Best way: machine binding, how do you do it?
 

I tried to completely bind a quilt on the machine but am not so happy with it. I don't like the attach to the back and stitch down to the front method, so I attached it to the back. It was cut 2 1/4" so it wasn't that wide, but at the point where you turn and sew it down I realized that even after moving my needle over 2 clicks (and 3 is too much) there will be too much that sticks out beyond the stitching so I will still have to hand sew it in order for it to look nice. So how do you figure out much seam allowance will make it come out nice. I know you girls have tricks up your sleeve. Please share. Thanks!

This is the method that works best for me. Many thanks to Charisma for posting it.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ge-t77821.html

Someone directed me to Sharon Schambers youtube tutorial which I found extrrmely helpful

I sew to the front and hand stitch on the back

I prefer to sew to the front and hand stitch too but there are some that I do machine finish and I definitely prefer the same method at krisb and Tartan. It always looks great

I do test pieces to get the look I want.

I sew mine to the back with a straight stitch and flip to front and use a zig zag to sew down I try to make sure that it goes over the edge so I do not have a flap usually works well for me.

Thanks for the reminder about Charisma's tutorial. I have used that several times with great results. Otherwise I sew to the front and hand stitch to the back. I don't have any wrist, joint or arthritis issues and I enjoy the hand sewing.

I sew my binding on by machine all the time. Not into hand sewing anymore. I sew it to the back using 2 1/4" binding folded in half. I then bring the binding to the front about 1/8" or so past the stitching (from sewing it on the back). I use my blind hem foot (or stitch in the ditch foot, or the one you use to butt two fabrics together -- They are just about the same to me). I put the edge of the binding against the center flange, and move the needle a couple of clicks to the right so that it hits the binding about 1/16" from the edge. I then stitch keeping the edge of the binding against the flange. I get a perfect line of stitching along the edge of the binding and it shows on the back just below where I sewed it on. I make sure my bobbin thread matches the backing and it is hardly noticeable. I hope this is clearer than mud!!! Ann

After years of trying the edge-stitching foot and moving my needle over, and sticking it down with wash-away wonder tape to keep it in place I was still not happy with the result. I have just learned a new technique using a flat felling foot (used for the double-needle seem on jeans). I sew it to the back, then use this foot to top stitch it down on the front. It has a deep groove underneath for the binding to ride when I sew it down. I use the 8mm felling foot for my Bernina (#71) and cut my strips at 2". I got a decent finish my first try without practice.

I found this technique on a blog and all I can cay is THANK YOU to the bloger:

http://awomanaday.com/2013/01/17/hap...nding-edition/

Thanks for posting your technique, krafty14. I am about to handsew a binding but have been attacked by trigger thumb, so I'm looking for an alternative. I'm thinking that machine sewing it is actually harder to get right, but I may need to try it.

hugs,
Charlotte

Thanks Skyangel, guess I'll have to get the #71 foot for my machine. Thanks for the tut! This is probably just what I was looking for. The binding with the little flange is nice too! Thanks everyone!

I must have missed this post somewhere along the way but I am anxious to try it on my WIP baby charity quilt. Thanks for re-posting.

This is my way, but I learned it from others:
1. Sew binding onto the front.
2. Iron that seam open very carefully. Press binding away from quilt.
3. Turn quilt upside down and put a line of Washable School Glue on the seam allowance. Work on a few feet at a time.
4. Fold binding to just past the seam line, about 1/8th inch. Press with hot iron. Put extra glue at the corners.
5. Stitch in the Ditch from the front.

I can get a large quilt trimmed, binding sewn on, trimmed again, glued and sewn in about 3 to 4 hours. The back shows a stitching line about 1/8th from the edge of binding.
I found the best place to do this is on the bed. I place the folded up ironing board at the foot of the bed, and the bed holds the bulk of the quilt so I don't have to rassle with it falling off the ironing board. A large table behind the ironing board might work, too.

Thanks for all the post. Having finally found a LAQ to finish yo my charity tops, I am going to be overwhelm with a lot of biding. The flange looks interesting but how do you deal with the bulk in the corner? Maybe I just didn't read far enough. I have always done traditional binding all my life but my arthritic hands would NOT survive hand stitching of this much binding. Two quilts are ready and two quilts are at the LAQ and I have prepped two more quilts to be sent to the LAQ when I received the two currently at her place. I HOPE I make some sort of DENT in my UFO pile !!!

I always sew my binding by machine. I stitch to the front, press then turn pinning with long quilting pins to the back. I pin from the front in the seam making sure my pins catch the fabric where I want to stitch. I remove the pins as I stitch in the ditch from the front side.

Thanks for posting. Can't wait to try it.

I did a skinny binding yesterday, 2" and stitched it to the back with straight stitch 1/4" from the edge, then pressed it to the front and did a wide and long decorative stitch that straddled the seam -- so it is half on the quilt top and half on the binding.

I've used the Flange method many times, the contrasting strip adds a nice touch to lots of quilts, but if you've got nice points coming out to the edge of your quilt it does cover them up - I'm going to try that Flat Felled technique from the blogger, looks like it could work pretty well! When I hand sew my bindings, I end up with very sore fingers, I just can't seem to get use to wearing a thimble - drives me crazy.

I do it much the same way as krafty14, 2 1/4" binding sewn to the back and flipped to the front. I think the only difference is I use a decorative stitch to sew mine down. I haven't done a hand binding in over 2 years! Here's an album that shows the stitch I use http://imgur.com/a/PMnK8 I should also add that I almost always use bias binding. I use the stitch line from attaching to it the back as a placement guide when I flip it to the front, placing the binding just over that line. PM me if you have questions on my method. I'm making it one of my own quilting 'signatures'.

Because I do a lot of quilts for Project Linus most times I machine stitch my binding, it's more durable and tougher for the usage that these quilts will get. I have no problem with it, I cut my bindings 2.5" wide, fold in half, stitch per normal to the quilt and machine stitch it down using a normal presser foot! The pic below shows binding using a Greek Key stitch but I use a lot of different ones. I do overlock stitch my quilt edges before attaching the binding and I think that helps a lot.

I sew the binding to the back and turn it over to the front and top stitch it. I have carpal tunnel syndrome, so hand stitching isn't possible.
Here' my video of me binding a baby quilt with a 1917 White Rotary treadle machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4kVaamCRnc

I still do the old way. Sew to back and hand sew to the front.

This is the one I want to try, saw it a long time ago but forgot about it, so thanks to OP for this thread! For my machine, it is called an adjustable bias binder, will adjust from 6mm to 20mm.

This is the one I want to try, saw it a long time ago but forgot about it, so thanks to OP for this thread! For my machine, it is called an adjustable bias binder, will adjust from 6mm to 20mm.

I sew binding to the front. Press outwards. Turn and pin to the back just beyond the stitch line. Stitch in the ditch on the front side. It does take a little practice to get it right, but makes a beautiful binding with great corners.

I always machine sew my binding. My trick is to use a decorative feather stitch when doing the final stitching. It holds well, looks nice, and camouflages minor inconsistencies. I find it looks very nice as long as my binding is even. BTW, I use 2 1/2" binding and I have started serging the edges of my quilt before binding. It gives me a smooth solid edge to work with.

Pam

Try these, they are great

http://www.walmart.com/ip/24722607?w...242832&veh=sem

I really like the way your binding technique looks. Your stitches look good on the front and back.

I love the flange method