Aww! Thank you, Barbara! 🥰 I’d love for it to not stay “hidden” though😂….so please share with anyone who you think might enjoy it! Thank you for watching and commenting! ❤️
Thank you so much for another great video. You strike the perfect balance between learning a skill and having a good giggle. The outtakes at the end of this video are hilarious. Love your content. Please keep the videos coming!
I took a quick trip to a thrift store and bought three shirts that I like the feel of and the color. Your videos have been VERY inspiring and this series was SUPER helpful!
Oh YAY!! I'm so very glad that you've enjoyed this series and that you've gotten inspiration here with me! Thank you, Lisa, for watching and for commenting! ❤️
I often put off the hand work sewing because I am like the Energizer Bunny…going and going and going…to the point that makes others dizzy. Once I do sit down with a needle in hand I am at peace with myself and the world. It forces me to concentrate in one place for a period of time “off the clock” for that relaxing mindful experience. Keep those videos coming please!🪡🧵
I just love your videos! Love your sense of humor, love your sound effects. I thought I was the only one that still hasn't figured out how to measure with just my ruler instead of my mat. If you figure out how to do that, I hope you will do a video and show me how it's done! Lol! Great video. And you really should try cutting binding on the bias. It makes such a difference! Oh, and my trash is on my left... is that ok? 😁 Looking forward to your next video!♥
Thank you, Robin! You are always so faithful to comment with support and encouragement! 🥰 The one gingham binding that I did on the bias turned out lovely…but whew it wasn’t easy and it had a TON of seams! Lol. You know I hate having my trash on the wrong side! 😂
Another comedian in our midst. Isn’t she contagious in her “let’s try this” approach? Love this mad scientist approach with that “formula” response to any bigger “inventions by accident” she discovers. Always giggling no matter the result. Refreshing and inspirational in that she invites us to explore our own “mistakes” to try something new with the resulting product.😇💕🎄
So much great information. I had no idea you could get so many 2 1/2" strips from a shirt. To be honest when I read the title, I was thinking can you really get enough fabric for a binding. Yes, yes you can! Thank you for another great tutorial.
Thank you, Linda! ☺️ and yes, every time I get ready to do binding, I think “is there enough here?” Resounding yes! 🥰 Thank you so much for watching and commenting!! ❤️
I love your patience & teaching techniques. Each lesson is like “sewing & learning with a friend.” Thank you for sharing & being that friend! You're delightful🤗
Your videos never cease to amaze me with their content. Thank you for sharing your experiences with all those shirts and those wonderful quilts on the wall behind you.🍀❤️
Thank you, Gail! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos while learning! If I can make you smile or laugh and learn something, then I've accomplished what I set out to do! ❤️
I've only made one scrappy binding from men's shirts and wish I'd have had your formula to start with as I was constantly holding it up to the quilt until I thought I had enough and I still had to stop and add another strip because I came up short. Will you be doing another video showing how to sew the strips together and how to do that tricky final seam that I always sew the wrong way, rip it out, sew the wrong way again, say a few curse words, rip it out and if I'm lucky I get it right the third time.
Lol! So very relatable!! ☺️ I’m getting ready to do a “first quilt” series (eek! So excited!!) so I think I probably WILL do a video showing how to attach the sew the binding together and then how to attach it to the quilt and then finish it up! You might have to wait a few weeks for it…but it’s coming!! 😊👍🏻❤️ Thank you for your comment!
Had to unpick some binding, yes true, quilting is not a race. Lesson learned indeed. Every video of you I watched I was doing something similar at the same time. I had a great session in the sewing room with you today. 🇦🇺💜🇺🇲💚👍🖐😊
Anita, I have to remind myself every time I sit down to sew/quilt that it isn't a race and it doesn't have to perfect! (and I still find myself rushing, and being irritated when something doesn't come out EXACTLY RIGHT. Sigh.) I've got to say, quilts aren't the only things that are works in progress!! 😂 Glad our session together was great today! 😘
The greatest part of spending time with you here at the Catbirding sessions of love is the extra time you devote to keeping your channel so personal. You take so much extra time and effort to answer every question or observation from your fans. Your husband completes the package with his video editing skills. I could never be quiet long enough to concentrating on doing such high quality video workmanship. Thank you goes for you as well when I comment here.🎼🛠📸🔌💖
What a beautiful quilt behind you, and sentimental as well. I still have a couple of quilts from my grandmother, quite tattered and well loved, but I can't seem to cut them smaller, or change them in any way. I can tell from the degree of precision when in her life the quilts were done, as later in her life she had cataracts, and her sewing wasn't as well put together. They are a treasure.
With most of my favorite RUclipsrs it feels like we're right there with them, so I'd say you're doing well! And I adored the mini show-and-tell about the chalk. (Putting it on my Christmas list) The entire video (and channel!) is absolutely delightful. I doubt I will *ever* make my own quilt binding, but I watched the whole thing! ...I might make a jelly roll, though. :D
Aww! I love all of this including the chalk on your Christmas list! Thank you for watching all the way through…my videos are long enough that they aren’t for the faint of heart! 😂 So so glad you’re here with me! ❤️
When I use my creative grids binding tool for bias I fold the fabric on the bias (the ruler shows this) And it works wonderfully. My husband is also a musician, a bluegrass guitarist. I identify so much with you it is really scary for me. Love your videos!!
Glad for the ruler explanation. Sometimes those printed directions are not clear enough for me to follow. I am more of a see and hands on quilter. Thanks for the bias cutting fold note. Yes, maybe a video ruler use would be great.
Ok! I just heard you say that you don’t know a lot about cutting on the bias for binding. Girl!! Are you in for an awesome treat!! Especially using men’s shirts!! There is a method you can easily find in books or internet where you sew your fabric piece together in sort of a fat sleeve-type shape, then you lay it flat and mark your 2 1/2” marks on the sleeve on the bias. Then you carefully cut on that line with your scissors, and, tada!!! You have one LONG strip of bias binding! Strips already connected. I can’t wait until you check that out. You’re going to do a great video with a big smile, all excited about this simple and effective method. God bless!!
Found and watched the MSQC video tutorial (thanks for the heads up about the red fabric...it helped me find the right one!) This is VERY COOL although it was challenging to see the lines she marked which I guess is just part of watching an old video!😉 I'm going to try this on a shirt and see how well it works! Thanks Joshua and Cheri for the suggestion!
