Quilt Binding: by Hand or Machine?

Hi Stitching Friends!!!  I have been so busy with parenting, homeschooling, and homeopathy that I have completely neglected my love of all things fabric!!!   I realize I miss it terribly!!!  So I decided I will have to be more intentional about sewing, stitching, etc.

With that in mind, I was determined to start binding this quilt today.  I pieced this quilt several years ago and finished quilting it this past summer.  All it lacks is a nice binding.  Today I started working on that.  

I often have been asked if a quilt binding should be hand-stitched or machine-stitched.  So I thought I would share my thoughts on what I do with my quilts.  

This is going to be a large lap quilt.  I tend to hand-stitch the bindings if they will not be machine-washed excessively.  So for our lap quilts I usually hand-stitch the binding because I do not expect to wash them all the time.  When I hand-stitch the binding I have a bit more control and can make sure it is nice, tight, and wrapped just right around the edge of the quilt.  And I use small hand-stitches that disappear into the backing fabric.  And an extra bonus, for me, is that it is very relaxing and therapeutic to hand-stitch!!!  

Now on the other hand, if I am making a quilt for a baby or small child (like this one I made my for second child 17 years ago), I usually machine-stitch the binding because I know it is going to be machine-washed a lot and I want the binding to be as sturdy as possible.  On the front side of the quilt I "stitch in the ditch" and hope that I catch the back folded edge of the binding with the needle on the back side.  Using my edge-stitch foot on my sewing machine makes this process so much easier!!!

The drawback is that it is a bit more difficult to get a nice and even line of stitching on the back side.  It is certainly not impossible, just a bit more tricky (for me anyway).  Another tip is instead of using straight pins, I use "Wonder Clips" by Clover, and they make the whole process easier whether I hand or machine-stitch.  

The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer. Rather, it is a personal choice and I think whatever motivates you to finish the quilt is the best answer!!! I machine-stitched the binding on this quilt years ago because I never would have finished it otherwise.  A finished quilt that is not perfect is better than a perfect quilt that is not finished!!!  That is how I feel about it anyway!!!  :) And remember, sewing should be fun!!!  If it is not fun you won't do it, so make it fun!!!  

Keep Stitching!!!

Hand-Stitched and Hand-Embroidered Handkerchiefs...

Not too long ago I decided to make a few handkerchiefs as a special gift.   I thought I could purchase some nice ones and then add some hand embroidery on them.  I had the hardest time finding any that I liked the feel of the fabric.  So I ended up making handkerchiefs.....and then I stitched on them.  The handkerchiefs were 7" x 7" finished and I used some nice batiste fabric that I already had.   I was very pleased with how they turned out.  

I flipped through various embroidery books that I have to find small design options.  And of course, I could have reduced larger images to make them the right size, too.

And I used my favorite floss colors again.  Sometimes I wonder if I use them so often just because they are easily available - meaning that I use them the most often so they are the easiest to find when I go looking for floss.  Speaking of which,  I am still using my fabulous and fun sewing pouch that I made many years ago!!!  I still love this bag!!  I usually keep a preemie gown in it that I'm working on, so if I am heading out the door I can grab the sewing pouch and have a project to work on if I have to wait while I am out.

I love how these handkerchiefs turned out.  I need to make a few for myself.  I love the idea of a cloth handkerchief.  The kids and I have embroidered many handkerchiefs over the years for their Dad.  They are a super simple project and a lot of fun!!!  I hope you will consider stitching one for a special friend and/or yourself!  

Happy Stitching!!!

P.S., I just remembered that I made another handkerchief years ago that I stitched into a cute little bonnet.  So I guess this wasn't the first time I stitched a handkerchief from scratch.  And for this one I put precious lace around the edges.  

How to Make a Gift Card Ornament......

I had a gift card that I needed to somehow package for a friend.  I pondered putting the gift card in with their Christmas card but ultimately I decided to stitch a quick gift card holder.  I put the gift card down on a piece of blue felt and traced around the card leaving about a quarter of an inch on the two long sides and one short side.  I then cut a second piece the same dimensions but about a quarter of an inch shorter.  My two pieces were 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" and 3 1/4" x 2 3/4" and should work for any standard-sized gift cards.

Before I stitched the two pieces together, I took the slightly smaller piece and hand stitched a triangular piece of green felt onto it.  I used green embroidery floss to stitch the tree using a quick running stitch.  Then I used red and white floss to create the ornaments making simple french knots.  I used brown floss to make the trunk using bullions.  And likewise, using yellow floss, I created a five-pointed star on the top using bullions.  Next I put the two blue felt pieces together, matching up three sides, and using blue floss ran a quick running stitch around those three sides.  And finally, I stitched on a looped white ribbon so the card and holder could be hung on the tree.  I'm just thinking that even if you don't have a gift card to package you could put cash in the holder too.

