Binding a Quilt

Ok - I just finished my first machine quilted quilt and it is in the washer now. All I did was purchase a panel to FMQ on so that if I screwed up bad it at least wouldn't ruin one of my pieced tops. What a learning curve. My question is: when I put the binding on the quilt and hand sewed it, I used Aurifil thread as I wanted to stay with it being 100% cotton. That was a horrible experience. The thread kept knotting and breaking on me. I love it in my machine, but not quilting by hand. I used 40w. So, what thread are you using for sewing the binding on by hand?

you can use any thread. You could also use bees wax or a product called Thread Heaven to condition your thread and help keep it from twisting so much. I tend to take really long pieces of thread when I am binding. Too lazy to keep rethreading I guess, but shorter pieces of thread helps too.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/Too...FbFAMgodwDEAtA

I was also told to use the thread heaven and shorter lengths of thread about 18 inches at a time to keep from twisting

I'm a cheater....I sew mine down by machine!

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Originally Posted by bubba

I'm a cheater....I sew mine down by machine!

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Bubba - me too :D

Maybe a polyester thread would work better? I only use cotton thread for piecing.

I, too sew my binding down by machine. I used to always use a decorative stitch. I now am using a straight stitch and notice that I am getting better with practice.

All my baby quilts, I machine stitch the binding, doing SITD. The last quilt I did the binding by hand was the queen "Freedom Star" quilt... I think I used Metrosene thread for it. There's no rule that says you have to use all cotton. JCY

Thanks for all of the ideas. I never knew there was such a thing as thread conditioner. That's why I love this forum... I learn so much.

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Originally Posted by KerryA

Thanks for all of the ideas. I never knew there was such a thing as thread conditioner. That's why I love this forum... I learn so much.

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Best place on the WWW!! Bar none!

I think jenny has thread heaven in her shop.

I use Thread Heaven and Aurifil thread for hemming bindings. You can also use a heavier weight thread with good results. Connecting Threads sells a good Egyptian cotton thread that comes in all colors and is very reasonably priced. Regardless of what brand thread I use, I always use the Thread Heaven. It prevents the thread from tangling and makes it glide through the fabric.

I cut my binding at 3". Sew to the back using the walking foot. Then change out the foot for the stitch in the ditch foot. Flip the binding over to the front and adjust the needle position slightly to the right of the guide. That way I get a consistent stitch width from the edge of the binding. It's a very narrow seam. The guide really helps with this. And the fact that my binding is wider means that when I stitch it down, it is past the bulk of the binding on the back so it's not sewing through so many layers and the stitch on the back just looks like another line of quilting. I got to where I don't use a decorative stitch just so it will look like another line of quilting on the back. Try it, you might just like it. I know my hands do! And there's nothing wrong with seeing the stitch line - people see our quilting lines.

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Originally Posted by Vonnie

I cut my binding at 3". Sew to the back using the walking foot. Then change out the foot for the stitch in the ditch foot. Flip the binding over to the front and adjust the needle position slightly to the right of the guide. That way I get a consistent stitch width from the edge of the binding. It's a very narrow seam. The guide really helps with this. And the fact that my binding is wider means that when I stitch it down, it is past the bulk of the binding on the back so it's not sewing through so many layers and the stitch on the back just looks like another line of quilting. I got to where I don't use a decorative stitch just so it will look like another line of quilting on the back. Try it, you might just like it. I know my hands do! And there's nothing wrong with seeing the stitch line - people see our quilting lines.

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I use 2 1/2 inch binding but do the same way. The stitch in the ditch foot gives me a nice clean line on the front.

There is a thread called Rice's silimide. I have gotten it from Wawak and have used it for years. It is waxed[?] or treated somehow and hardly ever tangles. It comes in a package in a continuous loop, you make one cut along the bottom and it is easy to pull strands out for the hand sewing. It is just the right length, too. I have 4 neutral colors that seem to work with everything.
I do sometimes also machine bind, I like the serpentine stitch on my machine for children's quilts or anything that will get hard use.

You might want to try Mettler silk finished cotton thread. Does not tangle as easily.