I have been taught to bind two different ways. One easier than the other. First, use the binding you make yourself from a 2and 1/2 inch strips. Fold and press in half and you now have a strip 1 and 1/4 inches wide. Line up raw edges and sew either on the front or the back (your preference) with quarter inch seam. Then fold to back or front, whichever you choose to leave for last and hand stich remaining binding. Other way I learned in a class. Leave an extra 3-4 inches extended on the backing when you layer your quilt. When ready to bind, trim the batting and quilt top so they are even. Then trim the excess backing to the desired width - in other words, if you want a wider binding on the front, you would trim to 3 inches, fold in half , press, and then bring the remaining 1 and 1/2 inches to the front. Your raw edges are tucked underneath. With this method you can then machine stich the binding on the front. Sometimes I use a decorative stitch since it on the front of the quilt; REMEMBER, your stiches will also show through on the back of the quilt. You miter the corners as you go. I find this method very easy and convenient and a lot faster since you don't have to make and sew the binding seperately. Good luck.