Anyone who has been reading my blog knows how much I detest binding. Loathe it. Really, really hate it. There is no love lost between me and my binding. And I am very fortunate to have a wonderful Binding Angel who binds my quilts in exchange for me quilting hers. It's a great trade-off and I have always been more than pleased. She could hot glue it on there and I wouldn't mind, so long as I'm not the one doing it. Although, I'm not suggesting that.
So with that said, can someone please pass the mustard?
As it turns out, binding isn't so bad. I know! Fellow binding-haters across the land are choking on their coffee as they read this.
Although I have absolutely no complaints about my Binding Angel's superb binding skills, other than she's recently moved out of town, I have taken on the task...tested the waters....dipped my toes in....and tried a little binding myself. Nothing big. Just a couple table runners. Little ones at that. Think very small end tables. Once I found a good movie and got past the whole sticking my thumb with the needle part, it was actually kind of relaxing. Maybe even a little enjoyable. Who knew?
So with my newly-turned leaf, I am moving on from miniscule table runners and binding these two little Schnibbles that the wonderful Mary from Quilt Hollow quilted months ago. She did a gorgeous job and what a shame I have kept them tucked away in a plastic bag for so long. Not only will binding them be a snap, but that'll knock #53 and #55 off my UFO list.
I finished my center for my round robin this weekend. If you remember, I also worked on it last week and was hoping to share it with you last Friday. Well it turns out, I didn't like my center one bit. I have really been undecisive about what colors/theme to go with on this project. Everytime I thought of a particular holiday to go with, I'd remind myself that there's already a few Christmas/Halloween/Patriotic quilts on my UFO list waiting to be finished. Then I thought of my usual stand-by, red and off-white, but I have a few of those already too. (And besides, I'm still harboring a small grudge against reds right now) So I thought it'd be different to go with scrappy greens and tans. I made an enlarged ice crystal block and did not like it at all. It looked so dated, and not in the quaint vintagey way that's so popular right now. It seriously looked like something out of the early 80's, when teeny tiny calico prints were the standard among qulting fabrics. So much for using up my scraps. Once I decided to redo it, I went with autumn batiks and I am so glad I did. I just love my center! I would love to make an entire quilt out of this block. So off it goes in the mail tomorrow to Jane in Sitka. I hope she has fun with it!
I always enjoy your round robin posts, what you make, watching the other quilts as they progress, I'm thrilled it's round robin time. I think you're off to a great start.
Binding....I don't do it either, I pay to have it done, and if it came down to it, I would eat less food before I quit paying someone to bind my quilts! You've not convinced me!!
Posted by: Thelma | 01/17/2011 at 02:21 AM
Love the round robin block!! I'm not a huge fan of binding either. I try to just relax and do it! :-)
Posted by: Linda | 01/17/2011 at 04:53 AM
I love your center block!! It is a great jumping off point for a RR.
I machine sewed 3 bindings on yesterday, now they await the hand work. One has been in my closet for two months quilted and ready to go.
Posted by: LoriD | 01/17/2011 at 05:11 AM
I love that center block for the Round Robin. I will be anxious to see the progress.
Binding...I like it. But then, I have always like hand sewing since I was a very young girl. If I lived there, we'd def trade jobs. :)
Posted by: Christine Thomas | 01/17/2011 at 06:07 AM
I LOVE BINDING WORK and if you would have asked I would have done that for you. I find it the best part of the whole process...and sometimes taking that last stitch there is a sadness of "the end." (Send binding with your tops)
The center of your round robin star block really sets that block off! Well done!!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | 01/17/2011 at 06:08 AM
I love the center for your round robin quilt.....I love batiks but for some reason I rarely use them.....that should have been a resolution for me - use more batiks :) I love putting on binding :) It might be my favorite part of quilting......cutting is my least favorite....yuck!
Posted by: Michele | 01/17/2011 at 10:12 AM
The round robin is going to be another fun project. Bindings? Eh. I can take them or leave them. I must say I tend to procrastinate doing them and have a stack of projects that are finished all except for that one thing.
Posted by: Nicole | 01/17/2011 at 03:57 PM
LOL Allyson at your binding story! I LOVE sewing down binding and have been known to drag it out if I'm down to the last quilt with binding attached for hand sewing. I usually have several ready at one time since I tend to quilt and then bind in batches. I don't have any quilts to bind right now and I sure wish I did! LOL
Posted by: Laura | 01/20/2011 at 04:44 AM