From Small Things: Episode 5.2: How I Make Binding

[@suzannereepe3824]

Your instructions for bias binding are fantastic. I have always used straight of grain but I am going to give bias a try. Thank you for your videos - they are wonderful!

[@fromsmallthings509]

Oh, good! I hope you find something here and there to add to your quilting process!

[@stitchann]

I would love to see how you attach the binding to the quilt. Also a tour of your sewing room would be nice.

[@violastraleyViola]

I am also curious about how you sew (the first step) binding to the edge of the quilt after it has been folded by the bias tape maker. I fold my bindings in half & iron by hand without the tape maker. I sew the 2 raw edges of the binding to the quilt by matching the raw edge of the binding to the raw edge of the quilt. Then I fold it over to the back and hand sew it down. Please keep up the videos-learning so much.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I sew it onto the front of the quilt by machine, lining up a raw edge of binding with the edge of the quilt, and sewing along the closest fold in the binding. I know many people like to do binding like you do, folded in half, to make it a double layer everywhere-- I think it's a great idea for making it last.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Maybe I'll give a little sewing room tour in the future-- it's messy, but efficient!

[@nancyshaner8548]

Good instructions. I was able to find the bias cutting guide on ebay. Yay.

[@violastraleyViola]

Love your quilts, techniques, and especially your cat!

[@fromsmallthings509]

He came in to my life just this year, I love him too!

[@DeborahGrissom-p8z]

Love the instructions and the way you store your binding, I am definitely going to be doing that. Thank you for sharing, love this channel.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I'm glad you found one of my tips useful!

[@BonnieAdkisson-rd6qk]

Dear Sue, I can really identify with you. I piece quilt tops both by hand and on the machine. I have always quilted all my quilts by hand. it's so nice to see someone else do that, too. It's really not that hard at all. I usually make King size quilts so each of my quilts takes about two years. I admire how quickly you can turn out your quilts!! Any way...I love to watch your videos. Much appreaciated.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I can see them taking two years, piecing a king size quilt by hand is a huge job! I've never made a king size quilt, I'm sure that would take me twice as long to quilt. I'm so glad to learn there are other hand quilters out there, too; I don't see much hand quilting at shows or on the internet. It's good to know there are still people who enjoy the slower process.

[@cynthiabeamon4198]

I've been using this binding method for quite a while and I learned a few things today ...thank you!

[@fromsmallthings509]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Linda-fs3ex]

Excellent idea to make it ahead of time. I am going to try this with stripes from now on. When I have leftover binding scraps, anywhere from 10 inches to 15 inches or 20 inches, I sew it to an ongoing roll of scrappy binding which is pretty big. You’d be surprised at how many times on a quilt you could use this scrappy binding. I never run out of it because I’m always adding to it. The only fabric I separate is when it’s children’s fabrics. They are separate from my regular scrap binding.

[@fromsmallthings509]

That's a good idea! I love to have binding on hand and ready to use. The great thing about scrappy quilts is that they can pair well with a wide variety of bindings-- and we can make sure every scrap finds a home!

[@jenniek4617]

What a brilliant tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. Beautifully explained.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you!

[@laimasellmer274]

Hi Sue. My name is Laima and I have been quilting since the 80’s. I am also a scrappy quilt lover and you have totally inspired me. I have started a flying geese using black which I never would have thought of using. Thank you. Also I have started making backs from ten inch neutrals another big thank you for that idea. I’m also a hand quilter and am curious about your thread and size of needle you use. Would love to see a demonstration of you quilting. We learn so much from each other. I do enjoy your videos I have watched each on several times. To me you embody the spirit of quilting. ❤

[@fromsmallthings509]

Hi, Laima. I never expected anyone to be inspired by me, and I am uncomfortable with praise, so your comment really means a lot to me. I really didn't think I had anything new to offer, but I totally agree with you that we all learn from each other. Most of what I know has been gained by picking up one little tip here and there through the years, from a variety of sources. As per my thread and needles, I use Coats and Clark hand quilting thread on a green spool. I have tried other brands and had no problem with any of them, this just happens to be one that is readily available to me. For my needles I use Roxanne betweens, size 9, they come in a little tiny glass bottle with a seashell on top. Thank you so much for watching, and for your kindness.

[@MargaretS-e8y]

Hi, I’m Margaret and I’m in Southern PA , too, just west of you on the other side of the river. I love doing bias bindings and hardly ever are they recommended. I can’t imagine why. Making them is so interesting and there is so much flexibility in using a bias binding. I am also fond of doing scrap quilting. I always say I’m allergic to big pieces of fabric unless I need a quilt back or enough for borders. I can see I’m going to be looking forward to your episodes.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Sounds like we are kindred spirits! I'll buy bolts of fabric-- especially if they're on sale-- to use for quilt backs or main neutral colors, like blacks and whites. Thanks for watching!

[@jolene41062]

There hasn't been very meant quilting tips that are interesting to me lately. This was very interesting. I'll try it. Thank you.

[@fromsmallthings509]

It can be interesting to be familiar with several different ways to achieve the same end-- sometimes I stick with a method I've been using for 30 years, sometimes I try something new just to play. I hope you enjoy playing with this method.

[@ptoves8181]

Thanks for sharing! You have inspired me to finish and start more quilts! Yikes, you have created a monster.

[@fromsmallthings509]

That's what I like to hear-- keep going!

