Sometimes they come out like perfect right angles and sometimes it's more of a curve. I'm doing them all the same way so why do some come out so bad? Is there a secret?

Make sure you are making perfect right angle corners when you do your first stitching of your binding down. It is so easy to slant one way or the other. Clear as mud?

Some things just need to be seen to understand. Binding corners are one of those things, in my opinion.

Maybe this video will help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-DeDuJWkU

If that is not clear enough there are several good binding videos on that site. Have fun.

I'm watching this right now to see if I can pick up any tips (I'm waiting for it to load)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNEmrDicu7Y

ugh that video has it already sewn on. I'll have to look for an earlier one I guess.

I sometimes have problems as well. Most of the time they are really good, and then sometimes ????

What a great tip.. Thanks for the link! :D

I'm on the search for a better video.

thanks. I posted at the same time. I am now waiting on this video to load. I'll get it sooner or later! lol.

edit-this is the first one I watched before I found the other one. I think my problem is the actual stitching on of the binding strip but I'll try the hints in these videos for after it's sewn on and see if it helps.

Here is another one, I find it hard to determine if these are easy to understand as I have no trouble with corners. (Ending the binding is my big problem!!))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCy7...eature=related

I can relate to this. Eyeballing that 1/4" doesn't seem to always work.
But since I used this little template my corners look perfect. You might
want to give it a try. Hope it works for you too.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/too...r__D81892.html

I watched this last week- basic binding video, but goes over mitering the corners. This shows how to attach the binding etc... It seemed like a good one. Hope this helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5...eature=related

ok maybe it's this. You know the part where you get to the corner, stitch until you're 1/4" away (or whatever the seam allowance is ??) and then turn the binding up and then back down to make the corner? That fold in the binding-I've heard it should be flush with the edge, or just a tad below the edge. Which is your preferred method? Could that be my problem that I'm not making the fold be in the right place?

I find that I have to make sure that the edging is straight and the corners are squared before even starting my binding. The previous work helps on the final product. I use a long ruler to trim my edges and a large square to square off my corners. That's just my thought.:)

I looked into that a while back but passed because it makes such narrow bindings.

that 1/4 inch really makes a difference for me.

I'll do that the next time. Thanks, everyone, for all the videos and help.

I do just a tad below, and just a tad, you barely want to see the underneath fabric after you make the fold.

I'm thinking this is maybe not the same thing I looked into a while back. I'm going to see if I can find a video. It's been so long since I looked at it I can't remember what the other one looked like.

OK that's what I thought, and that's what I did on my current project. Apparently it was something else I did wrong then.

Good luck Gale, I wish I could show you in person. Hope all this helps. :-D :-D

I agree with KathyAire, some things just must be seen for the minds eye to 'get it'.
Have you seen this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5...eature=related
This video by Leah Day saved me from the binding beast.
My theory is 'the width of our binding controls how far from the corner we need to stop sewing before we turn our binding up to make the L and start sewing down the next side (edge).
It worked perfectly on a previous quilt then I was binding this past week and just couldn't 'get' that mitred, square corner. I picked my stitches back, folded the binding up, then back down even with the edge of the quilt and kept sliding the binding it until I had what I needed. I realized I was sewing to close to the edge before snipping my threads and folding the binding
up, then back down even with edge of the quilt.
I hope the video helps. I apologize I can't explain it any better. Best of luck.
This is the post that introduced me to the video. http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-50217-1.htm

dsb, I went to that post and found this step by step by Sharon Scamber. Might help here in addition to videos.

http://www.sharonschamber.com/free%2...ng%20Class.pdf

Promise!!! I consider myself a good quilter but this step escapes me. I do do it that way but often I have to do it over!LOL!!! Seems to be my nemeses.

YES!!! That is what I wanted to say and didn't know how. Perfect! Thank you so much for helping me.....

One of our members, Holice, has an awesome binding video on quilters tv. It has really helped me and my mitered corners :D:D:D

http://www.quilterstv.com/channel/video/0?video=1445

In spite of all we've said here, part of it is just practice, practice, practice.:):) I've made alot of pot holders practicing corners and made my sisters do it also when I was teaching them!!!LOL!! Everyone in our family has potholders.

yeah that's why I'm going to do a bunch of mug rugs. The thing is, my sisters are...let's call them picky :D and I can just picture them saying 'gee, she did a crappy job on the corners'. One sister is a quilter and has done a lot more of it than I have so she's better than me. :P

Thank You for all the help. I think I get it now.

This template does not determine the width of your binding but where to
stop. First you stop sewing about 3" from the corner, mark the miter with
the template and then keep sewing to the mark, stop, backstitch and then
turn your binding up, down and carry on. You probably can do the same
with a ruler but I just prefer to use the template. It works for me. :D

I use my stiletto to be sure that I poke it in and get a good corner,

There is some competition among my sisters and me. I taught them how to quilt but they are much better at some things than I. One of them is a vary methodical, finish a project before going on to another kind of person and the other is just plain good on colors!! But we get along fine and admit to others our weaknesses!!! We make a good team on charity quilts.

I learned to do bindings from a quilt show demonstration of all things. There was a lady with that really cool mitered corner binding tool. They are at a ton of quilt shows and are supposed to be a real popular booth. I will one day save up the money and get the miter tool that they have. It will make putting a binding on that much easier for me. I wish that I could remember the name of the company. I had gone to the website some time ago and they have demo vids of using their tools. I will have to see if I can find it again. there are probably people here who know what on earth I am talking about.

Could it be that you're not catching all of the layers of binding fabric with your needle/thread when you stop at the 1/4", fold up then down and continue stitching from the corner?

I don't know if that would create the results you're getting (or if I made any sense to you), but maybe?

Was the binding tool that was pricey from Martelli? I hae it and haen't tried it yet.

Maybe you could give her the quilt, and a nice roll of binding :wink: with a note that says, " I know you love doing binding, so I am leaving this for you to finish as part of my gift to you" :lol::lol: :D:D:D

check to make sure you are maintaing the same and consistent seam allowance. Stop about 2 stitches before you get to the end. This will allow for a good fold.
Check out the video on QuiltersTV.com and under Quilters Cafe the Holice Turnbow Binding. It shows periodically
Most time the corners do not fold correctly is because of the seam allowance.

Thanks everyone. I'll pay more attention to the seam allowance and also the videos and files shared have given me a lot of ideas for improving. Or trying to anyway.