I always hand stitch the binding on quilts for family, friends, and clients. But I almost always machine quilt the binding on Community quilts. I figure they will be getting untold wear and tear, the parents possibly won't have the knowledge or perhaps the wherewithal to care properly for quilts, and I make far too many to spend time hand sewing them all. Sometimes I self-bind a charity quilt, but I think that a proper French binding will last longer and be easier to replace if needed. I would never use flannel for binding, it wears too quickly as the fabric is a much looser weave than a good cotton.