I always stitch around the edge of my quilt before applying the binding using somewhere between 1/8 to 1/4" seam so that all three layers of the quilt are secure. I then stitch my binding on using the width of my walking foot which is 3/8" to the front of the quilt. I use school glue to hold the binding in place on the back and hand stitch. I like the look and find the hand sewing very relaxing. You have to wash the quilt if you use the glue. You can miter the corners or round them off. If I round them off I use bias binding.