katlady

I use the french fold bias binding cut at 2 1/4" sew on with a 1/4" seam turn to the back, pin in place & sew with the machine in the ditch from the front.

PaperPrincess

This is what I do too, but I press it first. Press it as it was stitched to set the seams, then press the binding flat over the edge, then finally I press the fold over. It takes a few minues, but I get a much more consistent edge when I do this.

redkimba

when I make mine, I make the back fabric into the binding. The backing fabric is wider than the front/sandwich so I just roll it up over the edge to make the binding.

I've been told that it's "old-fashioned" & it's the way "they USED to do it", but mine are working quilts & I like doing it this way. I learned it from my Grandma & my dad. :)

PS - I am NOT slamming any one else's technique.

Lobster

I recently used that technique, self-binding I think it's called, for a basic quiltlet made from a single piece of flannel on each side which was tied instead of quilted. It looks fine, and it was wonderfully easy to do, but I do worry a bit about how sturdy it is. In this case it was flannel, which I'd hope is thick enough, but is self-binding a good idea in general when you're using a quilting cotton on the back?

pocoellie

I always hand stitch to the back. I believe there may be a tutorial on doing it by machine, if not, there's probably a u tube video on it. I've tried doing it, but much prefer doing it by hand, it just looks better to me, personal preference maybe.

catrancher

Go here, and scroll down to the binding section for a 3-part tute. I've done it this way.

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/articles.htm

Baloonatic

I always hand stitch the binding on quilts for family, friends, and clients. But I almost always machine quilt the binding on Community quilts. I figure they will be getting untold wear and tear, the parents possibly won't have the knowledge or perhaps the wherewithal to care properly for quilts, and I make far too many to spend time hand sewing them all. Sometimes I self-bind a charity quilt, but I think that a proper French binding will last longer and be easier to replace if needed. I would never use flannel for binding, it wears too quickly as the fabric is a much looser weave than a good cotton.

NancyMaria

I always hand stitch my binding using a ladder stitch. I just do not like the look of sewing the binding down by machine. I love to do hand sewing and it's nice to have something to do if you are watching TV; I can't ever just sit!

OneMoreQuilt

I machine stitch everything.

franc36

I use double fold binding machine stitched to the front and handstitched to the back. The handstitching of the binding to the back is my favorite part of making a quilt. I haven't decided if it is that I so enjoy handstitching or that I am excited that the quilt is almost completed. I use binding cut on the bias only when I am making a quilt with curved edges. The quilt I am working on today has curved edges. My goal is to get the machine stitching completed so that I can do the hand stitching tonight. I have almost finished the free motion quilting and can't wait to start the binding. Best wishes with your binding.