Recently went through the trials of learning to sew binding on by machine for my neice. She has trouble with her hands and cannot hand sew for long periods of time. Had a few misstarts and then success. The best part is that she has now mastered the art of machine binding also. Just takes time and patience and eventually you will find what works best for you.

When you machine quilt the front do you pin it so the seam matches front and back. Hope that makes sense. I know the back is already sewn on (I've done that) but do I want my decorate seam on the front match where the seam line is on the back too?

I cringe when I look at my pile of UFO's and realize that some literally could disappear with a few hours of binding...

I have tried machine binding, but honestly, I like the idea that I sat with the quilt in my lap and hand bound it...there is something like putting myself into the quilt in a more personal way...thinking about the recipient or why I am making it...infusing it a bit with some soul, if you will...

Im with you on binding being my least favorite part of quilting - I usually machine it on both sides but my problem is htat place where the two ends meet seriously it gives me fits - my prices are high on binding becasue I dislike it so much ....

Binding is one of my favorite parts. My friend taught me an easy way... 2 1/2 " strips sewn together on diagonal, overlap tails by width of binding... 2 1/2 inches, cut, sew on diagonal... should fit perfectly on quilt. A must is a walking foot to sew binding to quilt... I love sewing by hand... don't like machine sewing, never can get it right. It tells me mentally I am almost done. Quilter 1234

Sad but true, I love binding quilts. The margin of error for screwing up is so much smaller than when I piece. I use the thimble it. I do a few stitches ,just so I know where I'm poking myself THEN put on the pad. Strangely, I hate sewing on the sleeve. When in doubt, pour a cup of herbal tea! (or wine) curl up in a comfy chair with your favorite music and let it be a zen moment. Don't be afraid to walk away and bake some cookies . OR maybe you can find a quilting buddy that hates something else and you can swap. I bind for a friend of mine and she cuts pieces for me. It's win-win. Good luck.

I do all mine by machine now. I sew binding to back of quilt then fold over and use decorative stitch ontop. I learned a great way to join the binding from Nancy of Nancy's Notions. She called it the "kiss" method. You might could find it on Youtube. It's kind of hard to explain.

I love to bind. My corners are usually good. Occasionally they are rounded, so I do not offer my services out to others. Binding to me is getting to sit down with an old movie on and a warm quilt on my lap and not feel guilty about watching a movie in the middle of the day. Even in summer I enjoy it.

Does your decorative stitch on top line up with the seam line on the bottom? This is what I was wondering.

When I am nearly finished with the binding I fold one end in (on the cross) and press. I tuck that over the other end so that it is lying flush. When I am happy with the result, I put a drop of Elmers glue on the folded edge, put it back in place and press with iron (to set). When you open up you can stitch the two ends together easily.
I hope you can understand this process.
Lynette Rees

I don't mind binding because for a while I forced myself to finish a quilt before I started an new one so when I get to the point I'm binding a quilt I know I'm almost done and I can start planning the next quilt I'm going to make.

I love the binding part. that means I am done. I maching it on the front and fold over and had stitch the back. I don't use a thimble. I don't have any trouble at all. I curl up in my chair watch tv and the cats have to join in as well.
Good luck I hope you find a way that works well for you.

binding
 

I have found using the stick on moleskin normally used for foot blister protects finger tips from quilting pricks and handwork!

I wrote on the Main board about a new and AWESOME EASY way to machine bind quilts. If you go to my blog: www.mylifeasaquilter.blogspot.com, you will see the new way. I dislike binding (before I found this way) so much that I hate to say, but I usually have a little old lady hand sew my binding on. I pay her $20 and she does a terrific job. But now that I found this new method, I don't need to send my quilts out anymore. I tell you, this new way adds to your quilt. It makes it look like you did so much extra work on your quilt when you really didn't. I've written about it on the main board, but then it doesn't show up. I'm new here and don't know what I'm doing wrong. Maybe no one reads it so it's discarded or whoever maintains this doesn't think it's interesting enough. I don't know. But please check out my blog. You'll be happy you did.

Have no fear. You aren't the only one with binding issues. I enjoy the hand binding but my right hand fingers are getting cuts in them from the needle going into the skin. I should use a thimble but I just don't like them. One of these days I will stop poking the holes into my fingers and use the dare thimble. Your not alone. Every one has the same issues.

I use a blanket stitch on the front and yes, I try to line up the folded edge of the quilt with the seam line on the back. Then the blanket stitch pretty much catches the front and back of the binding. I stick my binding down with thin strips of fusible webbing (the stuff you use for applique) and it holds it in place while I sew :)

I found a good method of machine binding and I will never go back to the hand method. It just takes too long and I want to get them finished! I know if I waited to do it by hand I would never get them done. So, while I like the looks of the hand work I'm pretty darn good with the machine now - just takes practice

I also hate to do the binding but only because ( I machine not hand) when I go to put the two final pieces together I just cant get that mitered look so I end up doing the fold one end into the other and do not like the way it looks. I have tried the Fons and Porter binding tool and still can not master it.

Bad hands unite
 

I love your quilt and the binding also, could you put a photo of the hole quilt ,I also do machine binding because of bad hands . I don't show my quilts ,they are for family mostly, Dottie Bug

I like binding my quilts. I enjoy sewing down by hand sitting in front of the tv. Now, that be said, I'm still learning and trying to perfect my binding technique. There are some great you tube tutes that are great.

Kitsie, great machine binding. looks gorgeous!!!

Love binding by hand. I use leather thimble. I'm still practicing with my binding foot by machine and find using invisible thread even in bobbin helps hide the mistakes.

I do all mine by machine too. Sometimes, I don't use a binding, as I don't care for the look of it, just turn my edges inward, & stitch together. That works too. Do what works for you & keep it simple. I care more about my quilt, than the binding...

How do I do binding like Kitsie's
 

WOW Kitsie, I do just what you suggested, sew to the back first, fold it over and I TRY to use a decorative stitch on the front. HOWEVER, from your pic above, your back stitching looks as great as your front! HOW DO YOU DO THAT?? My bottom stitches never, ever fall right on the edge of the back side of the binding, sometimes they are too high, sometimes too low and the stitches are down into the quilt body, and once in a while.....they fall right on the edge, but very very seldom. Do you have a trick you can share? I do love to put on the binding too, love to cut the bias pieces out of larger pieces, love to do the whole thing except I'm somewhat disappointed that I can't get the back stitches to fall in the same place on the binding as the front stitches.