straight binding, here is what i meant. not great pics though
http://home.howstuffworks.com/binding-quilts.htm

I plan to try this method for my next binding. It is an "invisible" way of doing binding that eliminates the hand sewing step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw

(There's a part 2 to this video that will come up when you finish part 1.)

I am not a fan of binding either - thanks for the great links !!

next time, just cut the backing larger and wrap it around to the front and either blindstitch or machine stitch carefully. easy as it gets.

Thank you butterfly, that is what I've done with a couple of projects, and it seemed to turn out rather well..but most quilters don't consider this offical binding...which is why I've been trying out, and looking for easy ways to do it. :)

It is listed as one method in my quilting books. Granted, if the quilt gets a lot of use, the single layer binding may ravel, and since it is part of the backing, you can't simply replace it. HOWEVER, it is binding.

I think it is great that you are branching out. You'll be so proud of yourself once you master that disliked chore.

jaime


it's a perfectly acceptable method and many quilters use it from time to time.

If you cut it large enough, you will be able to catch it folded so the binding is double thickness. I call this edging, not binding, but call it what you will, it works to hold a quilt together quite nicely. Also, machine stitching holds nice and tightly, goes faster and looks just fine.

I saw a quilt done with no binding at all. The layers were sewn together inside out, with the front and back right sides together. A small section was left open, the quilt was turned and the open section hand-sewed together. It made an interesting look because the quilt went right to the edge. If I tried this, I would top sew the edge.

I tried several different ways to avoid using pins and like the Elmers glue the best.
You dont need to remove the quilt when you sew to the 1/4 inch in the corners if you just back stitch off then pull the quilt out enough to fold the binding over then just continue sewing the binding on. That is how Eleanor Burns does it.
You can also use a zig zag stitch to sew the back side down.

martina, when the edge gets thin, you can then release the top stitching, trim away the backing until it's even with the quilt edges and bind the usual way. i works really well.