I always start on the back and fold to the front, but I machine mine on, so you're a step ahead of me! I do it that way because I want the front of the quilt to look its best. Someday I might try hand stitching bindings on, but I'm not very talented at hand sewing so this is has always been the best option for me. Seems to me that this is one of those things that some people do one way, others do another. No right or wrong.