Yes, there are pigs on my backing fabric!
This was a gifted piece complete with pigs in BBQ bibs..so funny! And it was a big enough piece to use it ALL for the backing of this quilt – so I cleared it off the shelf, and have a funny backing that makes me giggle when I see it.
Sometimes backings can be serious, and sometimes they can be light-hearted and whimsical. This makes me smile.
I posted this photo on Facebook last night, with many comments coming in saying I was doing it wrong, that I was binding backwards -
To me, this is the most natural way to bind!
I have the quilt in my lap, backing against me, quilt top up top, just the same way I’d be under the quilt if I were snuggling in for a nap with it.
I am right handed…and I sew right to left. My left hand folds the binding over the edge and holds the binding in place while I sew towards my left hand.
I do NOT pin or clip anything when I bind. There is no need to, my thumb holds that binding over the edge just perfectly.
Give it a try – you might find that YOU have been sewing the wrong way all of your quilting life, and you might find you like this way better.
I once saw a lady come to show and tell with about 100 binding clips all away around the whole edge of her queen sized quilt top --- now THAT is a hassle!
No binding clips or pins required here – just a thumb.
Label on too!
I need to sign my label, not sure what to put on it yet. Pigma pen is in the car ---but at least the label is on here.
This morning I am off for a Cathedral Stars workshop with the Village Quilters of Loudon, TN! There will be more pictures to come of our fun today later on – but for now, I want to send you an enticement!
Details are coming together for our trip to England in August!
We will be enjoying several days in London, then on to beautiful Bath ---and then taking in the sights at Stratford Upon Avon, followed by BIRMINGHAM where we will be spending time at the International Quilt Festival of Birmingham!
I’ve always wanted to go to England – this will be my first trip, wanna join me??
Our intinerary is as follows:
Friday, August 1st
Our adventure begins with an evening flight departing from NEW YORK to LONDON. Dinner will be served on board the plane.
Saturday, August 2nd
This morning before the plane arrives at the London Heathrow Airport; a light breakfast snack will be served. We will pass through customs, collect our luggage and meet our driver and Sew Many Places tour escort, Jim West who will take us on a PANORAMIC TOUR OF LONDON. We will drive past many recognizable sights like the Tower of London, Harrods Department Store, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace,Piccadilly Circus, Temple Station, Notting Hill, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey,Downing Street, the West End, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and more.
There will be time to stop and enjoy lunch on our own before driving to our first class hotel. We will check into our hotel in the middle of the afternoon where we will unpack and relax. Tonight, we will all enjoy a special “welcome dinner,” and have an opportunity to meet our fellow travelers. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.
This morning, following breakfast, we will visit the famous VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM, where we will have an opportunity to view their outstanding collection of patchwork quilts and tapestries. A private curator from the museum will provide an extraordinary tour for our group. The afternoon and evening are free to enjoy at your leisure to enjoy London on your own.
Monday, August 4th Today you have the entire day to enjoy London on your own. You may opt to visit museums, shop in the famous Harrods Department Store or in some of the fabulous shops and markets around the city, or you may even opt to see a show in the West End! Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your day and evening in this fabulous city!
Tuesday, August 5th
Today, following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the bustling city of BATH. Along the way we will see STONEHENGE, the most famous standing-circle stones in the world. There will be a brief stop for photographs and then continue on our way. We will arrive in the town of Bath where we will check into our first class hotel and unpack. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at our hotel and retire for the evening.
Wednesday, August 6th
This morning following a delicious breakfast, we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Following the tour, we will drive to the American Museum, which houses American woven coverlets, Navajo weaving and an extensive array of quilts. There will be time to enjoy a tour of the museum and lunch on our own. The museum also has a lovely little gift shop where you can purchase some unique gifts. We will return to our hotel later in the afternoon and the remainder of the evening is at your leisure.
Thursday, August 7th
Following breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel and drive northeast through the COTSWOLDS, stopping in the village of STOW ON THE WOLD. It is a charming and picturesque little place with great restaurants, shops and a lovely setting. We will continue on our way until we reach the quaint town of STRATFORD UPON AVON, the home to William Shakespeare. We will check-in to our hotel and settle in for the afternoon and evening. Tonight we will all enjoy dinner together at our hotel.
