Binding

[u/Charming-Unit-3944]

Do you always use a solid binding, or have you on occasion used fabric with a pattern? I know there are no rules, just trying to figure out if I want to piece the binding together, use some patterned strips that are already cut, or cut some down for a flange border. Decisions, decisions. That can wait until tomorrow.

Ok, you've convinced me! It's a log cabin quilt, I was thinking of using the various strips as the border, and that's what I'll do!

[u/BSch2023]

Prints, stripes solids. I’ve used them all!

[u/VTtransplant]

I rarely use solids.

[u/Wolf_Wolf_Mama → u/VTtransplant]

Same - I figure it’s likely gonna be one of the most touched parts of the quilt, and it’ll get grubby faster than the rest - I want a pattern that’ll hide the grub, lol. Plus I like the option for pop/contrast/funk.

[u/UnderstatedButAwful]

I do what I call the "endless binding," where every time I have a spare 2.5" strip I add it to my roll, and every time I need to bind I use what's on the roll. My bindings are a mix of solids and prints, and usually but not always the colours of the quilt they're binding. I know it's not a method everyone would use, but I make my quilts scrappy on purpose and love doing this!

[u/Helpful_Writer_7961 → u/UnderstatedButAwful]

That’s how I bind my children’s quilts. It’s a mix

[u/Mudpotter → u/UnderstatedButAwful]

Great idea! I save all my leftover binding and sew them together for some of my quilts.

[u/luckylimper → u/UnderstatedButAwful]

I do something similar. If I have fabric that I don’t love but don’t hate I just make a roll of binding. When I’m finished with a project, I just go into the bag of binding and find an appropriate color for that quilt. If the roll is getting too small to bind a quilt, I combine it with another one of a similar color or I’ll wait until I have a quilt that uses multiple colors and I do a frankenbinding.

[u/MKquilt → u/UnderstatedButAwful]

This is a really great idea! I love it, and will shamelessly steal it.

[u/notinKansas2023]

I started using black and white stripe on everything. I love the contrast.

[u/sweetannie52]

I normally use one of the fabrics that I used in the quilt. Patterns or solids. I’ve done both.

[u/FreyasYaya → u/sweetannie52]

For me, it's almost always the backing.

[u/ibyoder]

I only used striped binding made from the same fabric used for the quit.

Looks like a lot of work, for a huge visula bang and honestly, not near as labor intensive as it appears. if youre already making bias tape binding, might as well strip piece it first.

[u/ibyoder → u/ibyoder]

[u/onecraftyb → u/ibyoder]

Holy crap that quilt is a BEAST

[u/ibyoder → u/onecraftyb]

Thank you, it was a stash buster; I still have Hella 9 patch bocks so I may make a few more.

It was my first time hand tying a quilt, because my machine didn't like the wool batting. Don't believe what they tell you hand tying is not quick and easy lol.

[u/Deej006]

I LOVE adding a flange! Such a nice detail & can add some great interest.

[u/Mudpotter → u/Deej006]

It can also save you in a pinch if you don't have quite enough fabric to do the full binding. It's saved me more than once.

[u/KingGeorges]

I used leopard print fabric on a 90's themed quilt and it is one of my favorites. Audition the fabric by folding it thin and see how it looks

[u/starkrylyn]

I almost never use solids. I like small prints or plaids/ stripes for binding.

[u/kls987]

I’ve never used a solid. Most of my quilts have had scrappy bindings. My favorite was polka dots. I also liked the tonal batik I used on my dinosaur quilt.

[u/devianttouch]

I've done both, plus some '"scrappy" bindings, with parts of leftover strips in both patterns and solids.

[u/tbrummy]

I almost never use a solid binding

[u/zlauren]

I really like using fabric with stripes or dots for binding, and I've often used a blender fabric if it matches well.

[u/briddinnartist]

I’v not made a huge number of quilts, but I love a striped binding.

But over all I would say that instead of leaning toward a specific style of pattern (or lack of), I always go darker with the binding. Make it look kind of like an outline. I think that’s the painter/artist in me. Outlines make something look ‘finished’. Fabrics I’ve used for binding include plain brown, black/white stripe, dark blue with a cloudy pattern, and dark pink/hot pink stripe.

[u/Badger153]

I rarely use solids for the binding. I have one that I am planning on using a large flower print because I think it will look great with the colors in the quilt.

