Bind Quilts by Machine

By Dena Dale Crain

Bind Quilts by Machine is a patchwork quilter's dream come true! There is no more reason or need to finish patchwork quilts with hand sewing. Modern technology, methods and standards now permit quilt bindings to go on quickly and easily, entirely sewn by machine. Teaching three primary methods for binding quilts entirely by machine, Bind Quilts by Machine even conquers double-fold binding!

Bind Quilts by Machine begins by introducing a new method for stacking and squaring a quilt, one based on extensive experience that results in a squared quilt before quilting! Readers are encouraged to try this method for themselves to see how they can avoid trimming as a squaring device, often with loss of important quilt top patchwork.

Then, instructions for Fuss-Free Binding, Seamless Binding and Double-Fold Binding ensure that you never again have to hand-sew a quilt binding!

---Fuss-Free Binding, a single-fold binding method, goes on in a snap, with no pinning required, beautifully mitered corners, and an easy-to-sew final closure indistinguishable from all other joins.

---Seamless Binding buries all binding join seam lines in the mitered corners. It, too, goes on quickly and easily once you know how to do it.

---Double-Fold Binding by machine gives every quilter the option to apply thick and lovely double-fold bindings—entirely by machine!

These three core quilt binding methods are made even more appealing with the application of Perfect Piping. Whether added as solid contrasting color or multicolored strips, Perfect Piping gives a gorgeous accent to any quilt binding, border—even patchwork! Learn its simple secrets from Bind Quilts by Machine.

Finally, explore four other ways to finish the edges of patchwork quilts by machine—mock binding, bagging, facing and raw edge treatments. These methods, plus the three primary machine binding techniques, give any patchwork quilter a full repertoire of methods to make finishing patchwork quilts as quick and easy as making them!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dena Dale Crain
• Release date: Jul 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311839237

Dena Dale Crain

Dena Dale Crain relocated from the USA to Kenya in 1990, then returned to the USA in 2023. She spent most of her time in Kenya, living on the shore of Lake Baringo, two hundred miles and a five-hour drive north of Nairobi, with her partner Jonathan Leakey.Dena saw patchwork quilting as a way to employ local women, taught herself the basics, and began a small production quilting business in her home. With advanced degrees in design, anthropology, and textiles, she was uniquely positioned to help. As her experience and confidence increased, she began producing “one-off” works of art. Dena’s innovative art quilts were the subject of several solo art exhibitions and group quilt shows in Africa.Dena helped found the Kenya Quilt Guild and keeps a pulse on its activities. She helps educate members of the society at large about quilts as art. She has written magazine articles and lectured at quilting and non-quilting functions.Teaching in Cape Town, South Africa, for the Good Hope Quilters Guild National Quilt Festival in July 2002 moved Dena into the ranks of international quilting teachers. Since then, she taught art quilting at such prestigious venues as the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England; the European Patchwork Meeting in Val d'Argent, France; and the International Quilt Festivals in Houston and Chicago in the USA. In 2011, she earned South Africa National Quilt Guild Certification. In 2018 she became a Recommended Teacher for the same guild.In 2004 Dena joined the faculty of Quilt University, the first major online educational facility for patchwork quilters, later teaching for QuiltEd Online and the Academy of Quilting. An inventive and creative mind coupled with top-notch sewing skills makes Dena Dale Crain an educator of high merit in the world of patchwork quilting.Find links to Dena's patchwork quilt ebooks, live and virtual quilt classes, original pattern downloads, and more on her website.

Book preview

Bind Quilts by Machine

by

Dena Dale Crain

Copyright

Smashwords Edition

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please buy an additional copy for each reader. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use Agreement

The information contained in this ebook is solely the opinion of the author based on personal observations and experience. The material contained is for information and reference purposes only and is not intended as medical, legal, health, safety, or other professional advice. Please consult with a qualified professional to obtain official advice you may require.

The author does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or usefulness of any information contained in this resource book and shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, in any way, for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of, or because of the use of, or reliance on, any such content.

Information contained in this resource book is subject to change without notice. The author, and publisher, assumes absolutely no liability whatsoever for the use of or inability to use any or all information contained in this publication. Use this information at your own risk. If you wish to apply ideas contained in this ebook, you accept full responsibility for your actions.

This ebook contains links to World Wide Web sites and products. While providing these links, the author does not guarantee, approve, or endorse the information available at these linked Web sites.