[@KarenK-r4f]

There are so many hurting people in the south from the storms that would relish some home made quilt love 💙💚💜

[@fromsmallthings509]

Absolutely! I have donated quilts in the past; the things that prohibits me from doing so recently is the cost of shipping. I try to donate through a guild when they collect for natural disasters.

[@bathens4971]

I live in the South, and every quilt shop and guild I know of has sent quilts to NC. My guild alone sent 16 ❤

[@KarenK-r4f]

@ I just want my quilts to go to American citizens. I have been sewing like crazy. We don’t get in touch with the real world from here in nyc. I learned that from my friend in North Carolina. We are in a New York bubble.

[@KarenK-r4f]

@ can I send it to your guild.

[@bathens4971]

@KarenK-r4f I haven't heard of any plans to send more. There's a shop in Cornelia GA called Quilt n Kaboodle that had collected an entire truckload of donations, you could contact them to see if they are making more trips ❤️

[@patoconnell5007]

Thanks for sharing this. I have been afraid to try this but know it is a stronger binding. Thank you !! I will play this you tube step by step when I try it. 🩵

[@fromsmallthings509]

Best of luck! Note: when you are marking your lines, when you flip it over to mark the back, it matters how you flip it. It must be flipped top-to-bottom, not side-to-side, if you know what I mean. It's best if you can search for a diagram, I think there are free diagrams online.

[@gloriastrelow9822]

I love your programs so much like what I do although I sew on the sewing machine

[@fromsmallthings509]

Thank you! I do all my piecing by machine, I just quilt by hand.

[@jeane.2722]

THX

[@kathydeschuiteneer4826]

I most always make bias binding. I am a long time quiltmaker as well. I do save my leftover binding but haven’t done anything with them. I love scrappy quilts and have made scrappy bindings but not from leftovers. I sew strips of fabric together maybe about 4” wide strips but stagger where they start by a couple of inches so I can then cut on the diagonal so I get bias binding. I fold my fabric together for the first fold the same as you but I make additional folds along the fold and keep on folding along the fold. I can then cut my 2” binding strips using a short ruler and then sew the strips together on the angle. I think I get the same results but I find it less complicated than using the instructions on the card. I learned this method back in the 80’s and have used it ever since.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I'd love to see how you do it! As with most things in quilting, there can be many ways to accomplish the same thing. The card can definitely be tricky-- I still check it at some steps after years of using it. But I enjoy the process.

[@beautyritualsbedford]

Thank you for posting these videos , I’m very interested in what/how you do it. I am just getting into collecting and using men’s cotton shirts for quilting. Marika UK

[@fromsmallthings509]

Welcome to my sewing room! I hope you find some beautiful shirts, and turn them into something even more lovely.

[@lyndakling901]

I love scrappy and diagonal stripe bindings..also small polka dots…!

[@fromsmallthings509]

Me too!

[@RoundMtnDryGoods]

Really like your instructions! I only do bias binding, but I've always struggled with it.

[@fromsmallthings509]

I hope this helps it to make sense and go smoother. It's one of those things many people don't enjoy doing, but I actually really like it.

[@leaannebrummett9159]

Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I used to do this but changed after "they" said no need for bias if you aren't binding curves. Now that I know bias is stronger, I'll be using bias binding. You got a great deal on that fabric. I'm pretty sure that is a Lakehouse Drygoods print that is very collectable.

[@fromsmallthings509]

As with everything else, there are multiple ways to get the job done. Do whatever brings you joy! If you try the bias method and just don't like it, there's nothing wrong with straight grain-- they will both wear out eventually.

[@jwestfalldavis3574]

Thanks so much! I have never seen that done before.

[@abiwk04]

I think the 25 on the bias maker is the finished width in mm. 25mm is about an inch.

[@RoundMtnDryGoods]

I also make bias binding because it is spreading the seam stress over all the threads instead of one or two.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Yes! It makes sense that it would be stronger, and so far it's held up well on my older quilts.

[@AvivaHadas]

After spending too much time wondering about how your binding looks different, please show us how you attach it to the quilt, from the beginning. I do the fold in 1/2 method even with bias, you fold both edges to the middle. I can't work out the first side attachment in my brain...

[@fromsmallthings509]

Maybe when I attach another binding in the future I will remember to show that. I know many people use the fold in half method, so that it's a double layer of fabric everywhere. The bias tape maker I use is the first thing I learned with, and I've just stuck with it.

[@charlottecline912]

So if I make 3” binding I would cut that first cut 3”???

[@fromsmallthings509]

Yes. With the method I use, your binding would finish with .75" showing on the front, and .75" showing on the back.

[@lyndakling901]

I like to fold my bindings in half because it gives me a double thickness for the binding rather than having a one layer bit in the middle where you’ve got two pieces meeting, which is only one layer…

[@fromsmallthings509]

That makes sense, I know many people do it that way and I think it's a good idea also. I learned to make binding with my bias tape maker, and have just stuck with it! I'm pretty sure I have had to repair a binding on one of my quilts, but it was used hard and thirty years old. I think that generally it holds up well.

[@annroberson8890]

I’ve done this method but it’s not for me. If I want bias I use a bias ruler. Seems much faster for me and no waste on last strip.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Whatever gets the job done! The method which we enjoy doing is the one worth sticking with.

[@abiwk04]

I think the 25 on the bias maker is the finished width in mm. 25mm is about an inch.

[@fromsmallthings509]

Good to know! I never thought of that. Thank you!