The binding was hand-stitched to the back of the quilt, so it was easy to remove. (It was actually kind of fun!)
I decided to keep the front half of the binding on the quilt. I didn't want to remove it, because the line of (machine) stitching is holding all the layers together. The quilt isn't extremely fragile, but I certainly don't want to open up those delicate edges.
I had some bias binding pieces leftover from some other projects, so I used a few scraps to test out an appropriate width of binding. I started with a 2" wide strip, which was too narrow. (There wasn't enough binding to adequately wrap around and cover the line of stitching.) This strip measures 2.375" and it's just right. I will attach the binding with a seam allowance that is slightly larger than 1/4", so the new binding will cover the remains of the original binding.
This fabric was just supposed to be a test, but I actually like how it looks on the quilt, especially with all those orangey-red hexagons. I have plenty of it in my stash, so I'm considering using it to bind the quilt. Besides, if you have to go to all the trouble of making bias binding, showing off a pretty plaid pattern just makes sense, right? :)
Option A: plaid
Option B: Canary Kona cotton
The other option would be to use a solid yellow. I do like this option because it is more in keeping with the original quilt. I am using a brighter shade for three reasons: 1. I'm not a fan of the golden yellow, 2. The brighter yellow holds it's own against the orangey-red hexagons. (A lighter yellow looks washed out.) and 3. The yellow is a better match to the yellow fabrics that are a part the actual quilt.
Since I can not decide which fabric to use, I'm going to ask you to vote.... which option would you choose for binding and why? I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks in advance for your help!
I'm excited to be taking on this challenge of repairing the quilt and giving it many more years of life. That's the hope, anyway!
150 comments:
True the yellow is more in keeping with the original. But personally, I like the plaid better. I think it is a better finish. If the quiltmaker had had access to it, I think she would have used it instead of the yellow.
I like the plaid better
definitely the plaid!
I like the plaid better, however I like your points about the yellow. So, my vote is canary yellow!
Definitely the plaid.
The plaid looks great.
I like the plaid. I find the yellow, although lovely on its own, too garish for the quilt. The pattern in the plaid is a nice visual “ending” to the edge of the hexagons.
I love the plaid it looks great wa better then the yellow one!
This is a bit of a hard choice! Haha! Exactly why you are asking all of us..heehee!
after careful consideration ;) I pick the plaid...I really love the look of it and the contrast of the white to the darker blocks (and who can love plaid on bias!)
I do appreciate that the yellow will be in keeping with the original quilt, but even though the yellow matches the hexies in the quilt it just doesn't have that vintage feel of the original binding. I think it will not allow the vintageness of the quilt to shine.
Good luck! Way to rescue...it's addicting I hear! :O
I think the plaid binding is cute and would be great on many projects. But I'd pick yellow for this one. I loved the original binding color.
I remember your original post about the quilt and I always thought that the yellow binding on it was HIDEOUS.
Please don't inflict that on the world again.
Go with the plaid!
I like the plaid better!
Yellow in keeping with the proper restoration. If you think it's too bright, dye the fabric in tea to 'age' it.
I do like the plaid, but prefer the yellow.
Great job!
I like the plaid better. I don't think the original yellow looked that good on the quilt and was probably used because it was the pre-packaged bias binding available.
I like the plaid better, also I understand the urge to repair it in a way, that repeats the original. But the plaid compliments the quilt way better in my eyes- it doesn’t scream to take the attention away from the orangy- red and the scrappiness. Maybe the original quilter was of the kind who hates making binding ( personally I love that part of the process) and took the biasbinding from the store that matched best ( better than for example a cardinal red or a deep navy or a grassy green)- but maybe she would have swooned over a red pleid one?
Mmm, this is tough! The yellow certainly keeps the vintage feel to the quilt but personally I find it too bright.
Even though the plaid is contemporary, l feel it looks so much better.
So plaid it is, from me, unless you can find a softer yellow.
Plaid bias binding is so charming and suits this old quilt.
I prefer the plaid, because I feel it "matches" better.
Plaid.
Plaid. The original quilter would have brought plaid if she had the option!
Most definitely the plaid. To me it says calm and finished. The yellow seems to compete a bit too much.
I think the plaid is prettiest, but the yellow will surely keep it more original. Tough choice!
I prefer the plaid.
the plaid is much better, stands out more.
