Watson

How do you machine sew a binding?

I normally sew the binding to the front then hand-sew it to the back but I LOATHE doing it. I hear of other quilters that machine sew the whole thing but when I tried it. it looked awful on the back.

Any tips or links to help me out?

Watson

bj

I prefer the method you use. However, when I have machine stitched binding, I sew it to the front then fold it to the back. I pin from the front, very close together, and make sure I have an even width on the back so that it will look straight when I'm finished sewing it down. I stitch in the ditch, slowly, using my walking foot, and remove pins just before I get to them. It turned out pretty nice, but still not my favorite method. (Kindof stressful for me) May become my have to method as my arthritis progresses (0:

Emmy Sue

When making charity quilts I sew the binding on the back and then use a small zig-zag on the front of the quilts.

Homespun

I do it this way but do not hate it.

Jennifer23

Doing it the way you're trying, I find that gluing the binding to the back before stitching keeps it nicer looking. It takes practice to be able to get that back stitch line to not look awful.

I know a few people that do like Emmy Sue does - sew it to the back, then fold to the front and stitch with a zigzag or decorative stitch. I've tried it, and I like it; it's a chance to use all my machine's fancy stitches that I never use otherwise.

My favourite way, as long as it works with the design of the quilt, is to do a flange binding. MSQC has a video on this now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAQWwwAa2K0

PaperPrincess

I have only hand finished binding on one or two items that were oddly shaped. I machine sew to the front, fold to the back and press, then SITD on the front. I recently started doing the faux piped binding and really like that too. All by machine and it looks great! Here's a tutorial:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...g-t200207.html

donnajean

This is what I do and I use YLI Wonder Invisible thread

AliKat

I sew it t, then iron it out flat & fold it over, and iron again so it is on the front of the quilt.Then I use fancy stitches and sew the binding on.
I iron so many times as it is easier for my hands. For those who don't have arthritis folding should be enough.
Yes, I have used a little glue to also hold the binding in place.

Boston1954

I have nearly always machine sewn to the front and then hand sewn on the back. I did a very small wall hanging by machine on both sides one time. I think my machine got a headache, so I did not try it again.

Tartan

The only machine sewn binding I like is from Charimah's QB tutorial Machine Binding with Flange. If you match the thread that you sew along the flange to the backing fabric, it is fairly inconspicuous.