Originally Posted by
Prism99
I sew the binding on *before* trimming the quilt edge. I use a long T-square and Sharpie permanent marker to mark a "virtual" edge on the quilt, sew the binding on with the binding's raw edge aligned with that virtual line, and only after that do I trim the edge to match the binding edge. This really helps me.
If using a straight stitch or zigzag to staystitch the edge before binding (and I agree this should help), again I would first mark the edge and then do this type of stitching *before* trimming the edge.
Shows to go that there is more than one way to do this.
I always trim the batting and backing after quilting and before putting the binding on. I don't like fighting with that extra bulk - and it's easier for me to see what I'm trying to do.
I do, however, spend a lot of time getting the layers lined up as well as I can when layering them. After quilting, I lay the quilt out on the table and also spend "enough" time on it to make sure the edges are straight and the corners have 90 degree angles before I start cutting.