I guess I'm a Minority...I use to do phoney borders, 3 inch fabric around and then sandwich batting, and two fabrics right sides facing each other. Sew around leaving 5 inches at base to turn inside out...Then I did Stitch in a Ditch. But then a cousin who hand quilts showed me how to bind and I love it!!!! I cut 2 1/2 inch binding fold in half, sew on one side and then hand sew with hidden stitch on the other. I actually find hand sewing at night while watching TV to be relaxing...Can't get enough of it...I know I'm sick....

If you are sick so I am and a lot of others. Love hand sewing binding in evening.

Here is a demonstration of the stitch I use. It really is invisible.

http://www.dreamweavers-quilts.com/q...ing-invisibly/

Sure is! I just found this tutorial for a faux piping binding where you pull it around to the front and sew it down with a straight stitch!!!

http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html

I agree, buying the binding tool (flat piece of plastic about three inches wide with a slanted end) is a waste of money. It's a learning curve to figure out how to do double-fold binding that ends up with a diagonal seam that fits perfectly but it's worth it. I agree also that it's best to have someone help you learn it in person. Maybe guilds could have volunteers to help quilters who need to have a little push to figure it out. Once you get it then you've got it. I myself was totally mystified even though I read the directions many times until a friend showed me how to do it.

Dana

I am with Bonnie I send the binding 2 inch with the quilt and she sews it on. She has a heavy industrial sewing machine and does a beaut job all I do is hand sew it down. I try to match the thread to the binding color and do a hidden stitch also I started with 2 and half inch binding and doubled it thinking it would do better but a quilter friend told me the outside layer of binding is the first to wear out whether it is double or single and you might want to rebind anyway so now I just do a single fold binding I enjoy the relaxing with the quilt on a cold evening while I hem.

Ever since I bought the Binding Gizmo I love to do binding, they turn out perfect every time. No matter if it is a wall hanging to lap quilt (I don't make anything bigger) I got mine at a fabric shop, but if you do a search on Binding Gizmo you should be able to read about it. I tried to put in the URL but then my message would not be accepted I guess.

I hope this helps some of you out. I love it wouldn't be without it. My niece says too that she is so glad that she purchased one too.

I have the Binding Tool you mentioned and it seems to
work really well for me. The first couple of times I had to
watch the video but at last I am able to do it without
watching. I would suggest that you leave the exact 12 inch
opening and the tails 10 inches each. It really does work.

I forgot to mention that I have started cutting my binding strips
2 3/4 inches wide. I like the way it folds over to the back better and the binding looks neater and still not too wide.

I find pinning from one corner of quilt to next corner really helps me distrubed my quilt with no tucks. These were greats tutorials. I found I've been joining all wrong lol. Well it worked I guess but now I have a better way. Thanks you girls very much.

http://verykerryberry.blogspot.com/2...-tutorial.html

I liked this little tutorial especially when she shows how to join. :)