I like the plaid best as I think the yellow is too bright. I'm glad to see how the binding and edges of the quilt were made as I'm replicating the quilt in my 'Homage to Amanda Jean Nyberg's Mark Twain Quilt' in Aboriginal fabrics. I was thinking of just rotary cutting the edges to make the edges straight, but as I'm way off that stage, I'll mull it over!
The plaid. It's the perfect color match to the orangey-red diamonds that run throughout the quilt.
plaid!!!
Please use the plaid.
I would use the yellow since it is keeping with the vintage fabrics more than the other one. Paula in KY
Hmmmm. I jumped in to say yellow but I see I’m in the minority here. I like both but the yellow caught my eye and looked so cheerful. Either way it’s great to see that beautiful quilt get a second life.
I like the original golden yellow. If you're dead set against it, I'd use the plaid rather than canary.
Love the plaid!
Sandy A
I vote for the plaid. If the original quilter had had this fabric, I think she would have used it too.
I love the yellow.
I like the plaid better.
Plaid
The plaid, for sure! It really pulls the whole quilt together!
May I be a contrarian and suggest a deeper dig in your stash? I like the yellow because it's a solid, it's bold and it ties in with the red solid that is running through the quilt. I understand the vintage feel of the plaid; however, I like the idea of a dark blue binding. The right print might read solid but have a vintage feel as well.
I vote for C. :)
I prefer the plaid. There are many plaids and checks in the quilt so it matches in style as well as colourl
I love the plaid and I think it matches better with the overall feel of the quilt. The yellow looks too "new" if that makes sense.
That's too funny - I would have guessed that yellow would have been the consensus, but it's not looking that way! Please consider the yellow, even though it's the underdog; I think it adds the perfect touch!!
I love the yellow with it - not too matchy matchy plus gives some credit to the choice of the original maker.
Go with the plaid, it better reflects the red in the quilt. As with any vintage & antique quilt they were made with whatever was at hand, and you will be doing that by using the plaid! ;)
I like the plaid - sort of homely and traditional, yet crisp and clean. I wonder why the original binding was yellow - guess it may have been the best plain colour bias binding that was available, but it's a bit of a jarring contrast. But you go with what you like - it's wonderful to give an old quilt new life.
I like the plaid
The plaid binding makes this quilt amazing. I think this quilt has been patiently waiting a long time for its final binding, knowing that one day it would outgrow the yellow.
The plaid!
Would you consider doing a little dye job first? Personally, I think both fabrics, used as-is, are too bright and too new for your beautiful vintage quilt!
I liked the mustard-y yellow original binding pretty well! But I love the look attained by the plaid! It enhances the maker's work! -Jean💟
I like the plaid better as it ties in with all the red in the quilt!
Though I like the Plaid better, it changes the feel of the quilt. So with that said I vote Yellow. Was it bond in yellow to add whimsy. Or was the yellow what the maker had most of at the end of the day.
Aileen in FL
I vote for the plaid. If you were doing this for a customer, it would be important to keep the feel of the original, but this is for you - make it your own! Besides, that plaid looks awesome!
I vote for the plaid, which plays well with the fabrics in the quilt, and I think it would look great worked around those points, more interesting than the yellow.
They both look great and you are wonderful for cherishing this beauty! I think I prefer the plaid too- but either one works great. This is a beautiful quilt.
It is wonderful that you have rescued the quilt. If you cannot find the mustard yellow (original binding color), then I would go with the plaid. The yellow you show is too bright and contemporary. When repairing a vintage quilt, it is preferable to replace damaged fabrics with similar colors (as nearly as possible). You want to preserve the integrity of the quilt.
I like the look of the plaid , but to keep true to the quilt, I think you should use the yellow.
I vote for the yellow. I like the way it looks and it retains a key element of the original quilt.
I like the plaid. It reinforces the plaids, checks and stripes already included in the quilt.
To me the original yellow was a convenience the maker used- who knows the reasons. If there had been packaged bias would she have chosen that?
In true conservation you would use like for like, but is that your primary goal?
Another way is to face the quilt so no binding is visible from the front!
Plaid matches better, I think. To me, the yellow was too much contrast that didn't enhance or highlight the quilt colors. The plaid softens the look and blends. Good luck with your decision.
I like the plaid. The bright yellow just screams to take over. Look at me, not the quilt. It will be interesting to see what you decide and how it works.