Jennifer! If you haven't watched all my other videos (yes, I realize this sounds SO self-promote-y, but it's not coming from that kind of heart,) you should!! My husband does all the editing, sound engineering, captions, on-screen definitions and camera work---and he is hilarious! 😂 He makes me so much funnier than I really am, just by putting perfect captions/images/inserts with it! ❤️
I've found you on RUclips just a few weeks ago. Although I was focused on EPP the idea of sewing and quilting with men's shirts has got me and so my collection of fabric meanwhile has grown to a nice hill. I don't know anybody here in Germany who is doing this and I keep my plans secret until the first blanket will be done. Might be a big surprise. Each of your videos is a great joy to watch. I love seeing and hearing you laugh and if course to learn from your experience. Waiting impatiently for the next video I send you greetings from the Lower Rhine area and wish you all the best, Renate
Oh Renate, what a wonderful compliment! Greetings and well wishes in return! Thank you so very much for your kind words and for watching my videos! You will get a great thrill when you show everyone your quilt made from mens shirts and point out all the recycled/upcycled fabric! The surprise on people's faces is so very rewarding--so I am 100% in support of you keeping this secret! 🥰 ❤️
Thanks for another great, informative video. I made a trip to a different thrift store last week. I also showed my mom how to break down the shirts. So now she has something to do and I get to reap the rewards. 😊
Genius! I have thought about recruiting my girls to break down the shirts for me, but I actually find it rewarding, so I haven’t delegated that task (YET! Lol!) Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
First of all, let me say…you come across as the sweetest person…everytime you say “if you were here we would…”, I wish I was there. You always make me smile and want to head to the thrift store. Thank you for a great channel/tutorial collection. I would however like to know why you have or how you use all of the color pencils in your sewing room? Do you color a sample of your design first?
Well I'm glad I come across that way! LOL! 😂 IRL, I'm probably more like how Mary Poppins responds to the advertisement Jane and Michael write...she says, "I am kind, but extremely firm." 😂❤️ Thank you for such a wonderful compliment! 🥰 And the answer is YES! 😊🤓 When I'm trying to picture how my color choices/fabrics will work for a specific pattern, I use the colored pencils and graph paper (with gray lines, not blue! 😍) to get a visual for what the quilt would look like. Not always, but often. Especially if my colorway is radically different than the pattern example.🤩
I hope you do a video on mitering the binding corners .... I've been quilting for years and it still gives me fits... maybe you have a trick for it... :)
Getting ready to start a new video series (first quilt! Eek! So excited!) and I will cover that in the binding episode. ❤️ Not that I do it any better than anyone else, but maybe “my way” will work better for you. 😊 Thanks for watching and for commenting! 🥰
Once you have the first bias strip cut, you should be able to place any ruler along that cut edge and cut any width strip you want. You can even move your fabric so the cut edge is running the length of your mat, allowing you to cut longer strips easily. I have wanted to use gingham for binding and never thought of cutting on the bias to make it work. I've been watching all the plaid videos, as I too use men's shirts. Now I can be more sure of what I am doing. Thanks for all your great videos.
Thank you, Karen! ❤️ I may be wearing my viewers out with the plaid videos---but they are daunting for so many people, and I want everyone to love to use them in quilts like I do! 🥰
Wow, I appreciate all the great tidbits you’ve included here! I did want to say that I made a wall hanging for my daughter with striped binding that had the stripes going across the 2.5” width rather than the length of the strip, and it was really cute! I guess it all depends on the look you are going for when finishing off your quilted project. Love the quilt hanging behind you. Was that made with hundreds of tiny squares or did you have lots of sewn strips to achieve the look? Thanks so much for your video!….❤️Brenda
Thank you, Brenda! And yes, I think you can use striped binding the “long way” but I don’t trust myself to keep it straight for a big project! 😳😱🤪 I didn’t make the quilt in the background…it is my grandmother’s work! ❤️ So, it was not done in strips but hundreds of squares, cut with scissors and pieced mostly by hand! Can you imagine?!? The planning alone! 😳😍🥰
Wow! The fascination with quilts and the stories they tell are a magical journey of memories stitched that connect one human to another in an unending serial of storytelling. M m m-m what chapter is this?
The bias binding would be great for something curved, like a Christmas tree skirt. One of my friends made tree skirts for her children, using the fabric from their weddings. I noticed on most of the quilts that my husband’s grandmother made, she used the backing as the binding. So it was just folded over from the back and hand stitched to the front. That was easier, but your way with the fabric doubled on the edge would last better. I have only made one quilt (36” square for a baby) about 25 years ago. I hand-quilted the the quilt, because grandma’s quilts were all hand quilted, so I thought it would be cheating to machine quilt. (That was so hard on my hands, so I’m glad I’m over that!)
Hello again”C”athy. More great tips and info. I have the comment idk how many times not to use the mat to cut measure just use your ruler but🥴. I will use both, thank you. Have a Blessed Day!
Thank you, Kathy! ❤️ I think a lot of us struggle to use just the ruler, so I guess I'll just keep using both too! Thanks as always for watching and for your sweet comments! 😊🥰
I’ve been collecting my husbands old shirts for many years and am planning on making an English paper pieced clamshell quilt with them. Really love your channel and lovely smile.
Great video Cathy. I had no idea or clue to use men's shirts for binding. So appreciate that you have already worked this out and to share with your audience. TFS! 💕👍
Great video! I feel like you're talking to me in the same room too! This past weekend I got a bug in my brain and wondered if I could make a 3 yard quilt pattern, from Fabric Cafe, from 3 men's shirts. I think all my shirts were xxl or larger and I had plenty of fabric to make a 44 by 60 inch lap size quilt top and a 2.5 inch scrappy binding from mostly the shirt fronts. I still have the sleeves leftover. For this first shirt quilt I am going to use a fabric from my stash for the backing but next time I'm going to try making the backing from shirts too. The top came out so soft that I want to see what a backing of shirts would do to the whole quilt. I saved the shirt care label and I'm going to attach it somewhere to give a hint of where the fabric came from and so that the family member I give it to knows how to wash it. Thank you so much for sharing! I'm always excited to see what you have to say! Have a great day!
