Binding by Hand Question
 

I do a fair job of binding by hand but I have a problem when I travel to the next stitch, you are supposed to travel in the fold. I just can't seem to get the needle in the fold. When I am ready to bring the needle up for the next stitch, I peek under and I see where the needle just traveled on the backing, not within the fold. I'm wondering if my bindings are not as secure that way? Any suggestions as to how to stay in the fold?

I don't think there would be any difference.

I don't travel in the fold, I travel in the sandwich.

I travel in the sandwitch

I don't travel in the fold but travel in the sandwich and come out in the fold. Then I stitch down just underneath where I came out and travel underneath to the next spot. Works like a charm and isn't hard at all.

I do a ladder stitch ... and travel in the quilt as well as in the fold.
To be honest, I think it gives me a nicer finished edge than the way I used to do it.

Maybe trying other needles.
Perhaps thinner than you have been using? and sharper?
I know there are some needles I have that just do not "cooperate" when I am doing fine sewing.

After that, I think it is old stand-by answer ... practice!
If you somewhat "force" yourself to travel within the fold for a while,
I am sure that it will become more natural to you.

Connecting Threads has a good tutorial here: http://www.connectingthreads.com/tut...ack__D102.html

I learned the blind stitch from someone else, but naturally gravitated to the ladder stitch on my own. I was glad when I found out it was an "acceptable" method of binding the quilt.

For the blind stitch, I traveled in the sandwich, for the ladder stitch, I travel in both the sandwich and the fold.

There are two options for binding, as others have mentioned.

I usually do a blind/appliqué stitch, but I've done a ladder stitch. For the ladder stitch, I actually find that I have better luck with short needles (like traditional hand quilting needles). You should be able to go in & out of the fold in one motion. If you keep the needle mostly parallel to the fold, it's easier. I use the thumb nail of my left hand to help guide the needle back out while taking the stitch with my right hand. I do not use more than 1 clip at a time as that makes it harder for me to manipulate the binding fabric as I stitch. I keep my binding straight by marking the stitching line on my quilt top (that's the only marking I don't do before sandwiching -- I wait to mark until the whole thing is quilted).

I do like MadQuilter and have never had a problem.