Friday, August 8th
Today you will have time to explore this historic town on your own. For those who might be interested, we are offering an “optional” tour to see the extraordinary Warwick Castle. Once at the castle you will enjoy a tour and time for lunch and shopping before returning to our hotel. (Cost of this “Optional” tour is €48.00. Enjoy your day whatever you decide to do.
Saturday, August 9th
This morning, following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the beautiful city of BIRMINGHAM. Upon our arrival we will check into our first class hotel and settle in for the remainder of the day. This afternoon you may opt to visit the FESTIVAL OF QUILTS exhibition that will be taking place near our hotel.
This morning, following breakfast, we will visit the N.E.C. Exhibition Center and attend the FESTIVAL OF QUILTS. You will have the entire day to explore the largest quilt gala ever staged in the United Kingdom! There’s so much to enjoy, from the competition displays as well as galleries featuring the work of individual artists, along with priceless historic pieces brought together from throughout the world. It is a full day of quilting fun at your leisure. Enjoy your day! Tonight we will all gather for a very special “farewell dinner” as we bring our exciting tour of England to an end.
Monday, August 11th
This morning we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Birmingham Airport where we will board our plane, taking us back to NEW YORK. Lunch will be served on board the plane.
Click HERE to visit my tour page on the Sew Many Places website. I’ve also placed an England 2014 tab at the top of the blog for easy quick reference!
You've enjoyed my photo tours as I have traveled – wouldn't you like to come with me? It’s going to be a grand time!
56 comments:
When in London your must visit Libertys on Regents Street and go to their haberdashery, you will LOVE the building and also the departments. http://www.liberty.co.uk/?gclid=CMLVsYzt1b0CFanjwgodSZoAsQ
I love to see how different people bind! I taught myself so when I see this I just figure I taught myself incorrectly! I bind clockwise (as you look at the back of the quilt. Whereas you bind counter clockwise) my quilt is upsidedown in my lap and I actually bind in an upward motion not side to side! But ya know... it gets the job done and to me it is still the most personal and intimate part of making a quilt! I don't think either is right or wrong...just different!
Am so envious of your trip to England. Enjoyed Ireland so much. But my niece's wedding is that week in NYC. I already see one comment to not miss Libertys but also don't mix John Lewis department store. They have a habadashery (fabric) department where I got lots of quilt weight fabrics last time I was there. Enjoy.
Bonnie,I got my copy of More Adventures yesterday. Now that I have it in my hands, the large photos mean I have even more favorite quilts! I love the close up of the blocks; it's so fun to see the fabrics you used.
The trip sounds wonderful.
Bonnie I bind the very same way only I'm a lefty so go the other direction. Binding is my fav part of quilting. Time to reflect on the journey. I was taught to use straight pines YEARS ago and then clippy things. They were a pain and the former kept sticking me. I got to be a closet binder cause I just folded but hey it works and that's how I do it all the time.
I bind exactly the way that you do, Bonnie! Guess I'm doing it wrong, too??
That's how I bind too. No clips to get my thread tangled in. Don't remember where I learned it. Maybe in garment construction in home ec.
I've been quilting since the late 60's and that is exactly how I bind my quilts. They win awards, they get well used and hold up fine. I've worked with others in finishing bindings and sometime have to stitch in the other direction and it is a hassle. I guess the quilt police need to realize there really is no right or wrong, just different.
I bind the opposite way, my daughter the way you do it. It's what ever is comfortable for the sewer. To each his own. We both don't do binder clips and we both don't pin when sewing. lol
Oh wow! It does my heart good to see someone else sew binding the way I do. Every single time I start binding in front of someone else I hear "you are doing that backwards". I've sewn this way for 50 years and I can zip along very fast. No clips, no pins, just my thumb. I had a lady get up and come from across the room to look at my binding because she was convinced my stitches were terrible I sewed so fast. Her response, "oh my, I can't see your stitches at all". I am so glad my grandmother taught me to sew this way. I am by the way right handed.
I bind the way you do, Bonnie. I'm having problems visualizing going the other way.
I don't think it's backwards, it's just not the way I do it. :) I sew with the front of the quilt in my lap and the like you, use my left hand to fold as I go. I almost never pin. I get too tangle up and it takes way too much time. The piggies made me smile!
I bind exactly the same way as you Bonnie - not sure whether or not I was "taught" to bind that way. It just seems like the most natural way to do it. No clips on my quilts either.
I have tried to do binding your way but I find it awkward. I do the same thing though, no pins or clips but I have the front of the quilt toward me and stitch from right to left and I am right handed. Guess it doesn't matter how you do it, just do it and get it finished!!