Go for the plaid! You're rescuing the quilt for to be loved by another generation, not restoring it for a museum. Choose the binding you like best and love it.
I think the plaid just looks so fun that I would use that!
I like the plaid. To me the yellow is off a bit.
Although the yellow is truly good and appropriate, I love the plaid and vote PLAID!
Because you said you were rescuing the quilt and not restoring it, go with the plaid. But if you really are restoring it, you need to go with the yellow but make it the darker yellow/gold as a tribute to the original creator.
As much as I like the plaid, I'd have to go with the yellow. I think it keeps to the originality of the quilt, and it adds a different pizzaz than the plaid.
As a collector of antique quilts, the proper way to repair a quilt is to try to find the same age fabric as that being repaired. Since you're only wanting to make the quilt useable again, I would suggest opting for a yellow that's more in keeping with the yellows in the quilt, thus you need to find a half yard or less of a different yellow. The plaid and bright yellow choices scream "I've been repaired; look at the binding first". Ask yourself if you want the visual impact of the quilt as a whole, or the binding? Of course, it's up to you in the end. Good luck!
I do love the plaid with the quilt, but I don't think it is a good choice for a vintage quilt. I would go with the yellow. However, I would probably use a yellow that has a bit more mustard in it to keep with the vintage feel. Whatever you choose will be beautiful!
I think the plaid looks better but in the spirit of restoration would go back to more original color yellow than the one pictured. As someone else noted, both these binding choices draw attention to them and away from the quilt - and feel way too new.
Even though the yellow was in the original, I like the plaid better. I do like plaids and stripes for most of my bindings. Looking at the picture, I thought the whole quilt was energized by the plaid binding and was so cheerful.
I like the plaid. It adds your special touch to the quilt.
I vote plaids. It’s fun and fresh and whimsical. It looks great.
I am a firm believer in keeping as much of the original integrity as possible BUT the plaid is so nice and the yellow just doesn't seem right to me. The maker of this quilt probably needed to make do with what she had - yellow. It might not have been her first (or even second) choice. I would go with the plaid. You can tell yourself you are doing what the maker would have done if she could.
The plaid!!!
I vote for the plaid, if you are going to change the color I say go all the way and make it your own. What a great quilt - have fun with the fix!
I like the plaid but if you want to keep the original vintage look I'd go with the yellow, but antique it with a dip in tea.
I prefer A yellow ... but not that Canary yellow as I think it is a bit bright. What about a softer yellow?
Plaid! Have you had to patch any inside blocks? I have a 1930s 'around the world' quilt my mom & grandmother made that needs some repair.
I’m probably in the minority here, but I like the original gold best simply because of the historical context. In the thumbnails, it sort of disappears—an edge but letting the quilt shine through. If you go with the canary, I’m afraid it will take over and look too bright all the way around the edge. If you don’t use the canary and are opposed to gold, then I think the plaid is best because it blends with the quilt. Long answer, but that’s my rationale.
I like the plaid better.
This quilt is begging for the plaid binding.
I've been hand quilting 30+ yrs. so my advice is to keep with the yellow fabric as it is true to the era of the quilt. But be sure and wash it a couple times to age it and take the stiffness out of it. it will work easier on an older quilt. Also it will be more wearable with the other fabrics.
I like the plaid.
The plaid is perfect.
The yellow is true to the quilt BUT you rescued it and it is now yours. I love the look of the plaid
My first thought was the plaid, all the way! But I do like your thought of keeping to the original maker’s plan and using the yellow.
I’ve rescued a few antique quilts- i took one quilt completely apart, even re-piecing a few blocks, squared up all the blocks and sewed them all back together! The border fabric was shot, so I had to use something in my stash and I discovered that TEA is your best friend when refurbishing antique quilts! I found that all of my fabrics were a little too bright and new looking to slide into an old quilt, but with a little bit of tea aging they all play nice together.
I would brew up a pot of tea, let it cool and dunk the gingham plaid fabric in. Wet the plaid first, it will take the tea better, leave it in the bath for 5-10 minutes, rinse and then wash like you would a quilt and see if it doesn’t just cosy up to the rest of the fabrics! If you decide on the yellow, I would use this technique also, to calm it down just a bit!
Good luck and enjoy your new family heirloom!
