I've always machine sewed the binding to the front, then turned it to the back then "stitched in the ditch from the front to attach to the back. Based upon several of the replies here, I tried reversing it on a quilt I was finishing yesterday - I sewed it onto the back first, then turned it to the front and machine sewed along the edge on the front. I don't like the way it turned out. I prefer the more "finished" look on the front, so on my next quilt, I'll go back my usual way of doing it.