Hand sew binding or machine?
 

Hello and good afternoon. My question is do you hand sew your binding to the back of the quilt or do you use the sewing machine and why? Are there advantages and disadvantages to both? Thanks!!

I normally hand sew the binding (ok, I haven't actually finished all that many quilts... About 9 including 6 baby quilts). I only did it by machine on one, which needed to be a "quick quilt" for a friend to use during chemo. For her's I used a decorative stitch on my DSM. Maybe I should have turned the whole thing around and sew the binding to the back so I could turn it to the front for sewing it down - I did it the "normal" way and then decided to do the decorative stitching from the front so that it looks nice on the front. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a close-up from the binding, but I think it turned out ok. And my friend (who is not a quilter) just LOVES that quilt with all its imperfections and is using it all the time!
Conclusion: I would definitely do it by machine again! It's so much less hassle and faster. However, maybe not for a heirloom quality quilt...

I hand sew mine. I've tried machine stitching it from the front in the ditch but had trouble catching the binding on the back. I like the idea from Monale to sew the binding onto the back then stitching down on the front with a decorative stitch. Might try that with my next child's quilt!

I hand sew all of mine. I enjoy the process and think it looks better. However I haven't practiced sewing by machine. Many people do it that way and are able to produce nice looking bindings, but I do think it takes practice and finding a method that works for you.

I hand stitch my bindings. I ( personally) do not like the look of machine stitched. To me it just seems like all the work you put into making the quilt deserves a hand stitched binding. A machine stitched binding makes that quilt suddenly turn into something you could pick up at Walmart. ( just me-- I've never seen a nice, neat, well done machine finished binding)

The only advantage to sewing it by machine is to get the quilt finished quickly. I have always hand stitched the binding to the back because it just looks better and since I was in competition for many years, old habits are hard to break.

I machine sew because it's quicker. I don't mind hand sewing but it seems to take me forever to get those bindings done and I have too many quilts that need to be finished. Right now I have two special quilts that I'm considering hand sewing the bindings, but most are machine sewn.

I have been machine stitching the binding but sometimes don't like the look as well. But my hand stitching is not so nice but I just tried one and it was Okay I think I will do special quilts but for speed machine quilting with the decorative stitch is often nice.

I machine stitch most of my bindings. I cut the strips 2.25" wide and fold them in half. I sew the binding to the back with a very scant 1/4" seam, turn it to the front and top stitch very close to the edge. I try to use a color that matches the backing on my bobbin and the binding for my top thread. Alternately, I use the same color as the quilting thread. The line of stitching never hits the binding on the back of the quilt; it just runs parallel with it. The corners look perfect. I may be rationalizing and I have no proof, but I like to think that a machine-sewn binding is sturdier than a hand-sewn one. I do prefer the look of a hand-sewn binding, but I hate doing it, so usually I don't.

I hand sew. I did one small wall hanging the other way and I feel that it put a strain on my sewing machine, so I went back to my regular way. It takes longer, but I think I do not mind.

I have been making quilts to donate. On the ones for kids I machine sewed the bindings on. I think it works well as those quilts may go through more use and wear than ones the adults will get. I was able to make more by using the machine.
Otherwise I will continue to hand sew bindings.

I machine stitch all my bindings. My binding is 2 and 1/2 inches folded and pressed. I sew it on the back 1/4 inch and miter corners and the bring it to the front and machine stick. I either pin a lot or glue with washable glue. I did not pay all that money for my machines to sit and hand stitch. I have some bumps on my fingers from arthritis from sewing all these 61 yrs. I tried it on one of my quilts and it takes a long time.

I hand stitch mine to the back I like the way it looks and I am never in a hurry

I machine stitch mine to the back, flip it to the front and machine stitch again.

I don't hand sew anything unless there's no other possible way.

I do it by machine; back first then decorative on the front.

Another machine sewer here. I sew the binding to the back with a 1/4" seam, mitre the corners then flip over to the front. I don't pin or glue the front binding down, I simply sew nice and slowly using my seam ripper point to nudge the binding neatly under the walking foot. I then sew very close to the edge. I don't know why but my mitre corners come out much better this way rather than when I hand stitch.

If i hand sewed a quilt binding, I would not be able to use my hands for days without pain. Heck, sometimes piecing is hard on them. I always machine stitch. I sew the binding on the front, flip it over, then use a decorative stitch on the front (usually a feather stitch). I have been using a 2 1/2" binding but there is always some extra on the back when I use warm and natural batting (pretty thin). My next quilt will use 2 1/4", and I think that will work well.

