sandyl

I am one that prefers to hand stitch my binding to the back of my quilts because I prefer the look over the stitches showing as another row, or the look of decorative stitches on the front of the binding. So, that being said has anyone ever used a "stitch in the ditch" foot to apply binding? I'm referring to the second stitching, either on the front or on the back. This was a thought that came to me as I was stitching in the ditch with that foot.
Sandy

PaperPrincess

Yes, that's how I do it. I cut the binding 2.25 inches, and do not press. Sew it to the front with not quite a 3/8" seam (width of the foot I use). Iron 3 times: first to set the stitches, second to just fold the binding over (but still don't press the crease in the binding) and the third time to do the fold over and set the crease. Then i SITD from the front. Normally, I don't even need to pin or glue the binding, just keep it folded over with my hand. Oh, I stop ironing about 3 inches from the corners and deal with them as I come to them with the SITD.

ranger

I use the walking foot to apply binding to the front. I also hand-stitch to the back. I usually cut the binding either 2-1/4 or 2-1/2 inches.

luana

I also prefer to turn the binding to the back and hand stitch. But for charity quilts I sew the binding to the back and bring it to the front. Then I use my waking foot, with the "stitch in the ditch" attachment, and move the needle to the right to make an even row of stitches. The SID attachment controls the distance of the stitches from the edge of the binding.

Tartan

If I sew binding to the front, I hand stitch in the back. I can never get the binding edge caught perfectly when machine sewing from the front and if I machine sew the binding edge from the back, I don't like how it looks on the front.
If I sew the binding to the back, I use a decorative stitch on the front. I do like to use Charisma's quick machine binding with flange tutorial from QB also. You will have to try your SITD foot and tell us how it works.

bunniequilter

I have always sewed to the the back and pulled to the front. I find when the binding in machine sewn down to the front the binding lies flat and looks smooth and even. I use a thread that matches the binding and machine stitch it down a hair or two from the fold. It takes practice but I can now "eye ball" when sewing binding to the front.

sandyl

Re: matching thread-I may use monofilament thread. Is that cheating?

nativetexan

I have machine stitched my binding on several quilts. I fold the binding to the back and pin from the front right in the "ditch" and then sew. usually use walking foot but not always. The last couple I've done, i've sew onto the back and folded to the front and stitched. but then, that's just me.

irishrose

I do mine very similar to PaperPrincess, except I use 2 1/2" and I do not press before I use the SITD foot to sew from the front. Sew folded binding to front, roll over the edge and SITD. I can feel where my back edge is and rarely miss it.

Sierra

I know nothing about monofilament thread, but I do know most of us need to "cheat" (experiment) more!