I guess I commit mortal sin when I make potholders - I don't put a binding on! I pillowcase them - after the top is pieced, I lay the top and backing on top of each other right sides together, put the batting on top (or bottom) and stitch all around the edges, leaving a small space open. Turn the whole thing right side out through the opening, turn in the raw edges of the opening and top-stitch all around the potholder, catching in the opening. Then I quilt it up to the top-stitching line. If I want a hanging loop, I just use a piece of purchased bias tape, folded into a loop, inserted into a corner between the top and the backing before stitching all around. When you turn the potholder right side out, the loop just pops right out.
Another way to avoid the binding is to put your quilt sandwich together as usual (use muslin or some scrap fabric as backing because you won't see it), quilt as usual, then prepare a final backing just like you were making the back of a pillow sham. Sew the pillow-sham backing to the potholder right sides together, turn it right-side out and it's done.
I hope this is all understandable!