Pam

I hand sewed until I figured out how to do it by machine. While I like the look of hand stitched, I don't think a machine stitched binding detracts from the overall look. I personally think it will outlast a hand stitched binding as well. After quite a bit of practice I think I can do a pretty decent job with my machine and it lets me move on to my next quilt more quickly :-)

I do both methods, it depends upon the quilt and how much time I have. For important gift quilts or favorite ones I intend to keep, I hand stitch the binding because that looks the best. For charity quilts I usually machine bind. My machine stitched bindings have gotten much better, so I am not as reluctant to machine sew the binding on now.

I hand sew mine. I work on them while I'm watching TV in the evening. It's relaxing.

Machine...faster.
sandy

I machine stitch all of my bindings. They are neat, flat and secure. No one can give me a good reason why a quilt binding should be hand stitched when every other step along the way to completion was machine stitched. If you love to hand stitch, stitch away!

Well said, Shelbie. :thumbup:

I prefer hand stitching the final step of the binding. Maybe I need more practice, but when I try doing it by machine I feel like it looks like a poorly made pot holder.

I hand sew mine unless they are for charity. Our local children's hospital asks that everything be machine stitched. I've done it both ways & hand stitching really does give a nice, smooth finish. It doesn't take that much time & I love doing handwork anyways.

I learned from my local AQS appraiser that machine and hand stitching can be equally strong; it just depends on how many stitches per inch & the type and quality of the stitches formed. Go with whichever you prefer unless you are entering it in a show (in which case you'll want to hand stitch it).

I hand sew my bindings , just because I like the way it looks much better (single thread). But if it is a quilt that is going to be used and washed lots I use a double thread. I keep that part of finishing for sitting watching TV or sitting at the dr. office, give me something to do no matter where I am. Actually, I think it is a matter of what you like the best.

I have only machine sewn bindings on children's quilts as they might be washed often, but I do not like the look all that much. For large size quilts... my bindings are done by hand.

I hand sew the binding. I've tried machine sewing it several times before and it never looks quite right. And once I get to the binding that is a good relaxer.

I hand sew because I like the look of it better and I find it relaxing to do. I could never get the seam line even on the back when I stitched in the ditch on the front to put binding on that way and it drove me crazy to have it off kilter like that.

I machine stitch all of my bindings. I use the flange binding and am happy with the look. I want my quilts to be used, not put in a closet to save for the next generation. If I had any inclination to do an heirloom quilt, I would definitely hand sew.

I also prefer the look of hand binding so I stitch the binding to the front of the quilt by machine. Then I fold over to the back and hand stitch using a blind quilting stitch. I also pre-press the binding in half and then again to the width it will be when turned to the back. Makes the binding lay down perfectly. I find it relaxing. See Missouri Quilt company tutorial found on pinterest for this.

I do some of each. My favorite is to do a faux piped binding. I use 1.5 inches of the binding and 1.75 inches of the piping, sew them together, press open, press in half and stitch to the back of the quilt. When you pull it around to the front, it makes a piping and you stitch in the ditch between the 2 colors. Works like a charm.
I've also been experimenting with the blind hem foot and am not as proficient with that yet as I'd like to be. When I stitch down by machine, I much prefer to see the binding I'm trying to stitch down.

I hand sew all of mine.

I hand stitch my binding. Tried doing it on the machine once and was so disappointed with the results that I've never done it again. The hand sewing is also very calming to me and one which I appreciate in finishing the quilt.

I hand sew because I haven't been able to successfully do it by hand, plus I don't mind doing it by hand, after finishing it by hand, then I machine stitch it. I either do straight stitch or a decorative stitch onto the binding.

I hand sew my bindings but only because at this point I enjoy doing it in the evenings. When it becomes more difficult for my fingers to control the needle I will start to practice sewing on by machine. I hand quilted quilts for my grandchildren and so enjoyed the process but have had to give that up due to not being able to control the short needle but after a suggestion from this board am in the process of "long stitch" quilting a twin quilt.

I do what Kris does. I love the faux piping and most of the time you cannot tell from the top its machine stitched. I still hand bind, but sometime the charities ask for machine binding. The other method I am working on is using a flat fell foot. You apply the binding by machine on the back, bring it to the front and stitch down with the flat fell foot. I liked the first attempt, but will be working on making in better (in my eyes!)

I suppose if I was making a quilt for competition and hand sewed binding was required, I'd do it. But otherwise, if someone told me I HAD to hand sew bindings on quilts, I'd give up making quilts.

I use elmer's glue to attach my binding to the front before I take it to the machine to sew it on. No pins to get pricked by. Then while watching TV at night I'll hand sew it to the back, about an hour or two each night till its done. Never could stitch it down using the stitch in the ditch method. Always looked messy as I can't sew a straight line to save my life even using a foot with the flange in the middle to keep it straight. Plus I don't mind hand sewing while I'm watching TV as it keeps me from munching instead..