Holice

check out www.quilterstv.com and under Quilters Cafe scroll down to the segment on binding. See if this will help.

Jingle

I sew bindings to the front with machine, turn to the back and make small stitches like a ladder stitch just to make sure it doesn't come out. I always stitch a thread or two above the machine stitching.

ktbb

I do all my bindings by machine - front and back - and what makes it work for me is that I cut my binding strips one quarter inch wider than most people do..by the time I fold it, stitch to the front and fold fabric to the back, I have an extra one eighth of an inch to give extra leeway to ensure I catch the binding when I stitch in the ditch on the front. I also make sure I pin so that I know where the edge is on the back - I pin perpendicular to the edge from the front and make sure that when I insert the pin the point of the pin goes thru the back binding and as close to the folded edge as possible. This way I know from the front that as long as my second stitching line is between the pin's entry point and the original ditch from the first seam I"ll be catching the back binding in my seam.

littlehud

I love all parts of the quilting process til I get to the binding. I fight with it every time.

AnnaK

Thanks for starting this thread. Obviously many of us struggle with this phase of quiltmaking. Binding is my favorite part...because when it's done, IT'S done. I, too, am unhappy with machine stitching both sides. I do 2 1/2 or 2 1/4 depending on thickness of quilt and machine the front and hand stitch the back in small < 1/4" stitches. A few times, for children's quilts or wallhangings I have machined the back and then flipped and decoratively stitched the front. I like the way this looks and because you are looking at your flipped over binding, I feel like I have lots of control over how it looks finished.

seamstome

The second one I did last night i started with 2 1/2 inches I sewed on the back at 1/4, flipped and glued the front at 1/2 inch width measuring it carefully then topstitched the front just a couple millimeters onto the binding. There is a seam around the back binding but it doesnt weave on and off the binding.

weezie

I can't do a good looking job by machine either ... not one that satisfies me, so I just don't even try any more. (And I've been sewing for more years than I care to admit.) I've never been in a time crunch to finish a quilt, so I do some hand stitching on the back binding each day until: VOILA, it's done ... and lovely!

Maria C

I generally do the traditional method for binding but have done a few kids ones when I have needed a quick result. I make the binding two inches wide and attach the binding to the back first by machine then flip it to the front and do the nice topstitching on the front in the correct place so that it looks good on that side then hope it catches on the back due to extra width I made it. Then the not so nice or more uneven result is on the back. Hand binding is not my favourite but I prefer the result so it feels worth it. Also I have made the backing on a quilt extra wide and wrapped this to the front for the binding and topstitched on the front so it stays nice both sides. Good luck

weezie

I've also done this and find it very satisfactory.

Holice

One national teacher uses the fusiable thread in the first stitching. Then fold to the back and fuise the edge of the binding just outside the stitching line that has been done with the fusiable thread. Then sid from the front.
Her quilts are prize winners.