Binder Attachment and feet

[karen f.]

What is your opinion of the binding attachment and binding feet for the 440? Do you love it? Hate it? Is it worth the price?

[Liberata T.]

I can't answer if it's worth it because I flipped out when I heard the price. Even my dealer was taken aback when she looked it up in the catalog. I've been looking at your post for days to see if anyone responded.

[Liberata T.]

I did exactly the same. :shock: AND then you also need the FOOT to go with it once you've bought it!

It looks a wonderful piece of kit but they are really taking the micky with some of the prices.

[Liberata T.]

My LQS aka Bernina dealer, has a frequent buyer plan. When you fill the card you get a $25 gift certificate. I use these for the feet, it helps to keep the cost of the addiction reasonable. :lol:

Jean in Windsor, ON

[Liberata T.]

Ditto re cost! :roll: Of course, those living next to each other could always buy one to share, prob is, by the time you post it a couple of times, you would have spent the same as buying it! Anyway, no one has said how well it works yet!
Lynn in chilly cheddar

[Diane J.]

I've had the largest one on order since June 20!!!

Hearsay is that it won't bind something with heavy batting.

If I ever get the dang thing I'll post!

[Charlene F.]

I bought the largest binder attachment quite a while ago and hadn't used it. Recently I pulled it out and when I saw the sales receipt :shock: I decided I better try it out. I finished two potholders and made a small case to hold my Garmin. It takes some practice, but if done correctly makes a neat, thin binding.

I put the strip in the attachment with the wrong side out (twice) and had to cut the binding when it came to the seam. Also, not sure if you can do square corners, I cut my strips on the bias and curved my potholders' edges. I posted a picture in my profile.

The Bernina videos are excellent for describing how to use the attachment. I think I recall being told that these are individually machined and not mass produced, thus the cost (and the wait). Charlene

[Charlene F.]

I have the large binder and it does make a very thin binding. Mostly good for potholders small cases ets. But, I have two quilts with the decorative thin binding sewn to the larger binding (Watch Bernina Video Binding With Pizzaz). That is my favorite use for this. Although I haven't figured out the best way to finish the two ends when machine sewing the binding to the front. I contacted Bernina USA with this question but never got a response. Any one else know?

[Betty J.]

I have the large binder and it does make a very thin binding. Mostly good for potholders small cases ets. But, I have two quilts with the decorative thin binding sewn to the larger binding (Watch Bernina Video Binding With Pizzaz). That is my favorite use for this. Although I haven't figured out the best way to finish the two ends when machine sewing the binding to the front. I contacted Bernina USA with this question but never got a response. Any one else know?

I'd sure like to know the answer to that! I have the attachment for my 200E/730 and have used it for a few potholders, but I might also use it for utility quilts that could take a beating. I hope someone answers.

[Lorna B.]

Nina McVeigh demonstrates how to finish the two ends in one of those short Bernina videos on the TQS home page. Take a look at the June 4, 2007 video titled A Perfect Bias Binding by Machine.

[Lorna B.]

Yes, but that is not with the "trim" on the binding. That makes it a little different. I finished mine that way but it does not look as smooth as I would like.

[Lorna B.]

Oh I understand your question now. Hmm. I like how they binded the binding. Not sure unless you take it out of the machine and do it by hand. I am wondering about using this type of binding for quilts. I have always used binding that is folded in half then used. Seems this single layer of binding would wear out very fast. Does anyone use a single layer binding on quilt projects? I can see using it for other sewing and craft ideas as they show in those other short videos.

[Jeanie E.]

My dealer told me this attachment was not intended for binding quilts. She said it cannot handle the thickness of a typical quilt.

[Lorna B.]

That is good information to know. Thanks

[Susan B.]

I have this attachment for my older Bernina. I never use it. I recall that it is a PIA, but others may like it. I remember getting lots of funny wrinkles going around curves.If you want to spend the money, ask the dealer for a demo and a chance to try theirs.

I just rewatched the Bernina videos on the attachment. A couple of things to note: Nina always uses TruE bias. :? When was the last time you cut that? The purse handle was cool, but I'm wondering how much fabric that took.

Neither video shows a mitered corner...because it's about impossible to do neatly with this attachment.

Also, did you here them say that you need a #94 foot? One may wonder if that's included in the cost of the binder.

I enjoy the final hand stitching on a quilt for attaching the binding. Having said that, Judy Laquidara has a video tutorial on attaching bias binding totally by machine. I did this on a wall-hanging recently & had to fix two of the mitered corners, but am pleased, as this is no where near a show quilt. Wow, is it fast.

See her great tutorials at http://www.patchworktimes.com/category/tutorials/

Take the time to explore her posts. She has lots of great information and lots of free patterns.