Binding corners
 

When I attach my binding I use 2 1/2 inch strips. I sew my binding with a 1/4 inch seam and when I get to the corner I stop 1/4 inch and do my turn and miter. When I sew my binding by hand on the back if I wrap it around snug the binding is narrower on the top and wider on the back. I would like to sew my binding on with a 3/8 inch seam so that the quilt edge fills in the binding. My question is if I use a 3/8 inch seam do I stop 3/8 inch when I get to the corner? Thanks for any help.

Yes, 3/8". Whatever size seam you use, that's how far from the corner you want to stop & miter.

I use a 3/8" seam allowance because I use my walking foot to attach my binding. The answer to your question is YES you would stop 3/8" from the corner and then fold your miter. The rule is you stop whatever distance your seam allowance is. I make my bindings 2 1/4" wide, fold them and then use a 3/8" seam allowance which fills up the binding, makes the binding a little wider on the back but not much. You want the binding wide enough in the back to cover your stitching from sewing it on the front. Mine does just that. I don't press my binding before I put it on. I find that it rolls to the back easier and more neatly this way and it is easier to hide my hand stitching in the fold. I also stitch around the edge of my quilt close to the edge to hold the layers together before I attach my binding. I actually stitch around the edge of my quilt before I trim away the excess batting and back but after the quilt is quilted.

Wow, what a good question. I'm always learning something here...

Thanks this sounds exactly like what I wanted to hear...

No matter how wide I want my binding, I stitch ¼" from the edge of the quilt top and stop that far from the corner of the raw fabric edge (not the corner of the batting) for the miters. The difference is I leave more batting/backing for the wider bindings so it's always full and even on both front and back.

If you stitch further into the quilt top than ¼" you lose points and other design details. I measure from the binding stitching line after it's sewn on the front and do the final batting trim to accomodate the binding width I want for that particular quilt. It works perfectly every time and guarantees full, even bindings.

If you are hand stitching the binding to the back, you don't need to cut 2.5". Try cutting your binding 2.25". Normally, the people who finish their binding by machine need that extra 1/4 of an inch. Yes, if you want 3/8" you need to stitch to the corner an 1/8 of an inch earlier.

Good point!!!!!