I also do it that way except I am left-handed and move in the opposite direction but no pins, clips, etc. Been doing it that way for 25 years, see no need to stop now! lol
So glad to see you bind this way! This is the way I do it too. No clips needed :-)
I'm doing it wrong too, but always get compliments on my binding at shows. Call the quilt police now...
Hugs from Texas! Vanya
I'm right handed and this is how I sew binding too...to the left. I tried going to the right and it felt awkward. The trip to England looks wonderful...maybe someday I'll make it to the homeland of my ancestors.
I bind the same way you do. I have a friend that tells me I'm doing it wrong. I've told her that it may be wrong for her, but, it's right for me. So glad that there are so many different ways to do each thing.
Good grief ! I wonder how many awards the quilters who think you do it wrong have won? Some people just have to find something to validate their own preferences. I'm a firm believer in "do it the way it works for you". The "rule" about sewing the mitered corner closed falls in this same category !
I use 4 clips and hopscotch or leap frog those clips as I stitch...from the right to left. My poor left thumb get so stiff and sore if I hold the binding down too tightly and the clips are so much better than pins.
I bind the same way you do! Never thought to do it any different.
I can't imagine any other way to sew a binding as a right-hander.
Seriously, someone said you're doing it backwards?? LOL! Do they have a Quilt Police badge too? I sew mine on like that, and I sometimes use one or two clips to help hold because I have arthritis.
Well, if you can't put on a binding "right", I guess you'll never amount to anything as a quilter, Bonnie. You'll never have books, or teach classes, or do tours, or quiltcams... hmmm, you're already doing those things? well, surprise surprise, as Gomer used to say!
If you are doing it wrong, you have a lot of company! I bind right to left, but with the bulk of the quilt away from me. I had a Home-Ec teacher tell me I hemmed backwards, but I never understood what she was talking about. It got the job done and to me that is all that matters.
Bonnie, My Mother and I bind in opposite directions. I think it is what ever is comfortable for the person sewing. I am not comfortable doing it her way and she is not comfortable doing it my way so we just continue doing it our way. As you always say, "The quilt police will not come and get us."
I went to Great Britain for 3 weeks in the mid 80's and we did all of your trip except the quilt show in Birmingham. But we did visit quilt groups and enloyed so many womderful sights. You will have a wonderful trip!
Along the lines of the V&A museum is the Quilt Pattern Generator. Upload a photo and it will create a pattern for you to use. It would be a great way to use up all your scraps! The V&A museum also has great inspiration under the textiles section with fabrics, history of quilt-making in Britain and many others.
When I saw the pic of you binding, my first thought was "what's wrong with that?" I do it the EXACT same way (except that I am left handed!!) Love the pigs on the back. Just think, when someone will be all snuggled under it, they will be dreaming of BBQ!!!
I see nothing wrong with the way you are binding your quilt! It is the way I have always done it and it just "comes natural" to do it that way. I received my book last week! Thank ypu sew much. I love it!!
I bind exactly like you do! Never saw the need for so many clips, and hated using pins because they were always sticking me.
Oh dear, Quilt police at it again. Honestly does it matter? The quilt gets bound, and given to its new owner to be loved, used, and ooohhhhed and aaaahhhhhed over. As far as I'm concerned if its finished then its been done right dosnt matter HOW its been done.
Funny, that's how I have always done my binding. You will love England. My husband and I went for our honeymoon- 30 years ago. We spent three weeks traveling on a college student budget. It was wonderful. We have been back several times. So much fun.
That is how I do my binding. Just cause it is different, doesn't mean it's wrong.
While I am not a quilt maker, yet, I do use a lot of quilting designs and techniques for my sewing and designing. Being a wilted flower child I still love the long cotton dresses, still wear them all the time, but have to make them as they are very rarely available in the stores. I often incorporate quilt blocks in my designs as they make them very unique. My current project is reducing the 12" Twisting Star block to a 6" block then piecing it into a long ribbon that will wind its way from neckline to hem of long gathered tiers.
I apply binding exactly the way you do as I find it gives me an invisible finished edge with no puckers or gathers. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my finished garments and items and the hand finishing is the only way for me to achieve that.
