I timed it! How long did it take to make and sew on one 60x80 binding?
You asked!
Well, maybe only one of you you did. Maybe I just thought I heard someone asking!
Doesn’t matter.
I was curious.
How long does it take for me to bind one of these small charity quilts (60x80”)?
I really didn’t know. What I normally tend to do is to cut a bunch of strips at once, then take them to my machine and sew several together to make various bindings and then press/iron them all at the same time in a sort of chain action.
Then I sew several to the back - at this time I also put on the label - and place the partially finished top binding to the side. Then, later, at a different time, I will make sure the threads match and sew on the final top stitching binding, pulling it to the front and stitching it on. I’ve gotten where I can kind of guess how long they take, but it all depends.
Am I watching something and stop to look at the screen?
Do I need to get up and get a drink refill?
Do I need to go move something in the washing machine?
I can’t usually do more than 4 or 5 in a group. Then I have to stop. I simply would have a hard time working in a factory, because it all gets boring to me - so I need to switch it around a bit.
I don’t usually do (with these charity quilts), one whole quilt from start to finish in one fell swoop.
But I did one so I could time myself. I tried to write down the times in order to document it all.
Here are the steps. And how long they took. I used my phone to time me. I’m using 24 hour time.
20:06 - Cut the strips (I’d already decided on the fabric/color).
20:08 - Walk to the machine, get settled in (write down things) Put strips on machine.
20:12 - Sew strips together. Trim (I forgot to take a photo of trimming. Sorry!).
20:18 - Press in half,
Sew to the first side (I sew to the back first)
20:30 - Finished sewing first side on, choose label, trim label with pinking shears, put on
20:33 - Start final round - bringing the binding piece to the front and sewing on by topstitching.
Put a washing instructions little label in there as I topstitch. I usually sew the little label in within the first few inches of starting, just so I don’t forget, but this time, I forgot - since I was so focused on documenting things, so I did it at the end.
20:45 All done.
Oh…and small miracles still do happen!! This was as I finished up the binding on this quilt
This was the last one I needed to bind of this particular group of charity quilts!!!
So, it officially took me 39 minutes.
Because I took time to write everything down and take pictures, it did take probably 5-10 min. longer than it might have otherwise. I think when I do it in a chain fashion, the first side takes about 15 min and I think I can do the second top stitching part in about 10 min if I can do several in a row. But it all depends on changing thread, bobbin, etc.
But at least now I know!
Have a great day wherever you are reading this! Stay safe!
Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!
Here’s one of the beauties we have! This snowflake reindeer panel is quite large!
