The Pressure's On

OK the pressure's on. I have a friend staying the night on Saturday, so I thought I'll use it as motivation to finish the quilt so she can have it on her bed. As there is no quilt or blanket in the house that isn't covered in dog hair (I think there is a dog hair dispenser in the washing machine), I thought this would be the way to go. Thanks for the comments on my binding post. Normally I just slap the binding on too, but I do it in the knowledge that my borders have taken out any extra fullness from the sides of the actual quilt.

I did a bit of a measure, and yes the sides of my top are a bit longer than the centre measurement, but at this stage I can't worry too much, so I did as suggested and pulled the binding taught as I sewed it on. That will have to do.

For the back I used a large piece of brown quilt fabric that I've had for ages, bought very cheaply off ebay for just this purpose. It is Thimbleberries, which isn't really something I ever buy, but it is non-descript and I have heaps left over, so I used it for the binding as well. The photo is a bit dark as I didn't use the flash, but you may be able to see it where I turned it up at the bottom. All the threads were sewn in last night, so all I have to do now is hand sew the binding down. I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches too Lily - don't ask why - "I've always done it that way".

As for the Polydown, I found it easy to work with as it is so light. I've not used it before, and I believe it is very popular for handquilting. Normally I use cotton or wool batting, but I do use poly for kids quilts that I think will get washed to death, but I've always used a denser more needled poly bat. This stuff I used has a little bit of loft which is nice, and it is light. It should dry quickly too.

Anyway, onto other things. I found a geocache today that has the most fantastic container that I had to take a photo. It is an Australian geocache, which just means that it is listed on the Aussie site, not the American site. On our caches we have some different categories, one of them being movable caches.

This one is called Trail of Death, and it is a movable cache that has to be moved from cemetery to cemetery, and placed near an interesting/famous gravesite. You then give a bit of a blurb on your log entry, so it ends up as a bit of a history lesson.

I went to look for it today, and as you can imagine the container has a sort of theme to it, so I knew I'd be looking for something that didn't look out of place. I thought maybe a fake flower, but after looking and looking, I saw a piece of stone that looked like it had fallen off a headstone, and I turned it over and 'voila!' How cool is that? I just wish I had my camera when I found it, as it looked just like it had been there for years. So I picked up this big piece of stone and I have brought it home. The other cool thing is that the log book isn't paper, it is a flash drive that you add your log to. What a great idea.

When I hide it tomorrow I'll take a photo to show it in its natural environment. Don't some people have great ideas?

The travel bugs are moving too. Mine is getting closer to Holly, and hers is on its way to Hawaii. Not far now.

Best dash off and do a bit of last minute cleaning and hang out the washing. Then I'll watch some TV and sew down the binding. I suppose Birgit wouldn't mind sleeping under it with a bit of the binding flapping, do you think?

Binding

Warning: photo heavy post

Thanks for all the comments on the thread that you prefer. It seems that Aurofil is the clear winner. I have finished Mum's Scarf, and Daniel's quilt, and today is Birthday Lunch day. They both share the same birthday. Daniel will be 8 and Mum 73. I am pleased to have his quilt finished as I'm a bit sick of thinking about it, and no doubt you are all sick of hearing about it. I did block the scarf and I'm glad I did now. I pinned it onto a towel on the ironing board, then of course couldn't find the spray bottle, so I had a brainwave and used the water spray function on the iron while holding it well above the scarf. It really does look so much nicer - blocking has always been one of those things that doesn't fit into my philosophy, like swatch knitting, but I really do agree now that they are worth doing. I must be getting old! Next thing I'll be reading the instructions before I start LOL.

I am amazed at how many questions I have had about binding, both in the comments and privately. It seems a lot of people have problems/questions. Having just done 3 bindings in as many weeks, I too have been thinking about what works and what doesn't.

I'll write down a few of my observations in case they are of any help to someone, and I will no doubt learn something from your comments:

First, I have a bad attitude toward binding, and borders, as they are not very 'sexy' parts of patchwork. I always look on it as a boring chore, but I have been telling myself this week that Binding = FINISHED, and that has helped.

