This is me too. I like doing the binding or hand quilting at night while watching TV. But then I like needleturn applique.:-)

When I began was actually afraid just took lots of practice now do love it!

I have a friend who uses white school glue to tack down her bindings, presses and then stitches. Roxanne's Glue Baste It is similar. I have tried this and don't especially care for it although I do it sometimes. Same with an archival safe glue stick, or misty fuse, or steam a seam 2, etc.

Each one keeps the binding neat and tidy with no buckles while sewing and no pins or clips, etc. And the glue is supposed to wash out with the first washing.

Personally, I still like the pin or clip method ... only because that is what I have always done.

Binding is like making a pie or something. Once you have done it several times, it is easy, no sweat.

Thanks for the links. I actually love the binding, but I struggle with those final tails. After I get those figured out, the rest is a breeze and I enjoy it, but those twisting tails can be a bugger for me, so that 1st link is invaluable!! Thanks!

A couple of years ago I did several pot holders out of Christmas fabric for a craft sale. I found a tutorial online and I followed it to the "letter". The secret is pinning the binding to the pot holder and I mean a lot of pins. I also swore I would NEVER do another one. My friend hand quilted the centers; bells, leaves, Christmas tree. They are beautiful. Didn't sell a one! Yep! Didn't sell any.

Putting a binding on your quilt is a whole different "ball game". If we want our quilts to be "long lasting" it really is important to do a good job on the binding. All of the answers will help you with that. Good luck.

I have the same setup with my mother, she hates binding and I love to sit and do them. I refuse to machine sew a binding on a quilt, not the way I was taught and will "never be the right way for me".

Not to mention the QFK quilts I did stitch down the binding looked horrendous on the back. I was so embarrassed to send those quilts in. I cannot even bring myself to volunteer to do anymore because of the way the binding has to be put on. My charity quilts are going to other places where hand binding is accepted.

Thank You so much for the link. It is going to be a big help to me too.

I really enjoy the handstitching part of doing a binding but a small item like a potholder doesn't give you much room to maneuver in when joining the ends of the binding after sewing it around the four edges. I think it's the "joining" part that a lot of folks struggle with.

I agree-when it comes to the binding it's like it's almost done, tho it's not the favorite part of my quilting---I usually can't wait until I'm to that point.

Kathleen Tracy has a great way to bind.I am a beginner and I got perfect corners the first time and every time since.
She the author of 4 small quilt books.I love them all.
http://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-Tracy/e/B001JRVFSE
No conection just love the books.
judy
http://hardincountykeepsakes.blogspot.com/