Binding A Quilt On Machine

The Mountain Majesties quilt was finished a couple days ago and I couldn’t face all that hand stitching around that huge quilt.  My arthritic hands could not handle it so even though I prefer binding stitched down by hand, I gave in and did it all on machine.

First I cut enough 2-1/2″ strips from the scraps I had left from the rectangle border, sewed them together and pressed in half.


Leave about a 10″ tail and sew to the wrong side of the quilt along the edge.  I use an even feed foot or a quilting foot.


Stop at each corner and fold binding in a metered corner.


Continue stitching all around the quilt until you’re within approximately 12″ of the beginning tail.  Overlap ends 2-1/2″ and trim off the rest.  Join ending tail to beginning tail with a 45 degree seam.  Press and sew the rest of the way.


Fold binding over to the front of the quilt and topstitch close to the edge.


This will not be perfect on the back side so if that’s a problem for you I’d advise you to sew your binding to the front of your quilt and hand stitch on the back.  Here’s the finished quilt and the back side.  It was so windy today, I had to put it on the south side of the fence so the wind would help hold it up.  It is 105″ x 105″ approximately and even though I used a lightweight polyester batt, the quilt is still heavy – just think of all those seams!  Yikes!


And a couple close ups.


It is a really nice quilt and I’m just glad it’s in the DONE pile.

Tony came and worked on our longarm machine tonight because I did have some issues when I quilted Mountain Majesties.  I wanted to test the machine after he left so I quickly threw this scrap piece on.  The machine is working like a dream!


Millie can perch in the darndest places!


Tomorrow Reed is going with me to take Rox to her grooming appointment.  Remember Arlo McKenzie, the black English lab puppy?  He’s visiting for a few days and he and Hazel really can play!


It was in the 90’s here today – this is Fall?

36 thoughts on “Binding A Quilt On Machine

  1. Sandy

    Your quilt is absolutely stunning. As always, thanks for sharing your quilts, your tips, your animals and your life. Fall has definitely arrived in the Inland Northwest. Cooler temps and rain have slowed the fires and cleared the smoke from our air. We are glad for that.

  2. Peggy

    Your quilt turned out beautiful, Mary. You do such great work & so fast, too!! Love seeing quilts, dogs, cats, geese, goats, chickens, Rick, you, Reed, Connie & all. Keep the farm news coming!!

  3. Mary

    This quilt is lovely. I like how all the prints blended to make a quilt I’d be proud to own. I reied to go back and find a posting of what fabric you started with. FQs or 1/4 yards or what. If you could mention it in a future post, I’d appreciate it. I started this same pattern in a workshop and had FQs. My blocks are still in progress. Thanks.

  4. Fiona at Ice Bear Quilts

    Hi Mary, the quilt looks terrific! And I like the little scrap one, too. Hazel and Arno look as if they are enjoying their play-date. It has atypical weather here too, but now the leaves are just starting to turn red and gold. I love fall.

  5. Patsy

    Your Mountain Majesties is absolutely gorgeous. I love the fabrics you used to create it.
    Since I’m an Iowan through family and have visited many times, I love seeing and hearing about the Iowa life.

  6. Gail

    Thanks Mary – love your quilt – binding method is essentially same as I use now. At guild last week I found a book in the “free” area : “Country Threads.” What a treasure for me!

  7. Debbie R

    Your quilt is a stunner, I can imagine how good it feels to have it done! I have been doing my bindings that way for years. I crank out many quilts during the year myself and many of my longarm quilting customers don’t want to bind their own so that’s the way I do them too!
    Yesterday here is western WI. we hit 92 and more of the same today, I love fall but not like this!

  8. Mozzie's Grandma

    The quilt is absolutely beautiful. Glad to see pictures of
    your precious dog, Hazel. Hope the Black Lab puppy makes
    her tired and that they have fun together.

  9. Connie

    The picture of Millie in the corner , needs to be made into a postcard . It would fit into the country living magazine .

  10. Kate Schloemer

    Your quilt is beautiful as always..
    I have a question about men’s shirts in a quilt. I’m doing one from my brother in law’s shirts for my sister.
    Do I need to be cautious of the grain when sewing together?? I think I am going to just do a log cabin.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kate – grain doesn’t seem to matter much. All shirts are so laundered that fabric doesn’t stretch or distort.

