Originally Posted by
maryb119
I machine stitch my binding on before I trim away the backing and batting. The backing seems to lay smoother and doesn't get the puckers in it like it does if it's trimmed. I also pin on the binding before I stitch it on the front. After it's stitched on, I trim away the extra using scissors, leaving about 1/8th inch of the batting beyond the edge of the seem allowance and hand stitch it down in the back. I lost points at a quilt show because my binding was not full so I've done it this way since.
This is my method also. I do trim excess backing and batting down to a few inches and then sew the binding onto the frontof the quilt. Having the extra backing and batting helps the feed dogs pull the quilt through as the binding is being sewn on.
I also do a stay stitch or long stitch or zig zag around the edge first to make sure every thing stays in place before I sew the binding on. I do this just inside the 1/4" seam allowance.
Here is a tip to help with binding that is one of the best things I have come across recently.
http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/vi...trick-lose.htm
It really helps when doing corners.
peace