Originally Posted by
GailG
There is a way to sew the binding on the front and machine stitch the second step. Don't know if I can explain, but this is what I do.: I cut the binding 1/4 of an inch wider than usual. Fold in half as usual. Sew to the front. When the binding is rolled over to the back it will be wider on the back than on the front. Then, on the right side, stitch as close to the binding as you can. I usually use my fingers on the left hand to nudge the binding out of the way. The stitching won't show once the binding is rolled back into place. The stitching will catch the binding on the back. Is this as clear as mud? (Actually when I was doing garment sewing in the sixties, this is what we called stitching in the ditch.)
Originally Posted by
gigigray032447 
I machine sew all my bindings. From the front first making sure that the binding lines up evenly with the quilt edge. I then press, pin on the back making sure the stitch line is covered, and stitch in the ditch from the front. It's taken me a few quilts to get it right, but I perfected the technique to where I'm more than pleased with the result. I've tried every way there is to machine sew bindings because I make so many comfort quilts. This works the best for me.
I make my bindings like
gigigray and
GailG. But there are a few things I would like to add. After the binding is sewn onto the front, open it out and press that seam very well. This is the ditch into which you will stitch. I have no need to make the binding or raw edges wider. Fold to the back and use School Glue to hold the binding down just about 1/8 inch over the stitching line. When I SID from the front I very seldom miss anything. After the quilt is washed, the binding relaxes and the SID is almost invisible, as it should be.