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When you make a scrappy binding...

16 years ago

When you make a scrappy binding, as you hand finish, do you change thread colors to match the current color of the binding? Or are your stitches so small, it doesn't matter what color thread you use? I tend to change colors, even though my stitches are small. I'm just that much of a perfectionist, at least when it comes to bindings.

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Comments (6)

msmeow
16 years ago
Nah, I just pick a color and go with it! :)

Donna
sandra_ferguson
16 years ago
I use a neutral color...the hue is more important than the color..... and my hand stitches are small enough that they don't show.
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I make all my own bindings. Some are fairly wide, but I bought a little binding making cone from JoAnn's and they come in various bias binding widths. The one inch width makes an half inch bias binding when folded over and it is sooooooooooooooo easy. I love it and only wished I had done it sooner. I cut one and a half inch strips to feed through it, and it really doesn't take a whole lot of material to finish off a quilt that way. Sure you can use multiple materials. Why not? If you do and have never sewn bindings that way, and want a narrower binding, as opposed to one what looks almost like a block then when you sew the various lengths together, do it like you would when making bias tape, IOW put the new piece perpendicular to the old piece and sew across the two pieces on a diagonal. It makes for a lot less bulk and a more professional and inconspicuous finish. You can find instructions on many sewing sites on the web.
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I usually either use one of the fabrics in the quilt, or often, I choose a plaid or striped material, trying to choose one that comes close to some of the colors in the quilt. I really like the look of a binding made of plaid (such as homespun), it makes a nice binding. I have made bindings the same color as the borders so that it blends in and also a different color - it depends on the quilt. I have seen scrappy quilts with scrappy borders and they look great. I make mine pretty minimal in size anyway, I always use 2 1/2 inch strips that are then double-folded.
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biwako_of_abi
16 years ago
Very often I stitch a plain binding to the back on my machine and then machine stitch it down on the front, but I would finish by hand on the back for a scrappy binding, so this is an interesting question. I just use any color thread I think generally goes with the scraps in the binding. I don't do anything special other than making the stitches small and even. If they show, they show!
jennifer_in_va
16 years ago
If it were me (I don't really do scrappy) then I'd pick a color that matches the backing fabric. That's the same all around and then wouldn't feel like I had to change to match the binding... (My stitches aren't that small that they'd totally hide themselves!) LOL
crafteedee
16 years ago
Just something neutral or that matches the binding. I don't like threading needles...so I just cut a long piece of thread & go!

If someone starts to inspect my quilt (or me for that matter!) for non matching thread..they've got too much time on their hands. :)
grammyp
16 years ago
I usually use the same color thread I used to quilt with, that way if it shows it sort of blends in.

beverly

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