LadyLake Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 I noticed the APQS News yesterday had a good article on judging guidelines for bindings. I was surprised to see that stitches should be only 1/16" apart -- eek! Do any of you have guidelines you use for binding quilts for competition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Hi Joan, Don't use that 1/16 inch suggestion as a "rule"...it was intended to imply that the stitches must be very, very close, and invisible (catch only one or two threads of the folded edge of the binding). That's why many quilters who compete use very fine thread for their binding stitches such as a 60-weight or even silk thread. Ideally that thread should sink in and blend in. The type of stitch can also be important. Some quilters confuse a whip stitch with a blind stitch. The stitch used to close the binding should be a tiny straight stitch that is placed at a right angle to the binding edge. For those who don't understand what I mean, it works like this: Think about bringing up your thread in the fold of the binding fabric, just one or two fabric threads away from the folded edge. Next, go down into the backing fabric right next to that stitch. Travel inside the backing fabric and bring the needle up once again just inside the fold of the binding fabric. This puts the "angled" stitch inside the quilt layers and leaves a very tiny "tacking" stitch holding the binding in place. These should be very close together. Also, pull the stitches snugly but not so tightly that they "dimple" the binding or begin to gather the binding. Food for thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 SSSShhhhhhhh, be very quiet, some people use steam a seam and don't say a word, really. I was shocked to hear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraG Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 and glue, too Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 :P:P Semi-inside info--a certified AQS judge told students in a judging class that bindings are make-or-break for the top contenders at the big shows. If there are two quilts vying for first and both are fabulous/intricate/appliqued/gorgeous/quilted to perfection with thread tension top-notch/straight as an arrow seam lines/hand dyed/embellished/etc.etc.etc.--the judges have to look long and hard for a flaw--any flaw--to determine why one gets blue and one gets red. When all else fails--they look at the binding! Arrrggghh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 I just took a class from a master judge for show quilts - a couple of things on bindings: stitch the corners with well mitered corners corners must!!!! be square batting must fill the binding binding must be even (though not necessarily the same width front and back) stitches must be even and close enough to be durable - 1/16 was not considered the goal - rather close enough for durability along with absolute consistency of stitch length. stitches should be as invisible as possible whether ladder or whip stitch technique. Glue was NOT recommended - we know that Sharon S has won many awards but her method can leave a harshness in the binding until it is washed and the glue dissolved. Steam-a-seam definitely not recommended. The 2 terms that were mentioned repeatedly: invisible (or as much as possible) and consistency. Next term of importance: durability. I think Linda has taken the same class I just took............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanros Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 You ar so wright Meg, I took a CQC Judging class a few years back and they said the same thing for corners and stitching on binding. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Great information; thanks for sharing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted September 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Thank you for clarifying, Dawn, and for the other great bits of judging information you are all sharing -- keep it coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Guess that's why I'm not a "quilt show" contender. I hate binding. I machine stitch my bindings using decorative stitches, LOL :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaLKB Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Binding is not my favorite part of making a quilt either. Most of my charity quilts or quilts for the grandkids have the binding sewn by machine - mostly because they will get heavy duty use and I think the machine stitching holds up better/longer. I do whip down bindings on my 'special' quilts OR sometimes I take them to my Mom who LIKES to whip down binding and she does that part for me. I took a quilt for Show & Tell at our guild meeting last week, but didn't have the binding whipped down. One of our ladies asked if she could take it home and finish the binding !!! She was wanting some hand work to do evenings. I didn't hesitate to say YES. haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 LOL, if I put any of my quilts in a show, I'll be sure to pay for someone to whip down the binding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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