Aww thank you! 🥰 And that is WONDERFUL about your lap size quilt from 3 men’s shirts! Even though I sew with shirts all the time, I’m always floored just how much fabric you can get from them! 🤩😊👍🏻 I would love to know the pattern you used (if you still have it)…I’m starting to compile patterns that work for men’s shirts for video(s) on that topic!! ❤️ Thanks for watching and commenting! I really do appreciate it! 🥰
Wish you lived in NC there is a Hospice Thrift Store that have a sale for shopping bag full of clothing for 10. Thought of you when I found 3xl cotton shirts. Bought 5.
Did the fuzzy cuttig of a plaided fabric for binding recently. The repeat was nearly exactly 2.5", so that was perfect and I did not need to loose fabric :) I also want to recommend a video which I loved to get the joining of the two binding ends properly explained: "how to join the ends of binding" from quilttv. With that video I finally got it :)
I’m as excited for you as I would be if I had fussy cut that binding myself! So wonderful. Thank you for the recommendation…I will check it out! Always happy to have resources to share! ❤️
Hi Cathy! Here with you from NC, and I don't have any questions 2 days later! 😂🤣 Great video as always. Keep them coming and still laughing along with you. Maybe you can get a bigger cutting mat next Christmas! ❤️
Anita!! I just had a birthday and my husband (the editor! 🥰) got a big cutting mat for me!! I LURV it and now we have to hang hooks to put it on because I have no flat surface large enough to handle it!! 😍❤️☺️ Also, I laughed about your “don’t have questions!” Lol! How wonderful…and thank you!! Always so supportive and complimentary! 😘
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Happy Birthday, Cathy, and you have a wonderful editor. A girl can never have too many cutting mats, scissors, rotary blades or fabric marking devices, or rulers or... in the sewing room. I am dreaming about thrift stores now even though I haven't been to one in a while. Last night's dream: my husband told me about a sweet thrift store on our route that I wasn't aware of. 😂🤣 Just imagine how much sewing you can do when you retire. 😁
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I slide my extra mats under my extra large ironing board I made that tops my cutting table, or slip them behind my sewing desk. I have all sizes of mats plus a rotating one. I learned how to make an extra large ironing board from Matt Jordan on the Jordan Fabrics RUclips❤️
Great idea! The one time I folded fabric (very early on in this process) I didn’t fold it straight and all my binding strips looked like boomerangs! 😂 and yes, white chalk is great for dark fabrics….i think I just gravitate to the colored chalks! ❤️ Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Hi Cathy I’m embarking on my journey of collecting mens blue/white shirts. I’d like to make a lap or crib quilt. About how many shirts would I need! Thank you. BTW. Mens shirts in my neighbourhood are about 9$.
$9 is about what my local thrift store prices their high quality shirts…I try to hold out until half-off day! But even that is still doable for how much fabric you get! As for how many shirts to use? It really depends on the pattern you use, but for a baby quilt you will probably be able to get by with 3 XL men’s shirts or maybe 4 if you need another print or color. PS great question! Thanks for your comment!
LOL! Mostly I swear (at work) to make my coworkers laugh or blow off a little steam...sometimes if I sew something wrong, a word (or two!) might slip out! I guess I should be thankful that I don't seem like someone who swears! 😂❤️ Thank you for watching and commenting! 🥰
I have heard that you shouldn’t use your mat to measure with as well. I never understood that because if you use it consistently, everything should come out correctly. I have found that there’s is a lot of discrepancy from ruler to ruler. One inch should be one inch but it isn’t always. I always work with the same ruler during a project. I don’t switch from a longer ruler to a shorter one for this very reason. Just a little something I’ve learned over the years. I love working with mens shirts. Just recently we had a new baby in our family and my daughter in law’s sisters wanted to make a quilt for her and we all made a few blocks and I used my husband Hawaiian shirt to make my blocks with. It really turned out really cute with everyone’s choices of fabrics. I used the collar to make my Rottweiler an edition to his regular collar. He looks so adorable!
Thank you, Jana for watching and for your comment! I tend to use the same mat, but I do sometimes switch out rulers. Now I’m gonna have to compare the ones I use and make sure that the one inch measures are consistent between them! Congrats on the new baby girl! I’m sure her quilt will be treasured! ❤️ I will add “pet collar”’to the growing list of things one can make with shirt collars/cuffs! I bet he was mighty cute in it! 🥰
Do you know that if you rest at least 1 finger on the table/ off the ruler- the ruler is less likely to shift as you are cutting the fabric... a little tidbit I learned from 1 of the MANY amazing quilters on Instagram ❣️
Have you used a striped shirt to make bias binding? I have used stripes perpendicular to a quilt, but on the bias is just that bit "extra." (I apparently asked that right before you pulled out the gingham shirt.)
I understand that we cut on the bias so that binding will wrap around curves. But with a quilt, can't we use straight grain cuts to make bias tape? The edges are straight. Thoughts?
I have done binding cut straight on the grain, and on the bias…I agree that if there are no curves, there is no *need* for bias binding. For me it is so much easier to do straight cuts on shirt fabric, unless it is a fabric like gingham or other plaid that will be more aesthetically pleasing on the bias. I’m certainly not the expert on this topic, but that’s my opinion! Great question! Thanks for watching and for your comment! 😊❤️
I have a shirt that I love but used it for cornerstones so I don't have enough for a binding. I don't care! I'm going to alternate with another color. I'll just call it modern quilting...
The men's thrift store shirts are $5.99 each (for me), so 100% cotton sheets and pillow cases have caught my eye. They are $1.99 for two king pillow cases. Is there any reason you know of to not use sheets in quilting?
I have heard some quilters say they won’t use them because they (often) have a higher thread count than quilting cottons, but honestly, as long as you use a new needle and set your stitch length appropriately (and go slowly,) I don’t see why you couldn’t use them. My quilting mentor/soulmate friend uses them for backing all the time (and she’s forgotten more about quilting than I’ve ever known! 😉) Remember, though that even at $5.99 you’re still getting a bargain if the shirt is L/XL or bigger. If one sleeve Is close to a fat quarter (they often are) then just the sleeves are worth the price! 😘
I also really like thrifted sheets for backing. It is a great use for an orphan flat sheet. For one back, I opened a pair of king pillow cases and sewed a patchwork strip of leftovers of the face fabrics in between the long strips of pillowcase fabric. They were oddly ugly fabric, those pillow cases, but the back turned out fine, and the whole backing cost maybe $2. I think old sheets stitch up just fine. If you find that your machine skips stitches, slow down and use a new/sharper needle.