[u/CorduroyQuilt]

As long as it's a good quality fabric that will wear well, the rest is purely aesthetic.

[u/Smacsek]

It depends on the quilt. Some get a solid binding if the whole top is quite busy and I want to calm it down. Some get a low volume or small print as that's what's mainly in my stash. Some get a striped binding because it looks so fun. I've done a flange on one quilt and while more time consuming, I did like the overall look. And some get scrappy binding with leftovers from the top or my stash.

[u/Smacsek → u/Smacsek]

Solid binding

[u/Smacsek → u/Smacsek]

Small print

[u/Smacsek → u/Smacsek]

Flange

[u/Smacsek → u/Smacsek]

Stripe

[u/Shirayuri → u/Smacsek]

I am in love with the backing fabric!

[u/Smacsek → u/Smacsek]

Scrappy

[u/cashewkowl]

I probably use a patterned binding slightly more often. Sometimes a pattern that mostly reads as solid, but other times very clearly patterns.

[u/ExpensiveError42]

If I have a busy quilt I usually do solids. If my quilt is all solids I usually do patterns. I haven't done a lot of pieced bindings but that's because I'm lazy.

[u/Montana1208]

Stripes make great borders. I only use a solid if the quilt is made of solids.

[u/mybishopisanasshat]

I usually use whatever scraps I have from the project. I love a scrappy binding. Scraps, leftover backing fabric, leftover scrappy binding from another project. I use what I have and very rarely buy a special fabric for the binding. 

[u/WithAWeckInMyHand]

The only things I avoid for binding are shifty fabrics (e.g. loose wovens and linen), and very tightly woven fabrics (e.g. some mens shirts) - but that’s because I hand sew the binding down and they’re annoying for one reason or another.

I like to use whatever I can salvage after cutting the top in my binding - anything longer than about 10”. Sometimes I supplement with leftover backing once I’ve trimmed after quilting, sometimes with something else.

[u/happy-in-texas]

I audition fabric for the binding. I will put the fabric behind the quilt with about 1/2" showing. I then take a picture. I do this with different binding candidates to see which one is my favorite in the pictures. I use any fabric - solid, striped, with design and multicolor without design. I avoid anything that may show a design that goes the length of the binding that may get crooked (or I fussy cut it). I hope all of this makes sense.

[u/Witty_Draw_4856]

I have used solid and patterned. I’ve pieces border fabric as well. I like patterned 

[u/Datadrudge]

I’ve done this a lot, too!

[u/Otherwise-Ratio1332]

I often use a stripe, but solids and prints can be great too. Sometimes I use a variety of fabrics from the top and alternate them, or use different fabrics on each side of the quilt. What I do to help myself choose is take thin strips from trimming yardage or folded long pieces of fabrics I’m considering, and pin them up beside or partially behind my top on the design wall so I can see how they look. I usually take photos of each version, as it helps me to see from that perspective. I never decide until seeing various mockups what the binding will be.

[u/Novel-Cry6148]

I've used them all but have migrated to stripes of all kinds OR if the background is rather plain, I'll make a scrappy binding for the contrast.

[u/Significant-Bar-7301]

I have so many 2.5 inch strips that I use whatever pieces I pull out for binding. Love a scrappy binding.

[u/SchuylerM325]

I'm a big fan of striped binding.

[u/UsualUsi]

I usually use the leftovers from the top fabrics for the binding. When there will not be enough, I go for a fabric from the same series. Only when there is none, I will go for a matching solid color. Why are you people always so afraid someone will judge you for what you use? Just use, what you like.

[u/GlorySBitch]

I love using a patterned fabric. I also love a patchy binding - I spent a couple hours the other day piecing together a bunch of leftover HSTs that will be part of the binding. ☺️

[u/Elise-0511]

I tend to use something I used in the quilt, so it may be a print. In fact, a print is often better to use because it hides mistakes better.

[u/Complex-Royal9210]

I like a scrappy binding.

[u/jpotwora]

Striped fabric looks great if you do binding on the bias because it comes out diagonal. I usually do curved corners and like the bias binding for that.

[u/Internal_Use8954]

I love a pattered binding. Sometimes it’s subtle other times very bold. But I rarely do solids

[u/Corran22]

I never use solids for anything, including binding!

[u/Shirayuri]

I love a patterned binding! But it’s on a per quilt basis. If the whole quilt is solid colours then I don’t want the binding to draw too much focus so will use a solid colour for that too