I machine sew on both the front and back of binding on all my quilts. the only quilting I do by hand is the actually had quilting on some smaller projects. I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches wide and sew it along the edge of the front of the quilt with a 1/4 inch seam using a walking foot. I then fold the binding to the back and still from the front but now in the ditch, between the binding and quilt top, I stitch with a walking foot in the ditch. Stitch lenght at 3.0 or 3.5 with a thread that blends well with the fabric.