Stupid question alert: Do people ever make reversible quilts? I suppose the backing takes most of the beating when in use, so I guess that would deteriorate after a while, but you wouldn't have a "backing" if you have two fronts and would likely use both sides and they would wear down equally. Just curious.
Not a stupid question at all!! A LOT of people make “reversible” quilts! Plenty of people like to piece the backing, either with scraps or fabric leftover from the front, or if they want to use fabric from their stash. And if you’re making it as a gift, the receiver gets two quilts in one! 😍🤓🤩
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Thank you. I remembered another Pittsburghism: "You kids be quiet, or I'll knock you gin the wall." HAHA. My father would say that to us. He is from Etna. Polish Pittsburgher.
@@firetopman I’ve never heard that one! 😱😂 There’s quite a lot of those Polish Pittsburghers out there…what a wonderful contribution they make to the culture of Pittsburgh!
I do! So far, I've only used linen or pj pants, but yes! Women's pants are often a little lighter weight, which makes them easier to work with (think spring and summer pants) but I have definitely considered doing a heavy weight quilt and using men's pants or jeans in it!
Newbie here… Is there a fabric-bias for dummies out there? Even after 4 years of high school sewing (literally last century-the 1980s!), lots of college education, and several YT videos, I just don’t get it! 😢 Help?
Of course there is nothing immoral in using the lines on the mat to measure and cut, it just means your mat gets extra wear on the lines, and thus might not last as long. One sign of a worn mat is uncut threads in the same place on the mat with multiple cuts. So your hanging threads in this video might not be the result of a nicked rotary blade (though that is a usual culprit).
Not scary to me! I think binding is one of those polarizing aspects of quilting…folks seem to be very much in one camp or the other! I’m right on the line between Cancer/Leo, so I may be somewhat of a mystery! Lol! (And I know nothing about the zodiac so…🤷🏻♀️)
Ok, here we go again. I’m so sorry but what is twill? Arg! Also, you’re going to hate me but that spot in the shirt is making me crazy. Ok, all of that aside, don’t you want to cut the binding on the bias so the quilt edge doesn’t wear out on the grain? Just asking. I’m sure you’ll have great reasons for what you do. You are too funny! I HAVE to line my fabric up with my cutting mat too. It must be our personality types. Just like you pick at the threads and make fun of yourself, the spot on the shirt and the bias question is… what did you call it? Something like a psychological issue? Haha! Lord, help us. Ok, it must not be a spot in the shirt because I’m seeing it on the arm fabric too. So it must be something showing through on your cutting mat. I feel better now. 🤣
Ok all of this made me laugh! “Pathologic” is the word I used which also says a lot about me. Yes I noticed the spot on the video too, but I think it is something under the mat maybe…and I had the same relief. I think Google will do a better definition of twill than me…so check it out. With twill (which has a diagonal grain even when you straight cut it) it will wear well no matter whether it is on the bias or not. 😘
This channel is a hidden gem and I'm so glad that I happened to stumble upon it. 😀
Aww! Thank you, Barbara! 🥰
I’d love for it to not stay “hidden” though😂….so please share with anyone who you think might enjoy it! Thank you for watching and commenting! ❤️
Thank you so much for another great video. You strike the perfect balance between learning a skill and having a good giggle. The outtakes at the end of this video are hilarious. Love your content. Please keep the videos coming!
Thank you so much, Lori! 🥰 And thank you for watching and commenting!
I took a quick trip to a thrift store and bought three shirts that I like the feel of and the color. Your videos have been VERY inspiring and this series was SUPER helpful!
Oh YAY!! I'm so very glad that you've enjoyed this series and that you've gotten inspiration here with me! Thank you, Lisa, for watching and for commenting! ❤️
I like binding, especially handstitching. I find it meditative.
Me too! It slows me down a little and I find that focusing during hand stitching is very calming for me. Thanks for watching and commenting! ❤️
I often put off the hand work sewing because I am like the Energizer Bunny…going and going and going…to the point that makes others dizzy. Once I do sit down with a needle in hand I am at peace with myself and the world. It forces me to concentrate in one place for a period of time “off the clock” for that relaxing mindful experience. Keep those videos coming please!🪡🧵
I just love your videos! Love your sense of humor, love your sound effects. I thought I was the only one that still hasn't figured out how to measure with just my ruler instead of my mat. If you figure out how to do that, I hope you will do a video and show me how it's done! Lol! Great video. And you really should try cutting binding on the bias. It makes such a difference! Oh, and my trash is on my left... is that ok? 😁 Looking forward to your next video!♥
Thank you, Robin! You are always so faithful to comment with support and encouragement! 🥰 The one gingham binding that I did on the bias turned out lovely…but whew it wasn’t easy and it had a TON of seams! Lol.
You know I hate having my trash on the wrong side! 😂
Another comedian in our midst. Isn’t she contagious in her “let’s try this” approach? Love this mad scientist approach with that “formula” response to any bigger “inventions by accident” she discovers. Always giggling no matter the result. Refreshing and inspirational in that she invites us to explore our own “mistakes” to try something new with the resulting product.😇💕🎄
So much great information. I had no idea you could get so many 2 1/2" strips from a shirt. To be honest when I read the title, I was thinking can you really get enough fabric for a binding. Yes, yes you can! Thank you for another great tutorial.
Thank you, Linda! ☺️ and yes, every time I get ready to do binding, I think “is there enough here?” Resounding yes! 🥰 Thank you so much for watching and commenting!! ❤️
I love your patience & teaching techniques. Each lesson is like “sewing & learning with a friend.” Thank you for sharing & being that friend! You're delightful🤗
Aww, thank you, Sandra! ❤️
Your videos never cease to amaze me with their content. Thank you for sharing your experiences with all those shirts and those wonderful quilts on the wall behind you.🍀❤️
Thank you so much! 🥰❤️
I really enjoy your down to earth but very educational videos. You teach me as I’m smiling through the whole video.