My sewing machine is an antique Singer 99K that was a gift over 45 years ago. His name is George as I feel that anything that old that still works so well needs a name. Since he only sews forward all of my seams are either a French or flat felled seam, unless it is a completely lined area, like the bodice or cuffs. Not only does it give such a nice finish but the pressing is so much easier after washing and the garments hang so much nicer and maintain their shape well. The extra time and care taken in the construction are so worth it. Why spend 50 to 200 hours on a project and not take the extra few hours to make sure its as perfect as you can make?
I must be doing it wrong too then because I bind exactly the way you do, having said that is there really a wrong or right way, I thought it would be however you are comfortable with.
I'm fairly new to quilting so am still learning.
Baukje
I guess there are LOTS of us doing our bindings wrong. LOL. There is no wrong or right way, there is what works for each person. I too bind like you, Bonnie. I can sew a binding down a lot quicker than my friends that insist on pinning and/or clipping all around. Just more wasted motions and time. Keep on doing things just the way you are. We love you!!! Ignore the "quilt police". In these modern times, their days are numbered, and frankly perhaps a little frightened they're losing their hold on us. Listen to your own drummer!
I bind the same as you, Bonnie. I am right handed and I learned from watching my grandmother and then in Home Ec.
I bind the same "wrong" way you do Bonnie...LOL!! Oh bother...some people... and as for the hundred clips...no thank you...my thumb works great too. I'm learning my ways aren't so wrong after all...LOL! Whew! am I relieved...(eyes rolling!)
Love that just finished quilt feeling!! Yay for you!!
I didn't even know I was supposed to pin binding. I taught myself and just did what felt comfortable.
I bind the exact way you do, and always have. I can't even picture doing it any different I never even knew there was a right or wrong way to bind :)
I bind the same way you do Bonnie so I guess I'm doing it wrong! I do use a few clips as my left thumb gets sore and tight due to arthritis. I have been asked to bind quilts for other people so it must look okay, lol!
I do pin my bindings down partially, not all the way at once. But I do sew right to left. Can't imagine another way. We lived in England for 3 years with the USAF in the 70's. Absolutely loved it and been to most of the places you are going to. Would love to go to the quilt festival though. Hubby and I are both ready to go back for another visit. Enjoy!
i'm confused--i bind the way you do it (though these days i use the sewing machine to completely bind it--so much faster!) and didn't know there was another way. i also didn't understand the need for pinning the binding or clipping it until someone else kindly explained that to me. oh well, whatever works, works. quilt and let quilt.
I bind the way you do and people were telling me I was doing it wrong!! It worked for me and I'm glad it works for you too!!! Your England trip is kinda like my England trip last August! I went with 4 of my quilting buddies from Florida (Brandon Piecemakers)and we got to spend 10 days with a pair of quilting friends out in the countryside and they took us to the Birmingham International Quilt Show - AMAZING!!! We also got to spend a week in London and just had the most amazing time. Y'all will have a BLAST!!!
I also bind exactly how you do so I don't know what is "wrong" about it, unless you are left handed perhaps. I usually have the next 6" or so pinned but will try your way with no pins next time. Sounds good.
I do it "wrong" too. I've always gone right to left. That is why we have thumbs! Love the quilt!
That's the way I bind my quilts to. It feels awkward any other way to me.
I also bind the way you do. Tried a few different way but this is the way that works best for me. I don't pin either. I actually like sewing the binding down by hand, I find it relaxing. thanks for all you do for the quilting community.
I think you are going to be at the Festival of Quilts on the same day as I am - we usually go on the Sunday. Will you be arranging to meet any of your British fans while you are there? I suggested to the Quilter's Guild that they invite you to teach there sometime. I'd love to do one of your classes
I guess then I'm REALLY doing it wrong. I do it all by machine. I can't hand sew for very long due to tendonitis. And machining it is so much easier & faster. No pins or clips either. As many have said, do it whatever way works for you!
Wish I could go to England with you! Enjoy!
Hi Bonnie! I bind my quilts as you do Bonnie, and suggest to new quilters this way for the same reasons as you!
Thanks for all you do, take care, Leslie
I once quilted that way, but now find that my arthritic hands need a little help from the clips --but I only use about 15 clips. Putting down the needle to clip the next section, rests my thumb and fingers so I can work for a longer period of time. It works for this phase of my quilt life.
The photos of your England trip look great. I'm looking forward to your report.
I hold my quilts the same way to do binding. I agree, it's the most natural position. It always looks awkward to me to see people holding the quilt with the backing up to do the binding.
I bind that way too. I thought everyone did it that way.
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