I've made several of these over the years but I think this one worked up the fastest and I liked it the most. Stitching for family and friends is so fun this time of year!! I hope you consider stitching one this Christmas!  And if you do, I would love to see it!!!

Happy Stitching, Friends!!!

xoxo!
Cindy

A Finished Day Gown.......

It's finished!!! And I am so happy!!! And I think it is so pretty!!! Not that I am patting myself on the back....it's just that Jeannie B. of The Old Fashioned Baby creates such great patterns with wonderful instructions!!! Last fall Jeannie B. posted a day gown sew-a-long. At the time I did not have too much going on so I jumped in, especially when I found out she was encouraging us to stitch the entire gown by hand. I had never done that before and so I thought it would be a great challenge for me. Somewhere about halfway through I got busy with other stuff and put the gown down for a bit. A week or so ago I pulled it out and decided to finish it. And I am so glad I did! I am smitten with this little gown!

I love the neck embroidery and the gathered lace along the neck edge. And I put 5 sweet little mother of pearl buttons on the back and each button has its own hand stitched buttonhole.

I even got inspired last week to add some more stitching along the front bottom. I love the entire thing. It is so delicate and beautiful!!! If I had a dedicated sewing room I think I would hang it on the wall so I could admire it daily. I still might have to find a way to do that!

A Little Peek.....

It's amazing what a bit of rest will do for you! I have been back to the doctor two times over the past three days....but I find I am finally feeling better!!! I'm praising the Good Lord and hoping it continues!!!

In the meantime since completing the sweet bishop, I have now pulled out two projects that have sat for far too long waiting to be finished! The first item is my daygown from Jeannie B's OFB sew-a-long last fall. This precious daygown has been stitched completely by hand....no machine was used. Even the buttonholes were stitched by hand. I have so enjoyed working on this little garment. I find hand stitching so relaxing. It makes me wonder why I don't do it more often. Who knows....maybe I will now!

The stitching above is on the neck of the daygown. I have to stitch the hem in and then I'll show the entire gown. It is so pretty....I love white stitching on white fabric.

Back soon!

Easter Frocks, Part 1....

I hope you all had a fantastic Easter weekend. We sure did. So much fun in fact, that it seems like it has taken me 2 days to recover. Actually that is probably because I stayed up late for so many nights sewing. So I guess it is time for me to post some pictures.

First up is Elisabeth. She is wearing a dress made out of periwinkle blue Imperial batiste. She picked out the fabric and I picked the pattern.

The pattern is Larkin by Maja's Heirlooms. I have wanted to make this dress for years and now I have. It was a lot of fun to put together and smock. It seems to appeal to the older girls because it has some shaping with darts and a little different silhouette. But it appeals to the mamas because it is still modest and sweet. Plus we get to add a bit of smocking and embroidery to it. Oh, and some beautiful lace too!

Even the sleeves are sweet. I am crazy in that I enjoy stitching bullion roses. I had thought about stitching them completely around the neckline, and I still may. But I also like just a few in the center front and then on the sleeves.

Overall I thought the pattern ran pretty true to size. I did measure the pattern pieces before I started and compared that to Elisabeth's measurements. I tend to do that all the time now when I use an unfamiliar pattern. It can really save some grief later on....especially since I do most of my sewing at 11 pm. Elisabeth loves the dress and says she can't wait to wear it again. That makes it a winner in my book!

The Old Fashioned Baby Daygown Sew-A-Long.....

When Jeannie B. of the Old Fashioned Baby announced she was going to have a Daygown Sew-A-Long....and that she was encouraging people to hand sew the gown.....I knew I would have to participate. You see I can rarely pass up an opportunity to challenge myself in the sewing area. And generally speaking, I love handwork.....so I was ready when she began the lessons. She releases a new lesson every Friday morning and I believe she said there will be a total of 7 lessons. We have completed 2 lessons thus far and I know you won't believe it when I tell you I actually stitched the buttonholes by hand. By hand people! I had always wanted to try to do this...but never quite had the proper opportunity....until now.

I am the first to tell you my buttonholes did not turn out fantastic....but that doesn't worry or bother me. The deal is that I tried it....liked it....and will definitely do it again. There is something so relaxing and therapeutic about handwork and I have found hand stitched buttonholes are no exception.

If you would like to join in the Sew-A-Long with Jeannie B. at the Old Fashioned Baby I am sure she would be fine with that. And if you want to stitch the daygown by machine rather than hand, she is good with that too. But I must say I vote for the hand stitching and it is fun!!!