Thank you, Gail! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos while learning! If I can make you smile or laugh and learn something, then I've accomplished what I set out to do! ❤️
I've only made one scrappy binding from men's shirts and wish I'd have had your formula to start with as I was constantly holding it up to the quilt until I thought I had enough and I still had to stop and add another strip because I came up short.
Will you be doing another video showing how to sew the strips together and how to do that tricky final seam that I always sew the wrong way, rip it out, sew the wrong way again, say a few curse words, rip it out and if I'm lucky I get it right the third time.
Lol! So very relatable!! ☺️ I’m getting ready to do a “first quilt” series (eek! So excited!!) so I think I probably WILL do a video showing how to attach the sew the binding together and then how to attach it to the quilt and then finish it up! You might have to wait a few weeks for it…but it’s coming!! 😊👍🏻❤️ Thank you for your comment!
My game changer is the corner clipper ruler from creative grids. It has helped the joining process.
Had to unpick some binding, yes true, quilting is not a race. Lesson learned indeed. Every video of you I watched I was doing something similar at the same time. I had a great session in the sewing room with you today. 🇦🇺💜🇺🇲💚👍🖐😊
Anita, I have to remind myself every time I sit down to sew/quilt that it isn't a race and it doesn't have to perfect! (and I still find myself rushing, and being irritated when something doesn't come out EXACTLY RIGHT. Sigh.) I've got to say, quilts aren't the only things that are works in progress!! 😂
Glad our session together was great today! 😘
The greatest part of spending time with you here at the Catbirding sessions of love is the extra time you devote to keeping your channel so personal. You take so much extra time and effort to answer every question or observation from your fans. Your husband completes the package with his video editing skills. I could never be quiet long enough to concentrating on doing such high quality video workmanship. Thank you goes for you as well when I comment here.🎼🛠📸🔌💖
Oh my goodness! Thank you for all the love! I do love the interaction with great folks like you...it makes YT very rewarding and meaningful for me! ❤️
What a beautiful quilt behind you, and sentimental as well. I still have a couple of quilts from my grandmother, quite tattered and well loved, but I can't seem to cut them smaller, or change them in any way. I can tell from the degree of precision when in her life the quilts were done, as later in her life she had cataracts, and her sewing wasn't as well put together. They are a treasure.
Thank you! And yes…”treasure” is the perfect word! ❤️
With most of my favorite RUclipsrs it feels like we're right there with them, so I'd say you're doing well! And I adored the mini show-and-tell about the chalk. (Putting it on my Christmas list) The entire video (and channel!) is absolutely delightful. I doubt I will *ever* make my own quilt binding, but I watched the whole thing!
...I might make a jelly roll, though. :D
Aww! I love all of this including the chalk on your Christmas list! Thank you for watching all the way through…my videos are long enough that they aren’t for the faint of heart! 😂
So so glad you’re here with me! ❤️
Vanilla cake and strawberry filling, please. LOL.
I love that “pick” chalk. I am not waiting for a Christmas wish list though. Off I go shopping AFTER my thrift store hunt. Lol 🔦😇
When I use my creative grids binding tool for bias I fold the fabric on the bias (the ruler shows this) And it works wonderfully. My husband is also a musician, a bluegrass guitarist. I identify so much with you it is really scary for me. Love your videos!!
Thank you, Cindy! I haven’t used binding from real fabric yardage yet, but I will next time! I’m so glad you’re along this journey with me! ❤️
Glad for the ruler explanation. Sometimes those printed directions are not clear enough for me to follow. I am more of a see and hands on quilter. Thanks for the bias cutting fold note. Yes, maybe a video ruler use would be great.
Ok! I just heard you say that you don’t know a lot about cutting on the bias for binding.
Girl!! Are you in for an awesome treat!! Especially using men’s shirts!!
There is a method you can easily find in books or internet where you sew your fabric piece together in sort of a fat sleeve-type shape, then you lay it flat and mark your 2 1/2” marks on the sleeve on the bias. Then you carefully cut on that line with your scissors, and, tada!!! You have one LONG strip of bias binding! Strips already connected.
I can’t wait until you check that out. You’re going to do a great video with a big smile, all excited about this simple and effective method.
God bless!!
Well I’m gonna have to check that out! I will report back once I’ve tried it! Thanks for sharing! ❤️
One of the early MSQC videos shows that method for bias binding using yardage, I think. If I remember right, Jenny used a red rabric to demonstrate.
@@joshuaharper372 I’m so curious about this…now to find the video, and make time to watch it!
Found and watched the MSQC video tutorial (thanks for the heads up about the red fabric...it helped me find the right one!) This is VERY COOL although it was challenging to see the lines she marked which I guess is just part of watching an old video!😉 I'm going to try this on a shirt and see how well it works! Thanks Joshua and Cheri for the suggestion!
What a fantastic series!! Another gem here 💎 this will be a game changer
Oh my goodness!! 🥰 Thank you❤️
Bias binding is GREAT for rounded corners!
I love the on screen definitions and zoomy camera work..more of those!
Jennifer! If you haven't watched all my other videos (yes, I realize this sounds SO self-promote-y, but it's not coming from that kind of heart,) you should!! My husband does all the editing, sound engineering, captions, on-screen definitions and camera work---and he is hilarious! 😂 He makes me so much funnier than I really am, just by putting perfect captions/images/inserts with it! ❤️
Picking is what we do. Can’t be helped.
I so enjoy you videos.
Blessings and happy piecing.
It is, isn’t it? (Picking) and thank you so much!! 🥰
I so enjoy you 💖
I have not made a quilt yet . But I am thinking about making one now 😁.
So fun ☺️🎉
Do. It. 🤩❤️🤓 you’ll be so glad you did! And thank you-I’m glad you’re enjoying being here with me!
I've found you on RUclips just a few weeks ago. Although I was focused on EPP the idea of sewing and quilting with men's shirts has got me and so my collection of fabric meanwhile has grown to a nice hill. I don't know anybody here in Germany who is doing this and I keep my plans secret until the first blanket will be done. Might be a big surprise.
Each of your videos is a great joy to watch. I love seeing and hearing you laugh and if course to learn from your experience.
