Finish It up Friday ~ Pastel Drunkard’s Path

Posted on January 31, 2025 by katyquilts

I ended up spending way too much time with my seam ripper while working on this quilt. But at least it is done.

This is the pantograph I used.

I didn’t like this enough to finish the binding by hand.

One of the problems I have with machine binding, is that I often end up with this “ruffled” edge. I circled the problem areas below.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Have a great day!

About katyquilts

I am a wife, mom of four amazing adult kids, and a former librarian. I love making everything from traditional quilts to art quilts. I am thankful to God my Father and Creator for the gift of creativity!
This entry was posted in Finishes 2025, Throw Quilts, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Finish It up Friday ~ Pastel Drunkard’s Path

  2. Heather Hamby says:
    January 31, 2025 at 8:09 pm

    Firstly, let me say, as an objective viewer, the ruffle you’re talking about is hardly even noticeable if you’re not looking for it–and no one else is going to look for it! 😉 But since you asked, I have two troubleshooting ideas for your binding:

    1. Sometimes with machine binding, the binding fabric gets shifted forward (more often) or (sometimes) backward when you are sewing it to the top of the quilt sandwich instead of wrapping *straight* around. When that happens, it can cause some “torque” in the folded edge that you’re sewing down last, and then it won’t lay nice and flat. So if that’s what is happening to you, you just have to sew extra slowly and carefully, making sure the binding is coming straight around the edge of the quilt as you go. Sometimes adjusting pressure foot pressure, feed dog height, and using a walking foot (or not) can make a difference, too.
    2. It could also be that the binding is too loose when you sew it on the back and it needs to be pulled a bit tighter to match the quilt edge. I know most people don’t pin binding on before they attach it to the quilt (I don’t), but that means you have to be extra careful to keep the layers feeding under the needle evenly. If you have more binding length accidentally eased in there, it can cause a kind of ruffle effect. The opposite would be if you have the binding fabric pulled too tight, then the quilt would bubble up in the spot instead of laying flat when you are done.

    Sorry for writing a novel, just tricky to describe in writing, you know? Anyway, hopefully this makes sense and can help you figure out the issue for the future. 🙂

  3. Nancy says:
    January 31, 2025 at 2:26 pm

    Katy, you are a much more experienced quilter than I am so it would be strange for me to tell you something useful about binding, but here goes, with my experience. On one of my first quilts I tried the technique of laying the binding on the quilt, then sewing it down. When I finished, it was ruffly, and I was hugely disappointed. Since then, I’ve measured and pinned the binding before sewing. I’ve not had a ripple since. Without pinning, I guess I stretched the quilt (and maybe the binding, too) as I stitched them in place.

    That’s a sweet quilt.

  4. Vicki in MN says:
    January 31, 2025 at 10:27 am

    Try pulling just a very smidge on the binding as you sew it to the quilt.

  5. acityquilter says:
    January 31, 2025 at 9:39 am

    i know it’s been a job to finish but gee i do like it very much….and no binding tips here i’m afraid…i’m sorta a flunkie with them esp machine ones…

Leave a comment