The only binding I have done so far is on a table topper I finished 2 days ago. I have one more to do tonight, and then of course one day I will bind my quilt I'm working on.

The topper I did a few days ago I stitched on the back by hand. I was at my local quilt shop the other day, and all of her quilts on her wall the binding was all done by machine. Of course, you could see the stitches on the front of the quilt, but I was wondering how many quilters do it all by machine, or if the hand stitching is preferable. I know there are no "quilt police" lol, but I still want to know what the general consenence is.

I do almost all of mine by machine. I don't have time for handstitching. :) And doing it by machine gives me another chance to use some of the fancy stitches I have. I like that they show on the front and back.

If I do not do the envelope method, I will machine sew the binding on.

I also do mine by machine. I use decorative stitches that match the quilt/table topper so that it doesn't look like I was attaching the binding by machine, but rather adding a decorative stitch.

I put my bindings on by machine and then handstitch but I would like to learn how to completely machine stitch front and back without the stitch showing through on the front, I've seen it look that way but my tests have not worked out so......

Machine stitch them all :D:D:D

I do mostly by hand.Quilts for kiddies I do machine binding as I feel the quilt will get laundered more often. pab

I sew the binding from the front and hand stich the back. I'd rather have a clean look on the top as my stitching sometimes isn't the greatest.

I machine sew the binding on the front then turn it and sew the back by hand so the stitches don't show. It's very relaxing to do while watching TV at night.

I use machine for all of the binding. I would like to bind my hand, but my hands won't let me.

If for charity/children, by machine, otherwise by hand as they drape better--not as stiff....
I serge the edge first on the ones for children or charity--MUCH easier then!

Machine attach to the front and then hand sew onto the back.

Oh my, what to share...Two weeks ago I tried sewing the back by machine, after machine stitching the front, and It took me several hours to rip it. I am still having nightmares over how awful it looked and,oh my, the wrinkles that appeared on the front. I create on my 1936 FW so, of course there are no fancy stitches. I love hand stitching the back even tho I drop the needle a lot because I dont feel it so well anymore. Any way is correct though, just do what YOU prefer. Merry Christmas :lol:

Machine almost always. I would do it by hand if the piece is hand quilted and or hand pieced.

I do mostly Kids quilds, I only machine sew binding. I cannot hand sew. I prefer my Machine.

These Youtube videos (part 1 and 2) by Leah Day might help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MRfA...eature=related

I prefer machine stitching the whole binding. I'm impressed the quilt shop had quilts done that way. Ours only has ones that have been sewn on by hand.

Talking about binding I have this metal tube things that my mother had when she made braided rugs. There was 3 of them but I lost two of them. So big idea came into head I can use this for making my own binding as it rolls the fabric and folds it and just have to iron it as the fabric rolls out. Don't have to go buy binding and can use what ever fabric I want and as long as I need it to be.

Me too! I think it is relaxing to sew a binding by hand too. Chance to sit and rest, be with the hubby and watch some TV as well.
Sewnique

I always sewn mine by hand, last one I done by machine and was surprise at just how good it turned out....no more hand sewn bindings here, was just so easy! :thumbup:

I think I am the odd person out when it come to binding. I love making it, sewing it on and handsewing it to my quilt. To me, it is the final touch and I love seeing how it finishes my quilt. I enjoy sitting and watching/listening to movies while I handstitch.

I only do the binding by hand. I do the right side by machine and the back by hand. I don't want the stitches to show on the front. I don't believe there is any right or wrong way. Everyone has their own preference.
sue

I always hand sew the back. I don't like the stitching to show on the front. When it is a pot holder or something small like that, I will use a decorative stitch but not for anything larger than than. I have tried machine stitching in the past and always felt that it made the front look less that perfect. So I don't risk it. But that is just me.....

By hand. I have done a few by machine to send to Quilts for Kids, but my preference is to finish by hand.

I do the machine the front and then hand stitch the back. I haven't tried machine stitching both, but I know my sister has done it and was pleased with the results. I am fairly new to quilting and I just don't want to ruin all the hard work I have done so far...so for now, I will hand stitch. Maybe some day I will get brave enough to try machine stitching both parts.

BOTH.....I stitch one side to the top and fold over and hand stitch the other side down.

I do all mine by machine. I sew to the front, carefully pin so the fabric overlaps theitiching on the back, and stitch in the ditch on the front. If you're careful the stitching won't show on the front and the binding will be stitched down in the back.

sew to front use blind stitch on back by hand to hide stitching.

mine are done completely by machine

I hand stitch..... Actually "I love handwork" sew do it whenever possible. May have to change though one day in the near future as old hands begin to have new issues daily. :( But intend to keep going till no longer possible.

I machine the binding to the front and hand sew the back.

Machine sew the front and hand sew the back - sometimes I do the whole thing by machine - and yes, it always shows on the front. Sometimes I do the envelope method too. Depends on the project.

I do it all by machine. I'm really pretty bad at any kind of hand stitching. I make my binding wider in the back, so on the front it shows about 1/4 inch inside the binding. I've just decided that's how my quilts will look. There's already quilting stitches that show, so the binding stitching just becomes part of the quilting.

I machine sew it to front and hand stitch on the back while watching (or listening to) TV. I tried machine sewing, but I don't think my stitches were neat enough, so from on it's hand stitching the back for me.

Me, too. It's great to have something to do while watching TV.

Usually machine. For a quilt with a lot of handwork, I hand sew to the back.

I machine the front and ladder stitch the back. I really love binding, could do it for hours...love the look it gives and the sense of completion.

Ditto! :wink:

Thank you!!!!!!

If it's a wall-hanging, placemat, table topper, quilt for doggy/kitty, or charity quilt - by machine. If it's a bed quilt or lap quilt - by hand.