Waiting impatiently for the next video I send you greetings from the Lower Rhine area and wish you all the best, Renate
Oh Renate, what a wonderful compliment! Greetings and well wishes in return! Thank you so very much for your kind words and for watching my videos! You will get a great thrill when you show everyone your quilt made from mens shirts and point out all the recycled/upcycled fabric! The surprise on people's faces is so very rewarding--so I am 100% in support of you keeping this secret! 🥰 ❤️
Thanks for another great, informative video. I made a trip to a different thrift store last week. I also showed my mom how to break down the shirts. So now she has something to do and I get to reap the rewards. 😊
Genius! I have thought about recruiting my girls to break down the shirts for me, but I actually find it rewarding, so I haven’t delegated that task (YET! Lol!)
Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
What a great idea. Here ya go Mom…cut away!!!
I’m with you, I just have to put the fabric on the mat line!
Great day with you 🙏🏻
Thank you, Zena!
First of all, let me say…you come across as the sweetest person…everytime you say “if you were here we would…”, I wish I was there. You always make me smile and want to head to the thrift store. Thank you for a great channel/tutorial collection. I would however like to know why you have or how you use all of the color pencils in your sewing room? Do you color a sample of your design first?
Well I'm glad I come across that way! LOL! 😂 IRL, I'm probably more like how Mary Poppins responds to the advertisement Jane and Michael write...she says, "I am kind, but extremely firm." 😂❤️ Thank you for such a wonderful compliment! 🥰 And the answer is YES! 😊🤓 When I'm trying to picture how my color choices/fabrics will work for a specific pattern, I use the colored pencils and graph paper (with gray lines, not blue! 😍) to get a visual for what the quilt would look like. Not always, but often. Especially if my colorway is radically different than the pattern example.🤩
I hope you do a video on mitering the binding corners .... I've been quilting for years and it still gives me fits... maybe you have a trick for it... :)
Getting ready to start a new video series (first quilt! Eek! So excited!) and I will cover that in the binding episode. ❤️ Not that I do it any better than anyone else, but maybe “my way” will work better for you. 😊
Thanks for watching and for commenting! 🥰
Once you have the first bias strip cut, you should be able to place any ruler along that cut edge and cut any width strip you want. You can even move your fabric so the cut edge is running the length of your mat, allowing you to cut longer strips easily.
I have wanted to use gingham for binding and never thought of cutting on the bias to make it work.
I've been watching all the plaid videos, as I too use men's shirts. Now I can be more sure of what I am doing.
Thanks for all your great videos.
Thank you, Karen! ❤️ I may be wearing my viewers out with the plaid videos---but they are daunting for so many people, and I want everyone to love to use them in quilts like I do! 🥰
@@TheCatBirdQuilts
The more I see of plaids the more I am sure to use them. It is great you show examples, so we can see how they add to a quilt.
Awesome info & tutorial ! 💐. Omg lol bass akwards. I haven’t heard that phrase in a minute or some. Hahaha😁
It’s one of my favorites but I rarely have a reason to use it! So glad it made you laugh! 😂❤️
Wow, I appreciate all the great tidbits you’ve included here! I did want to say that I made a wall hanging for my daughter with striped binding that had the stripes going across the 2.5” width rather than the length of the strip, and it was really cute! I guess it all depends on the look you are going for when finishing off your quilted project. Love the quilt hanging behind you. Was that made with hundreds of tiny squares or did you have lots of sewn strips to achieve the look? Thanks so much for your video!….❤️Brenda
Thank you, Brenda! And yes, I think you can use striped binding the “long way” but I don’t trust myself to keep it straight for a big project! 😳😱🤪
I didn’t make the quilt in the background…it is my grandmother’s work! ❤️ So, it was not done in strips but hundreds of squares, cut with scissors and pieced mostly by hand! Can you imagine?!? The planning alone! 😳😍🥰
Wow! The fascination with quilts and the stories they tell are a magical journey of memories stitched that connect one human to another in an unending serial of storytelling. M m m-m what chapter is this?
The bias binding would be great for something curved, like a Christmas tree skirt. One of my friends made tree skirts for her children, using the fabric from their weddings.
I noticed on most of the quilts that my husband’s grandmother made, she used the backing as the binding. So it was just folded over from the back and hand stitched to the front. That was easier, but your way with the fabric doubled on the edge would last better.
I have only made one quilt (36” square for a baby) about 25 years ago. I hand-quilted the the quilt, because grandma’s quilts were all hand quilted, so I thought it would be cheating to machine quilt. (That was so hard on my hands, so I’m glad I’m over that!)
Love your videos ❤ I always feel like I’m there with you too!
Aww, thank you, Jaime! 🥰
So informative - as always! Love that you show us your mistakes too 😂😂😂😂 The quilt behind you is beautiful as well - loving the colours.
Thank you! 🥰 The quilt behind me was made by my grandmother!! Isn’t is gorgeous?! 😊
I just love seeing you smile! I recently used a couple of Tod’s old shirts, a pillowcase and strips of a sheet to make a fun log cabin throw
Mama Bev! Fancy seeing you here!! 🥰🤗😊❤️
And of course you are a thrifter and quilter! ❤️❤️❤️
Hello again”C”athy. More great tips and info. I have the comment idk how many times not to use the mat to cut measure just use your ruler but🥴. I will use both, thank you. Have a Blessed Day!
Thank you, Kathy! ❤️ I think a lot of us struggle to use just the ruler, so I guess I'll just keep using both too! Thanks as always for watching and for your sweet comments! 😊🥰
I’ve been collecting my husbands old shirts for many years and am planning on making an English paper pieced clamshell quilt with them. Really love your channel and lovely smile.
Aw thank you! 🥰
Great video Cathy. I had no idea or clue to use men's shirts for binding. So appreciate that you have already worked this out and to share with your audience. TFS! 💕👍
Thank you, Jeanette! ❤️
I love binding
ME too! It's the best! 🤓❤️
Thanks so much for all the very helpful tips on cutting binding from Men’s shirts! ❤️
You’re welcome! Almost every video I’ve made (so far) is just an answer to questions I’ve had myself! So glad it is helpful for you! ❤️
Great video! I feel like you're talking to me in the same room too! This past weekend I got a bug in my brain and wondered if I could make a 3 yard quilt pattern, from Fabric Cafe, from 3 men's shirts. I think all my shirts were xxl or larger and I had plenty of fabric to make a 44 by 60 inch lap size quilt top and a 2.5 inch scrappy binding from mostly the shirt fronts. I still have the sleeves leftover. For this first shirt quilt I am going to use a fabric from my stash for the backing but next time I'm going to try making the backing from shirts too. The top came out so soft that I want to see what a backing of shirts would do to the whole quilt. I saved the shirt care label and I'm going to attach it somewhere to give a hint of where the fabric came from and so that the family member I give it to knows how to wash it. Thank you so much for sharing! I'm always excited to see what you have to say! Have a great day!