The author and publisher reserve the right to add to or to change the Disclaimer statement at any time.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Testimonials

Chapter 1: Quilt Edge Finishes

------What is a Quilt Binding?

------Kinds of Quilt Bindings

------Other Edge Finishes

------General Advice

------When to Bind a Quilt

Chapter 2: Stack to the Back

------Straighten the Fabric

------Draw and Sew

------Stack and Secure Layers

------Binding Line

Chapter 3: Binding Preparation

------Binding Width

------Binding Length

------Binding Direction

------Area of Binding

Chapter 4: Perfect Piping

------Piping

------Color

------Make Piping

Chapter 5: Fuss-Free Single-Fold Quilt Binding by Machine

------Sew Binding to Quilt Back

------Tails

------Mitered Corners

------Final Seams

------Close Binding

------Corner Finishes

Chapter 6: Seamless Quilt Binding

------Prepare Binding

------Draft Mitered Corners

------Sew Mitered Corners

------Attach Binding

------Close Binding

Chapter 7: Double-Fold Quilt Binding by Machine

------Binding Preparation

------The Plan

------Attach Binding

------Measure Visible Binding

------Sew Binding to Quilt Back

------Miter Corners

------Close Binding

Chapter 8: Other Edge Finishes

------Mock Bindings

------Bagging

------Facing

------Raw Edge Finishes

About the Author

Other Books

Online Quilt Classes

Patchwork Quilt Patterns

Feedback

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Bind Quilts by Machine is intended to help patchwork quilters for whom speed and time management are important. Many quilters greatly enjoy quiet time spent sewing by hand, time without pressure or stress when the mind can roam freely even as the fingers work. If you are one of the latter, this ebook can still help you. Simply reverse the binding application methods so the first seam attaches the binding to the face of the quilt rather than to its back. Form mitered corners as described, and then close the binding with hand stitching.

Preface

Bind Quilts by Machine originated in 2003. The topic was part of an online class I hoped to teach for Carol Miller on Quilt University. When she received my completely written and fully illustrated online class, Carol emailed back a terse message, This is definitely NOT what I want!

I was chagrined but undaunted. I stepped back, did some homework, and wrote and illustrated a second class, Structured Fabrics: Stripes, Checks and Plaids. Carol was delighted with it, and practically overnight I became an online quilt teacher.

Through the many years and online classes that followed, I continued to develop and use quilt construction methods that broke the rules. As an art quilter, I was happy to employ any method that granted me more time to design. Among the techniques I developed was a single-fold binding that required no hand sewing.

Later, I considered whether a binding with its seams buried in the mitered corners was possible. It was, so I published a free tutorial for the technique on my blog. The tutorial remained there until subsumed into the online class Bind Quilts by Machine.

Some ten years later, I reconsidered double-fold binding. There simply had to be a way to sew double-fold binding onto a quilt entirely by machine. There was, so again, I published a free tutorial about the process. However, by that time, I had decided to present all this important material to the world in a way that would, hopefully, be well received and used by many patchwork quilters now and in years to come.

Let this brief story encourage those who hope to succeed never to give up!

Acknowledgements

Without Carol Miller’s disregard for my binding methods, I would never have thought them important enough to share.

Without her inadvertent help training me as author and editor, as well as quilt teacher, this book would never have been written.

My most sincere debt of thanks is for all the help and support (yes, even the disagreements) I received from Carol Miller and her husband, Roger, over a period of some ten years.

I salute the memory of Quilt University.

I am proud to be part of its history!

Testimonials

Enjoyable? Absolutely, yes . . . it was great! Dena’s presentation? Again: yes, yes, yes! And I can't wait to take another class with Dena!

Dena is a fantastic teacher. All of the lesson material and examples were organized and presented in a logical manner so that it was very easy to follow throughout the whole class. The material included very good pictures and diagrams which made it even easier to follow and to learn.

As usual Dena's material is articulate, well organized and complete. She shares her knowledge and experience generously. She responds to questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.

I enjoyed this class A LOT! New to me was the piping/binding section with a method I never tried before.

I loved this class although I did not know what to expect. I learned a whole lot more than I thought I would and gained more confidence in my abilities. Dena did an excellent job and the material was all there for you. She kept up with everyone, I’m not sure how!

This isn't the first class I have taken with Dena Dale Crain, and