Little Things 1

I just finished a quilt.  Always a good feeling, especially if the quilt has been hanging over your head in some kind of obligatory way and you just weren’t into it and you had to make yourself finish it by sheer will power. Yes, there are quilts like that. Being a judge does not mean that every stitch always feels like Cinderella’s little dress-making winged and furry buddies have somehow gotten trapped in your sewing room. Sometimes it’s just drudgery, but eventually you take the last stitch…..probably in the binding.

Ah yes, bindings. What’s the big deal with judges and the binding? Seriously, if I could look back on all the comment sheets I’ve dictated over the past 13 years, probably 95% of them have a binding comment on them and the other 5% would have some other edge finishing remark. We just can’t leave the edges of those quilts alone. It’s such a little thing, compared to all the other components of a quilt; what’s the big deal?

That little thing is part of a few much larger concepts in judging.

The first is the assumption that the quiltmaker, by entering a quilt for judging, has signaled some level of interest in or curiosity about competition or in improving their quiltmaking. As a judge, I hope that what I say in my comments gives the maker something to work with in making their future quilts more competitive. The magic about a binding comment, though, is that, should the quilter want to, the binding can re-done and that quilt, not some as-yet-unmade quilt in the future, but the one right there, can be made more competitive. It is not uncommon for a quiltmaker with a competitive streak to enter the same quilt in multiple shows, so that quilt will have another shot at a ribbon. And although how a quilt finishes in a show has a lot to do with what other quilts it is competing against on any given day, any weak point that is strengthened can put it in a better position in the next show.

And now a side comment: I think many quilters enter their quilts in their home guild’s quilt show and that’s that. It’s a one shot deal. Let me suggest to you that you consider entering the same quilt into multiple shows, assuming that other shows are available within a reasonable distance and the expense is not prohibitive. More feedback, more experience, is always good and can either, through multiple mentions, point at things to improve or let you know you really are doing well.

Back to binding and the second larger judging concept. Many judging points are based on longevity for the quilt. I’ve said it before, but I want your quilt to be around a long, long time.  Typically, the place where a quilt wears the most is on the binding. A well-executed binding is your quilt’s first line of defense, so it’s worth keeping in mind some of the binding judging points:

• A binding should be full of batting: The batting supports the binding from within.
• Stitching should be small, secure and invisible: This protects the stitches from wear and tear or being caught on something and ripped out.
• Mitered corners should be stitched closed: One less catch point.
• Binding joins should be smooth: Anything that sticks up, like a lumpy seam in the binding, will wear faster.
• A binding that brings the backing around and is stitched onto the front, covering the raw edges is a longevity liability. When it wears, the actual backing of the quilt is wearing and compromising the integrity of the quilt. An applied binding can be replaced without any risk to the quilt.

 
And a final judging concept: the entrant is given credit for demonstrating attention to detail and mastery of the art of quiltmaking. Some binding judging points are not so clearly about longevity, they’re about quilting flash.

• Binding should be a consistent width: Because you can control that honking big quilt on its last few passes through your machine.
• Corners should be 90 degrees…. Ditto. That is detailed control of just a few stitches on a big heavy dead weight.
• …And should be consistently shaped: That control is demonstrated not just once, but 4 times.
• Binding fabric should be cut with care in regard to directional or repeated motifs: Because you’re paying attention.
• Edges should be straight: Usually commented on with the binding, but can in fact be a cumulative issue throughout the construction, as each component is squared and accurately executed.

 
So yes, a binding is little, but it does a big job. And it’s just one kind of edge finish.
 
Stacy Koehler, Secretary, NACQJ
NQA Certified Judge
Qualified to Evaluate Masterpiece Quilts
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