Lynne in Iowa Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Why is it that when binding a quilt I always have one corner that won't fold over correctly? I do them all the same, but one corner always refuses to fold nicely. It almost seems to be backward, but it doesn't work that way either. Wide binding, narrow binding, flip to the front, flip to the back it doesn't matter. I stop a quarter inch from the end, turn up a 45 degree angle and fold back down 90 degrees. All four corners done the same way, three turn out one doesn't. I'm about ready to scream! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Did you make sure your binding didn't have "nostrils"? Saw this reference on line last week, where both the folds(front and back) of the corner are facing the same way. They should go opposite directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Originally posted by Lynne in Iowa .....I stop a quarter inch from the end, turn up a 45 degree angle and fold back down 90 degrees. All four corners done the same way, three turn out one doesn't. I'm about ready to scream! I hear ya, girlfriend. Same thing happens to me sometimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 It happens to me, too, when I least expect it, as everything seemed perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanaFuller Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Me toooooo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Make sure your edges are the same too! All must the folded the same (angle, and size). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Della Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Maybe the corner is not exactly square??? Just a thought.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I have problems with one thick/bunchy corner, usually. I've learned to grade the fabric almost to the seam inside and leave the batting to fill the corner. Still have issues on occasion, tho.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineseams Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I also have had this problem. I deal with it by sewing the corner as you describe, then sewing an inch or so down the next side and stop. Take the quilt out of the machine and turn the corner. If it doesn't turn nicely, you only have a few stitches to rip in order to give it another try, and you usually can figure out why it didn't turn well the first time. For me, the extra time to test each corner before continuing is a good investment - I hate it when I discover a bad corner after the binding is sewn on, and find it way too expensive of time and patience to rip all the way around back to the bad spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 If you sew to within 1/4 inch of the end, then sew off toward the corner at a 45 degree angle, it helps with that problem. If you are not using a quarter inch seam, you need to adjust your stopping distance accordingly. As suggested, take the quilt out of the machine, flip the binding up then down to make your corner, sew a couple of inches, stop, take it out and check. Resume sewing. These bad corners are formed when you don't flip enough fabric up and down, resulting in a rounded corner or flip too much up and down, resulting in an out of square corner. I check every corner before I sew any binding down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathG Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I'm often unhappy with my corners, even after following everything that should be done. What I have found lately for me , is after I turn the corner and fold the binding for the mitre. If I started sewing to close to the beginning of the corner, when the time comes to sew the binding down to the back or hand sew I have to release a couple of stitches to get a nice mitre. I bet that is clear as mud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynne in Iowa Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Well I'm glad it's just not me Next time I'll try testing it right away. Binding is not my favorite part of quilting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 I am part of this party too. Aren't we glad we can all understand our frustrations. I love this place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brake Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 I had this problem as well. Then someone in my quilt guild suggested a YouTube video called Binding the Angel by Sharon Schamber. She has some great tips on attaching the binding and the corners turn out right every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyce Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 I do great binding and can't do a feather no matter how i try. So decided that i needed to be good at something. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscott2611 Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I watch the video by Sharon Schamber --Binding the Angle. And it was full of useful information. I was wondering if anyone here actually uses the glue like she teaches to hold down their binding before attaching it? Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 Check out the Kwik Bind, by Marteli Enterprises I think thats the right name, shall check and change this if I need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewjul Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I have found that when I am hand stitching the binding on the underside, if I make a fold in the corner going in the opposite direction as the fold on the front, the corner lays much nicer/flatter. I also purchased Clover Wonder clips that actually keep the binding in place while hand stitching. Once I get to the corner the binding is laying nice and flat and just waiting to be tacked down. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynne in Iowa Posted April 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Originally posted by Joyce I do great binding and can't do a feather no matter how i try. So decided that i needed to be good at something. LOL I can't do either one. I think my specialty is giant squiggles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anette D. Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Have you tried the "binding thingy"? It's a tool that helps to center and draw an angle (close to 90 degrees) on which you stitch, then trim, and turn. Each of the four binding sides are sewn on separately with a few inches at each end of each side. I use it when teaching the beginning quilting class at the local quilt shop. It's easier AND the seam is sewn shut. It's just a suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliza Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 I have a lot of problems with my corner, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 I used to always end up with a seam from piecing my binding together in one of my corners. I now make sure to take the time and lay the binding out to check first to see if I'm going to hit the corner so I can adjust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BunkHouseQuilts Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 I usually do not hand bind quilts, but the process is the same for hand binding as for machine binding. I put together a tutorial for machine binding a while back that explains the reason for corners that are hard to miter. Here it is if you are interested. http://bunkhousequilts.blogspot.com/2012/03/machine-binding-tutorial.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathG Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 Ann, thank you, your tutorial on the way you do your binding is very good. I have used the method where you start by sewing to the back, but have always done it so the binding folds just back over the stitched line. I will definately try your method. It looked very neat .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisquilter Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 Originally posted by Linda S I used to always end up with a seam from piecing my binding together in one of my corners. I now make sure to take the time and lay the binding out to check first to see if I'm going to hit the corner so I can adjust. Lol this is so timely. I can't seem to win the lottery, but I can have that seam land right in the middle of corner turn. I have a quilt that has 8, yes 8, inside corners on the binding. Oh my word, what was I thinking. I will post pictures after our quilt show next weekend. It will be so much easier to take pictures when they are nicely hung on the frames at the show. Oh, I can't wait to get this show over. Always stressful. This year we are hanging 90 full size quilts where the last show we had 79. I don't know where we are going to put them all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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