I always machine bind my quilts. I have gotten quite good at it. I cut my strips 3.5 inches. I like a little wider binding. Sew at the binding to the front at half an inch turn to the back and stitch in the ditch from the front. I like the fact that the binding is stitched down so it won't come loose. If you use a matching thread color you don't see it on the back. But there are no rules in quilting, you do what you feel comfortable doing.