a whipstitch, and that is not as pretty.

[@ruthhill5311]

Beautiful!

[@AvivaHadas]

I am so impressed with how quickly you quilted that "couch quilt." (I went back, you posted it as a finished top "two weeks" ago.

[@fromsmallthings509]

That one went fast because it was on the smaller side, and the polyester batting made it easier to quilt through. I generally quilt for a few hours every morning, unless my fingers need a break!

[@lorettahenderson8979]

Sue...thanks for sharing...best wishes ❤

[@Suzanne_Fenton]

Absolutely beautiful quilt! My sister also sews her bindings on by hand.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you!

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thanks for sharing

[@jeane.2722]

thx

[@vikkirountoit497]

Fall is such a pretty time of year:) I grew up in Bucks County PA a little north of you and went to college at Penn State. Living in SE VA now and it's quite similar with just a little less snow and a little more humidity. (And the big difference - the lack of all the great quilty things of PA.) Fall has been dry here too. Just planted pansies in all of my large flowerpots. Working on some scrappy quilts and spending some tome on youtube for inspiration.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Virginia is beautiful also. I'm surprised there's not more quilting community in that area. I love all the old farms of Bucks County-- I'm only ten minutes away. Fall is the perfect time to find inspiration, so that you have some cozy projects ready to work on over the winter.

[@fernie5128]

Wow, I literally had a sharp intake of breath when your completed quilt appeared. I am a newer scrap quilter (I love doing scappy ones) and wow what pattern is this one? I would love to do this pattern. I have graph paper, I will just draw the block design. Now that I really look at it, it is way simpler than on first view. Who knew?// Cheers from Minnesota.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I use graph paper sometimes too. Once you start drawing them out, it's often a lot easier to make sense of than it first seems! Best of luck with your quilting!

[@marygeorge9688]

I enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you!

[@elenlevenberg8315]

I am enjoying watching your videos. I have had a love hate relationship with hand quilting but watching you makes me want to love it lol. I will try it again. Looking forward to your future videos. Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@fromsmallthings509]

Haha! If you don't enjoy it, certainly don't make yourself do it! There is nothing wrong with machine quilting. Winter would be a good time to give hand quilting another try. You could mix it up, too, keep one around for hand quilting and machine quilt the others.

[@SarieDuToit-m7s]

It really made me laugh when you showed your tub of spools. I must tell you, for some reason or other I keep the papers that goes around the balls of yarn. Why, I don't now, but I can't part with them.

[@fromsmallthings509]

There's no harm in that! It's like a little journal of the places we've been. I have a friend who makes "junk journals," they are very pretty scrap books full of things like that.

[@jannmier3487]

You have a beautiful hand stitching hand.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! (Except for all the cat scratches!)

[@normathompson3369]

Love your quilts! Would you be kind enough to make a video about fabric or scrap organization? Thankf for sharing!

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I'm not sure if we could show all of my scrap organization in one episode... there will always be little bits of it in the videos. Really, I use mostly shoeboxes to store everything in its own place. Maybe if I can wrap my head around it, I'll try to share how I store things.

[@nedag8276]

I enjoy your videos, hope you show us how you base your quilts. Thank you.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind-- basting is my least favorite part of the process.

[@reginelascourreges8958]

Bonjour madame, je vous ai découverte la semaine dernière et je me suis aussitôt abonnée. Bravo pour vos quilts. Régine 🇫🇷

[@fromsmallthings509]

Bienvenue et merci!

[@bathens4971]

As far as the binding being one of the first things to go, on a quilt, I can't say that it's usually the stitching that fails, it seems like it's the fabric, where it gets worn. At least in my observation

[@annettestoutjesdyk8641]

I’m enjoying your videos very much! How wide do you make your binding strips? 21/2” or 21/4”?

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! The binding is cut at 2", which leaves about 1/2" showing on the front when it's done.

[@rosalindh007]

I really like that scrappy quilt. I'll have to search to find out how you made it. I've been saving my grocery store receipts to make a crumb quilt. What do you think?

[@fromsmallthings509]

I think receipts are a great idea-- I've never thought of that!

[@sueannballard4026]

Sue......hello from Idaho....do you use a sewing machnie.....or hand piece?.....I I love scrappy quilts too,,,,,have made several.....there us something about a scrappy quilt that's so charming and warm and comfy❤❤❤ SueAnn from Idaho snow country

[@fromsmallthings509]

Hello from Pennsylvania! I use a machine to piece, and do the quilting by hand. Occasionally I do some hand piecing, like Cathedral Windows or English paper piecing, when I'm in the mood for it.

[@jenniek4617]

Hello! Happy Fall! It’s my favourite time of year and always makes me want to snuggle down with a cosy sewing project. I am interested to know if you cut your binding on the bias or along the grain? Many thanks 🍁

[@fromsmallthings509]

I always make bias binding. This week we also filmed how I make binding, that will be sort of a part 2 episode that will be up this weekend.

[@donawagner4728]

Love your videos. What size needle do you bind with and do you hand piece or machine piece? Thank you Dona in Oregon. 🧵🪡🧵

[@fromsmallthings509]

I just use my quilting needles for attaching binding, Roxanne betweens size 9. I piece my quilt tops by machine, and hand quilt them. I do some hand piecing when I'm in the mood for it, like English paper piecing or Cathedral Windows.

[@sueannballard4026]

❤ Sue, what sewing machine do you use??? Do you have a favorite brand???? SueAnn from Idaho

[@fromsmallthings509]

I use a Juki TL-2000QI. I've tried several brands over the years. When I bought this Juki, I wanted one with no bells and whistles-- it only does a straight stitch. I wanted a workhorse machine that would last, and I only need it to do a straight stitch. It's my favorite machine, out of the ones I've owned so far.

[@ruthhill5311]

@@fromsmallthings509I agree with the Juki choice for a machine! I have the TL2010 and love it!!

[@bbymks5]

What are your favorite threads you use for hand quilting?

[@fromsmallthings509]

I use Coats & Clark hand quilting thread, it is a polyester/cotton blend.

[@bbymks5]

@fromsmallthings509 thank you! I'm trying to muster up the courage to try hand quilting on a small project to get the feel.

[@francespiquemal8813]

Thank you very much for sharing.