I have discovered that the type of batting makes a difference to how well it all goes together. When making a quilt for myself I always use a cotton or wool, and when making for a child or someone who may just toss it in the washing machine (not really worthy of a quilt, but it happens), I always use polyester. The one I have used this week has been what looks like a needled poly - it is quite smooth and dense on the surface - and it has been so much easier to deal with. The fabric just sticks to it.

I tend to make the back too small, and I suffer for it. It might 'just fit', but I really think that I have more problems with a wobbly or puckered edge if it is not at least 6 - 8 inches too big all the way around. After I have finished quilting I trim the batting and fabric down to about 2 inches all the way around, then trim again before hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt. When the back and the batting are cut together, they seem to stay together better, giving less chance of the back getting caught up underneath when sewing on the binding.

When making a pieced back, make an effort to make sure it is very flat while putting it together. Once I can smell a finish, I'm not going back to fix the wobbly back!

I was taught to cut my binding 2 1/2 wide, but I'm wondering a bit about that now. Perhaps next time I'll make it a bit wider as there hasn't been enough binding showing on the front in my opinion.

I cut the strips as above, do my best guestimate on how much I'll need - others would measure it - sew the strips together, iron the seams open, then I iron the whole strip in half with the right side on the outside. Not right sides together. I also try and remember to turn over one end and sew it for when I get to the end.

I put the raw edge of the binding up against the raw edge of the quilt top, and sew using about a 1/4 inch seam. I use the edge of my foot as a guide.

I always use the walking foot, and I don't bother to pin it, just keep matching it up as I go, feeling underneath every now and then to make sure the back is not getting caught up anywhere.


When I get to a corner, I stop sewing 1/4 inch from the edge, then turn the quilt 90 deg and sew in reverse up away from the quilt into the batting for about 1 1/2 inches. Then I fold the binding so that it is folded in a 90 deg angle, then fold the rest of the binding over the top and towards me to line up with the next raw edge. See photos.


Then when I get to the end I slip the raw end inside the sewn end, and sew the last bit.

Then I trim the batting to about 1/2 inch before hand sewing the back. I have tried to sew it by machine, but it always looks terrible as I can't keep it in the ditch. In fact I don't ever sew in the ditch anymore.


Then I just turn it over and sew just below the line of stitching that is visible on the back. When I come to the corners I just fold and sew - I don't bother to pin, pins are for photographic purposes only.

So that's how I do it, but I'm sure there are other good ways - any other improvements or suggestions?

Better get my act together and wrap the presents and make a dash for the ferry. I must also remember the tape measure so I can measure Daniel's arms for the jumper I am making for him. I have a childhood of memories of being measured by Nana in all sorts of places for jumpers that I didn't ever really want, so no doubt Daniel will be talking about me that way on his blog in 20 years time.

Nearly...

How typical is that? My best guestimate was close, but not quite close enough. But then I won't complain, because on the other 2 quilts I have bound recently, I guessed correctly.

It feels so good to be finishing up some stuff. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with the 2 Bricks and Stepping Stones quilts - all I need to do now is the hand sewing, and as it is Daniel's birthday this week, I might just get it finished. I have been very good and haven't started the ZigZag quilt, and I have finished the knitting on Mum's scarf (her birthday is the same day as Daniel's). I just have to do something with the ends, and I don't really think it needs blocking, which is good.

I have been meaning to ask for some time about thread for piecing and general sewing. I see the ads for Essential Thread all the time, and wanted to get the opinion of American quilters. Do any of you use it, or do you have any opinions about it? I have been tempted to order it when I order fabric as they sell it in packs of useful colours, but haven't been game. Is it a good quality thread? Any other recommendations? Thanks.

Addit: the joke's on me, as I have just been to Connecting Threads for a closer look and they don't ship Internationally. Any other suggestions for thread?