machine sewed bindings--front or back?
 

I want to ask those who machine sew bindings: Do you prefer first sewing the binding on the back or front? I tried both. I don't really like the line of stitches in the binding on the front, but my corners are perfectly mitered on the side I sew down first, so in this case the super nice corners are on the back. I don't really like the line of stitches on the front if machine sewed on the back--but I'll have to learn to not mind to save time. I surely would rather be making tops! :-)

Also--corners look better if I pivot at corners, but I like them secured to the point, so I will hand stitch those. No big deal.

Which way do you do it--and why?

I like to sew binding to the back first, then sew the top with a decorative stitch that goes to both the right and left of the center line. The best decorative stitch for this is the type that does *not* include a stitch down the center. My old Bernina 1230 has a feather stitch, but it includes that stitch down the center. I am actually thinking of buying an inexpensive Brother from Walmart to be able to do a feather stitch that does not have the stitch down the center. Without that center stitch, you do not have to worry about getting a straight line exactly matched up with the binding edges on both front and back; both sides will look fine because nothing will be "off".

I sew to the front, fold over making sure the binding overlaps the sewing line. Then I stitch in the ditch along the front sewn seam. do I get a line of stitching that's perfectly straight along the back binding? No, but I don't stress over it.

I do the same thing as quiltsRfun does. I sew to the front, turn in over to the back. Glue baste it down to the back. Stitch in the ditch from the front. I don't stress over the back side not looking perfect either.

I also do the same as the 2 previous members with a single color. Have you tried the faux flange binding? this is my current favorite method, which is sewn to the back first, but it is a very neat finish. http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...g-t200207.html

Stitch in the ditch meaning you just catch the edge of the binding for the final sew down? Stitch in the ditch to me means seeing between seams---and there's only the binding. :-)

I tried a decorative stitch on one but matching thread kept it from being appreciated.

Haven't tried flange yet... thanks for the link.

When I sew binding on by machine, I first sew it onto the back, flip it over to the front so my final stitching line next to the fold will be on the front where it looks the best. I do the reverse then I do the final sew down by hand---sew first to the front, flip over and sew fold line down on the back.

I also do what Jeanne does, sew it to the back and then sew it to the front. A trick is to make sure the fold is going in the opposite direction from the one already sewn. I use clover clips to keep the corners in place.

Yes, sewing between the seams on the front. (In the ditch.) The back is folded far enough over the stitching line that it's sewn down when you SID. There is no edge stitching on the front of the binding. This is the way I did waistbands when I sewed clothes.

I have done both depending on whether I want to see a row of stitching on the front or not.

If I bring the binding to the front then you see binding on the front and if you take it to the back you see a row of stitching on the front. Sometimes that row of stitching fits in perfectly with the rest of the quilting.