Aww thank you! 🥰
And that is WONDERFUL about your lap size quilt from 3 men’s shirts! Even though I sew with shirts all the time, I’m always floored just how much fabric you can get from them! 🤩😊👍🏻
I would love to know the pattern you used (if you still have it)…I’m starting to compile patterns that work for men’s shirts for video(s) on that topic!! ❤️
Thanks for watching and commenting! I really do appreciate it! 🥰
This is such a great idea! The 3 yard quilts are so easy.
@@dedrasmitherman7983 ok so I’ve never done a 3-yard quilt pattern! Where have I been? 😂
*immediately Googles “3 yard quilt patterns”*
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I used the Dream Weaver pattern from Quick as a Wink 3 Yard Quilts
@@stitchinginthebarn8307thank you thank you!
Wish you lived in NC there is a Hospice Thrift Store that have a sale for shopping bag full of clothing for 10. Thought of you when I found 3xl cotton shirts. Bought 5.
OMG! So envious!! Lucky duck! 🤩😍🥰
Did the fuzzy cuttig of a plaided fabric for binding recently. The repeat was nearly exactly 2.5", so that was perfect and I did not need to loose fabric :)
I also want to recommend a video which I loved to get the joining of the two binding ends properly explained: "how to join the ends of binding" from quilttv. With that video I finally got it :)
I’m as excited for you as I would be if I had fussy cut that binding myself! So wonderful. Thank you for the recommendation…I will check it out! Always happy to have resources to share! ❤️
Hi Cathy! Here with you from NC, and I don't have any questions 2 days later! 😂🤣 Great video as always. Keep them coming and still laughing along with you. Maybe you can get a bigger cutting mat next Christmas! ❤️
Anita!! I just had a birthday and my husband (the editor! 🥰) got a big cutting mat for me!! I LURV it and now we have to hang hooks to put it on because I have no flat surface large enough to handle it!! 😍❤️☺️
Also, I laughed about your “don’t have questions!” Lol! How wonderful…and thank you!! Always so supportive and complimentary! 😘
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Happy Birthday, Cathy, and you have a wonderful editor. A girl can never have too many cutting mats, scissors, rotary blades or fabric marking devices, or rulers or... in the sewing room. I am dreaming about thrift stores now even though I haven't been to one in a while. Last night's dream: my husband told me about a sweet thrift store on our route that I wasn't aware of. 😂🤣 Just imagine how much sewing you can do when you retire. 😁
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I slide my extra mats under my extra large ironing board I made that tops my cutting table, or slip them behind my sewing desk. I have all sizes of mats plus a rotating one. I learned how to make an extra large ironing board from Matt Jordan on the Jordan Fabrics RUclips❤️
Horizontally and vertically are good alternative directional words.
great idea!
Love it 😊
Oh yay!! ❤️
Look at men's shirts in a whole new light now. Question: how do you attach your strips? On the angle or straight.
Right? It’s like a whole world of fabric opens up. I do mine on the angle. 👍🏻
Great joke at the top, lol. Great topic, too.
Ahh, thanks! ❤️
If ruler isn’t long enough you could fold fabric in half first before cutting. White chalk great for darker fabric.
Great idea! The one time I folded fabric (very early on in this process) I didn’t fold it straight and all my binding strips looked like boomerangs! 😂 and yes, white chalk is great for dark fabrics….i think I just gravitate to the colored chalks! ❤️
Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Hi Cathy
I’m embarking on my journey of collecting mens blue/white shirts. I’d like to make a lap or crib quilt. About how many shirts would I need! Thank you.
BTW. Mens shirts in my neighbourhood are about 9$.
$9 is about what my local thrift store prices their high quality shirts…I try to hold out until half-off day! But even that is still doable for how much fabric you get!
As for how many shirts to use? It really depends on the pattern you use, but for a baby quilt you will probably be able to get by with 3 XL men’s shirts or maybe 4 if you need another print or color.
PS great question! Thanks for your comment!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts You’re so welcome!
Somehow I can’t see you swearing! Thank you for all the lovely info!
LOL! Mostly I swear (at work) to make my coworkers laugh or blow off a little steam...sometimes if I sew something wrong, a word (or two!) might slip out! I guess I should be thankful that I don't seem like someone who swears! 😂❤️ Thank you for watching and commenting! 🥰
I have heard that you shouldn’t use your mat to measure with as well. I never understood that because if you use it consistently, everything should come out correctly. I have found that there’s is a lot of discrepancy from ruler to ruler. One inch should be one inch but it isn’t always. I always work with the same ruler during a project. I don’t switch from a longer ruler to a shorter one for this very reason. Just a little something I’ve learned over the years. I love working with mens shirts. Just recently we had a new baby in our family and my daughter in law’s sisters wanted to make a quilt for her and we all made a few blocks and I used my husband Hawaiian shirt to make my blocks with. It really turned out really cute with everyone’s choices of fabrics. I used the collar to make my Rottweiler an edition to his regular collar. He looks so adorable!
Thank you, Jana for watching and for your comment! I tend to use the same mat, but I do sometimes switch out rulers. Now I’m gonna have to compare the ones I use and make sure that the one inch measures are consistent between them!
Congrats on the new baby girl! I’m sure her quilt will be treasured! ❤️
I will add “pet collar”’to the growing list of things one can make with shirt collars/cuffs! I bet he was mighty cute in it! 🥰
@@TheCatBirdQuilts, Oh gosh! ! I never thought of the cuffs! He’d really be showing off when I take him to Joann Fabrics. Thanks for the Idea!
@@Jana-TheCraftyGambler lol! Now I have a visual of Sir in collar and cuffs and I’m dying! 😂😍🤩
Do you know that if you rest at least 1 finger on the table/ off the ruler- the ruler is less likely to shift as you are cutting the fabric... a little tidbit I learned from 1 of the MANY amazing quilters on Instagram ❣️
what a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Have you used a striped shirt to make bias binding? I have used stripes perpendicular to a quilt, but on the bias is just that bit "extra." (I apparently asked that right before you pulled out the gingham shirt.)