Thanks for sharing your journey with repairing this quilt......I have a couple I need to do and just haven't jumped in yet.....I have read all the comments, and I can appreciate every one of them and my first thought was the yellow, because it was part of the original quilt, but I have to admit, I love the red plaid, to me it makes the quilt cheery. SO my vote is the red plaid. Good luck and again thanks for sharing !
Stay with the yellow as it is in keeping with the feel of the quilt. That said, I prefer the plaid but it just looks too modern. If you want to keep the vintage feel stay with yellow.
The plaid looks just right. That yellow, ugh.
Wow I never knew so many people could have so many opinions. And I never thought about the “integrity” of the original quilt. I vote plaid.
plaid!!!
Another vote for the plaid :)
I will add red hexagons all around and then plaid biding
I think the yellow is the better option because it keeps the spirit of the quilt as intended. I agree that it is a better choice than the original gold. The plaid is pretty as well, but makes it look more modern and less antique. The quilt will be beautiful whatever fabric you choose!
I would prefer the plaid fabric.
I love the way the plaid looks, but the yellow is more in keeping with the original. I have done quilt repairs on a few older quilts and the way I would answer this is what is the purpose of the restoration? If you are doing it to preserve its “heirloom” value, then the yellow. If you are doing it to enjoy then go with what makes your heart sing - the plaid for me. I mostly do these repairs to make them “usable with reasonable care”.
Please use the yellow as it is in keeping with the look of the original one. Plaid just jumps out at me.
Definitely the YELLOW. Why? History. So often, in historical museums, historic houses have been "preserved to the period." but later, true historic research has been done - scientific research of the building and you would be really surprised by the colors of paint and wallpaper that were actually original. The colors are both brighter and busier than you would even have expected from historic design. Though I often don't like the garish colors/papers as much from a personal perspective, I LOVE how it represents the décor preferences of the time. I also love that in your quilt the yellow might have been chosen because that is all the maker had on hand to use for a border and they didn't have the choice to select a fabric that matched better due to budget or availability. I think the yellow keeps with the historic correctness of this quilt. I like the red/white checker look very much but for me the "HISTORY" wins over the cute hands down.
I like the plaid though I see the sense of using the yellow as more like the original. Happy deciding.
Orangey-red binding! Those hexagon "lines" are so strong throughout the quilt and neither the original nor the plaid bindings stand up to them. Or maybe like Suzanne, an earlier commenter, suggested -- a deep blue. These lighter bindings just don't do it for me.
I think the plaid says "Amanda was here". It's you and that's okay. It puts your signature on the quilt and tells you cared enough to repair it, move it on to a new, fresh life. The yellow says a similar thing in a more restrained way. "Someone" cared enough to repair this lovely quilt, so it could be enjoyed even longer. It's more of a "in keeping with the original" style. In the end, it's your quilt. Enjoy!
I like the plaid because you'll be adding a touch of you to it rather than just replacing the original. If this was going to be a museum piece, I'd say yellow for historic value. The plaid is also more fun and goes with the variety of fabrics used for the hexies.
I love the Quilt and have added this pattern to my to do list. I vote for plaid!
I vote for the canary yellow. I love the pop of color at the edges. The plaid works well too, but that pop of yellow is better, I think.
I think the plaid is a better choice--it is sparky, it echoes the other plaids in the quilt, and, as the very first commenter noted, if the quilter had had access to it (and perhaps had had the time to make all that bias binding with it), she might well have chosen it herself. I'd go plaid.
I say the plaid... I love how it enhances the look of the hexies..
Although the yellow is the original color, I don't think it does a thing for the quilt. The plaid, however, makes it sing. I vote for the plaid.
Both are excellent choices for the quilt. I think your choice should be determined by your goal for the quilt. Did you rescue it to bring it back to it’s original glory or did you want to bring it to the 21st century.
A friend of mine does quilt restoration, which she learned from a woman who also does quilt appraisals. The one golden rule I have learned from her is to be true to the original as much as possible. Yellow.
Plaid all the way. & good luck counting all of these awesome replies!
Definitely plaid.
You've certainly gotten a good grouping of responses. I also like the plaid to my eyes for the quilt, but restoration is not changing unless you have to. The yellow you've chosen is way too bright. The yellow orange that was originally on the quilt is contemporary to that time period. I'm not sure that dying it with tea would work, but it would be worth a try. Might just make the yellow muddy. Look further for the yellow in someone who carries repro fabrics. If you have waited this long, it will be worth the wait to find the "right" binding.