  11. Diane

    105″x105″, that’s a lot of work, but as usual with your quilts, it turned out beautifully! Millie is so cute way up there. It is so much fun to see all of your quilts, pets, friends, garden plants, flowers, projects etc. Thanks for sharing. It’s going to be 92 in Central Ohio today. Our grand daughter’s band director had them wear their summer uniforms last night–smart man!!

  12. Donna

    Mary love your finished quilt. So very pretty. I have some blocks I found somewhere of this pattern and thought I should make one. We’ll see. I have too many UFO’s to finish. I’m almost done with a scrappy one so that will give me a good feeling. I love all the farm news and animal pics. Millie is so funny perched up there. As you know I love cats…dogs too but that pic of Millie is precious. Thank you Mary for sharing… I look forward to the news on the Iowa farm.
    Too hot for fall. Another cooker today here in St Paul.

  13. Susan Sundermeyer

    Just gorgeous, Mary! I hate hearing that it’s still hot out your way. It’s hot and humid here in Ohio. Supposed to be that way all through next week. Locust trees are really dropping their leaves and some of the maples are turning. They say it’s due to stress.

  14. Jane dumler

    Your quilt is wonderful. So glad to see Hazel pictured. I was so worried about her. We are on the ranch this weekend and there is a light dusting of snow on the continental divide this morning, beautiful pink sunrise and 28 degrees. Winter is slowly moving in. Loved the post of the pepper jelly. That is my husbands all time favorite so I make it. Sometimes I make a batch of red and a batch of green and give it as Christmas gifts. Happy fall to you and Rick.

  15. Mary R.

    Your quilt is gorgeous and I love the backing. We are in the high 90s with humidity here in New Orleans, Louisiana. Definitely not fall weather!

  16. Launa Peters

    Front n back of quilt are beautiful. Fall is coming back after the snow. We had 31 degrees this morning with sunshine. Thanks for the picture demo on reverse binding the big quilt. The new fall/ winter Shop Sampler magazine is full of wonderful ideas. Thought of you n Reed when I saw the PUMPKIN šŸŽƒ topper, Mary! Wish Pepper could join the duo as they roust about.

  17. Julianna

    AGAIN! An absolute stunner! Mary, you are an inspiration. I believe you said in the beginning you chose all the FQ from your stash. Well, they look like a perfectly blended line of fabric. I am a R,W & B nut so this quilt really speaks to me. Just lovely but at 105 x 105 I’m glad it’s finished for you too. Now you can work on all those projects you thought about while you were working on this one. Lovely, Mary, as all your projects are!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Julianna – this was a fabric line from Moda called Picket Fence -a FQ pack of 48 FQ’s. I couldn’t pick em this good, truthfully.

  18. Diana

    I thought fall should cool us down, but this is Iowa! LOVE the quilt – that one in on my bucket list, but that list gets longer every day. So good to see Hazel – she’s getting big. Your machine binding looks good. I may have to try that. I hand do all mine, but that looked pretty good!

  19. Janice Brown

    I love the Mountain Majesties quilt, and thank you for adding the photo of the backside. Your other quilt is really nice. I try different methods on my bindings and if I can, I like to stitch it all by machine.

    1. Lillian

      The Mountain Majestic is so neat.This is the first time you have shown Hazel on your blog.Wad she on vacation somewhere? I am sure she keeps everyone busy. I always enjoy reading about your quilts and what’s going on down on the farm.

  20. Ellie

    What a lovely quilt! One advantage to the machine binding is it will probably be more sturdy. On such a lovely quilt, no one will care whether it is put on by machine or finished by hand!

  21. Martha Engstler

    I ditto all the great comments above. Love your pictures of farm, animals, quilts, plants. Thank you so much for your sharing with us especially your time.

  22. Becky from IA

    The quilt is BEAUTIFUL!!! Love the colors they are so soothing. Good to see a picture of Hazel and Arlo playing. Hope things are going better with her. Glad to see that you are baby sitting Arlo. I so love seeing all your posts with the dogs you care for. I so enjoy your blog and thanks for doing it and taking the time out of your busy day. It puts a smile on my face!!!!

Comments are closed.