Lol! Totally fine. I’m thankful for every comment! 👍🏻
I understand that we cut on the bias so that binding will wrap around curves. But with a quilt, can't we use straight grain cuts to make bias tape? The edges are straight. Thoughts?
I have done binding cut straight on the grain, and on the bias…I agree that if there are no curves, there is no *need* for bias binding. For me it is so much easier to do straight cuts on shirt fabric, unless it is a fabric like gingham or other plaid that will be more aesthetically pleasing on the bias.
I’m certainly not the expert on this topic, but that’s my opinion!
Great question! Thanks for watching and for your comment! 😊❤️
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Love it! TY!
I have a shirt that I love but used it for cornerstones so I don't have enough for a binding. I don't care! I'm going to alternate with another color. I'll just call it modern quilting...
Love it! And it's your quilt...you get to do what you want! 😘
The men's thrift store shirts are $5.99 each (for me), so 100% cotton sheets and pillow cases have caught my eye. They are $1.99 for two king pillow cases. Is there any reason you know of to not use sheets in quilting?
I have heard some quilters say they won’t use them because they (often) have a higher thread count than quilting cottons, but honestly, as long as you use a new needle and set your stitch length appropriately (and go slowly,) I don’t see why you couldn’t use them. My quilting mentor/soulmate friend uses them for backing all the time (and she’s forgotten more about quilting than I’ve ever known! 😉)
Remember, though that even at $5.99 you’re still getting a bargain if the shirt is L/XL or bigger. If one sleeve Is close to a fat quarter (they often are) then just the sleeves are worth the price! 😘
I longarm quilt for customers and for myself and I use sheets as backing all the time
@@jenniferpritchett4411 I was hoping someone with longarm experience would comment! Hooray! ❤️
I also really like thrifted sheets for backing. It is a great use for an orphan flat sheet. For one back, I opened a pair of king pillow cases and sewed a patchwork strip of leftovers of the face fabrics in between the long strips of pillowcase fabric. They were oddly ugly fabric, those pillow cases, but the back turned out fine, and the whole backing cost maybe $2.
I think old sheets stitch up just fine. If you find that your machine skips stitches, slow down and use a new/sharper needle.
Stupid question alert: Do people ever make reversible quilts? I suppose the backing takes most of the beating when in use, so I guess that would deteriorate after a while, but you wouldn't have a "backing" if you have two fronts and would likely use both sides and they would wear down equally. Just curious.
Not a stupid question at all!!
A LOT of people make “reversible” quilts! Plenty of people like to piece the backing, either with scraps or fabric leftover from the front, or if they want to use fabric from their stash. And if you’re making it as a gift, the receiver gets two quilts in one! 😍🤓🤩
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Thank you. I remembered another Pittsburghism: "You kids be quiet, or I'll knock you gin the wall." HAHA. My father would say that to us. He is from Etna. Polish Pittsburgher.
@@firetopman I’ve never heard that one! 😱😂 There’s quite a lot of those Polish Pittsburghers out there…what a wonderful contribution they make to the culture of Pittsburgh!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts We'll always have the Golden '70s when the Steelers and Pirates ruled.
Do you ever use pants for quilting?
I do! So far, I've only used linen or pj pants, but yes! Women's pants are often a little lighter weight, which makes them easier to work with (think spring and summer pants) but I have definitely considered doing a heavy weight quilt and using men's pants or jeans in it!
Awesome! Since watching your videos I’ve started my first quilt using my husband’s shirts and my pants. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. 😊
Newbie here… Is there a fabric-bias for dummies out there? Even after 4 years of high school sewing (literally last century-the 1980s!), lots of college education, and several YT videos, I just don’t get it! 😢 Help?
What is it about fabric bias that you don't understand? Maybe I can do a video to explain it and perhaps help others that are struggling too!
Caveat, because these strips are not cut on the bias, don't use these to bind a scalloped edge.
Excellent point! Yes! And thanks for commenting! ❤️
As for your video lengths…for me…they never seem long enough!
Aw thank you! What a great compliment!🥰❤️
Of course there is nothing immoral in using the lines on the mat to measure and cut, it just means your mat gets extra wear on the lines, and thus might not last as long. One sign of a worn mat is uncut threads in the same place on the mat with multiple cuts. So your hanging threads in this video might not be the result of a nicked rotary blade (though that is a usual culprit).
Interesting! 🤔And I do tend to press too hard with my cutter (unsurprising) so I have some pretty deep grooves in my mat!
I too am not a binding hater...we kind of have a very similar personality...is that scary?
Im a Virgo...
Not scary to me! I think binding is one of those polarizing aspects of quilting…folks seem to be very much in one camp or the other!
I’m right on the line between Cancer/Leo, so I may be somewhat of a mystery! Lol! (And I know nothing about the zodiac so…🤷🏻♀️)
@@TheCatBirdQuilts All l've heard is that Virgos are a " bit fussy""...not into it either
Ok, here we go again. I’m so sorry but what is twill? Arg!
Also, you’re going to hate me but that spot in the shirt is making me crazy.
Ok, all of that aside, don’t you want to cut the binding on the bias so the quilt edge doesn’t wear out on the grain?
Just asking. I’m sure you’ll have great reasons for what you do.
You are too funny! I HAVE to line my fabric up with my cutting mat too. It must be our personality types.
Just like you pick at the threads and make fun of yourself, the spot on the shirt and the bias question is… what did you call it? Something like a psychological issue? Haha! Lord, help us.
Ok, it must not be a spot in the shirt because I’m seeing it on the arm fabric too. So it must be something showing through on your cutting mat. I feel better now. 🤣
Ok all of this made me laugh! “Pathologic” is the word I used which also says a lot about me. Yes I noticed the spot on the video too, but I think it is something under the mat maybe…and I had the same relief.
I think Google will do a better definition of twill than me…so check it out. With twill (which has a diagonal grain even when you straight cut it) it will wear well no matter whether it is on the bias or not. 😘
Most denim for jeans is a twill weave; so are many men's khaki work pants. It looks like it has small diagonal ridges.