Plaid! :)
The plaid has much more eye appeal. If you are doing this to use and enjoy, definitely go with the happy plaid. If you are going for restoration and historical accuracy, try to match the original binding. Either way, it is and will continue to be a great quilt. Enjoy!
The plaid. Was it ever a contest?
Personally, I like the yellow. It just seems to finish better and less distracting than the plaid.
Although I love the look of the plaid, I would feel that I was dishonoring the quilter's intention by not going with the yellow:)
I realize that the yellow is in keeping with the original quilter's vision, but the plaid looks significantly better - it complements the quilt whereas the yellow is shouting for attention.
I love the orange plaid, it looks perfect with the rest of the quilt elements. I am a bit more partial to orange than yellow, though....
Although the vast majority seems to opt for the plaid, I would love to throw the yellow back into the pool of options. Nor because it is more true to the original. But because it makes the quilt modern, cheerful and you. And it enhances the pretty corners. The plaid just disappears and the quilt looks just as bland as it looks now without the binding. In my opinion that is 😃
I like the plaid best. You know I wonder if the person who made it would be more interested in history or a pretty binding around her quilt so it could be used again.
I like the plaid, it looks like it belongs with the other fabrics in the quilt. Over all, a more pleasing visual to me. Thanks for asking!
Wow! I cant wait to read the rest of this series! I have 2 quilts that need repair that my great grandmother made. I've been looking for tutorials since they are starting to show their age. Thanks!
Mary,
Although I like the plaid I think you should go with the yellow as it is the original coloured binding.
Plaid is perfect with the quilt! <3
Yellow! The plaid is cute, but I think it and the red hexagons sort of cancel each other out and make it a little bland.
Yellow looks like it was made that way.
I'd use the yellow. Partly because it's more in keeping with the original, but mostly because I like how it pulls out the tiny little bits of yellow in the piecing. Plus, I like yellow. :)
Plaid!
Yellow definitely yellow. It brings out the yellow in the squares and looks so much better on the corners and angles of the quilt. So many angles you have to show them off! Love your site!
I like the yellow because the quilt is already very busy. I really like the tint of your yellow much better than the original gold yellow. The plaid is really cute.
Like the plaid, but the yellow sings to me. Maybe just a short tea dye? Love the quilt. Enjoy the restoration!
The plaid looks best
Plaid. That said, I love the quilt - but never the yellow binding. It seems odd to use a premade binding after all of the hand stitching. Perhaps it sat unfinished for awhile? Perhaps that color was a best choice of what was available for the quick finish? And why doesn't anyone make cute binding now?
Since you don't like the gold (I do), I think the plaid is a better pick than the plain yellow.
A softer yellow
The plaid seems to calm the quilt down the yellow just dosent feel right so go plaid
I like both choices of binding fabric, but am partial to the plaid. And if you need any advice on binding those angles, Heather Mulder Peterson has awesome binding tutorial here: https://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/tutorials/ I've used them on several quilts, and they made it much easier for me.
Hi, I'm not a fan of the geometric binding. I'd go with a bright yellow.
PS, i'm still working on the graduating hst quilt i started at your workshop in NE IN last year.
I vote for yellow. It is more in keeping with the style and age of the quilt. If you could get a yellow just halfway to gold it would be even better.
Yellow! I love the brightness. The plaid kind of disappears.
I really like the plaid even though you make good points about using bright yellow. To me the yellow tries to out-shout the red and the plaid just seems a friendlier pairing, ha! Good luck deciding. :-)
I love the plaid. It is the perfect choice.
I used to collect and sell vintage bias tapes, and am happy to tell you that plaid tapes were not uncommon in mid-century sewing. Yes, they seem “modern” now, but they were then too! The bottom line is that you are repairing a vintage quilt that you love, not restoring it for a museum collection. So go with the one that looks best and whose feel closely approximates the era. That would be, in my opinion, the plaid!!
You really can't go wrong with either. I seem to be in the minority, but I adore the yellow. The plaid goes well with the quilt and it looks nice, but the yellow just has that unexpected pop of color and vintage feel that I love. When I look at the photo with the plaid, it just seems to be missing something.
Plaid!
I love that the quilt look so soft.
a late vote, but with such a vintage quilt I would definitely try to stay as close to the original as possible, thus yellow is my vote.
As long as you're not trying to maintain the original look I think the plaid is much cooler. It's just way more interesting than the yellow.
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