Help with machine binding ... please!!!!
 

I have a ton of UFO's and am really trying to finish them - both the quilting and the binding and the getting-them-out-of-the-house part, too. I am really trying to become educated on the best (only????) way to do double fold binding entirely on the machine. I just can't seem to get the hang of not missing stitches on the back or good measurements. Would a stitch-in-the-ditch foot help? I thought I might want to get one of those binder attachments, but as far as I know, they all only end up creating single fold - in other words (and maybe I have my terms wrong), I would like a double layer of fabric on the edges of the quilts. Help, please!!!!!!

You may need to make a little wider binding or take a narrower seam on the front side. Sharon schamber has some great youtube tutorials.

Thanks, snipforfun! I learned a lot just now by watching the video, but she doesn't discuss how to FINISH it on the quilt. I am really not interested in handsewing it down. But they are great tutorials - I hadn't thought of looking there. Do you actually use the glue???

Thanks, Tartan - I did check out Charisma's tutorial, but it seemed complicated. I'll give it another look.

I cut 2&1/2 inch strips, fold in half, press, then sew to the back, turn and topstitch on the front of the quilt. I definitely used a walking foot, or the IDT on my Pfaff. I have good luck this way and am pleased with the outcome.

I went to the website named- redpepperquilts. She has a good tutorial on machine binding. I can actually do mine now. I use to have my LA do them. It was getting too expensive.

I glue the binding in place then sew it using a narrow zig zag stitch in thread to match the binding. It is fine for quilts that are to be used a lot.

I gave up on doing binding and paid the owner of my LQS to bind my quilts with her machine. She did beautiful decorative stitches and it was within my budget and no stress at all. I just can't do it. I finally figured out how to do flying geese, so I feel okay with myself. I might venture into decorative stitching on my next binding and see if I can do somewhat close to what she did and if I can, then I'll bind again.

It takes practice. I get better results if I make a test piece with the fabrics and batting
I've used for the quilt. If there is a pieced border (lots of seams on the edge) I have to
reduce the seam width or cut wider strips. I found it quite a bit tricky when I made a
QAYG that had different thicknesses on the edge. I think I learned a lot from that quilt.
It helps to sew the binding as straight as possible. Put a few pins and sit straight in
front of your machine. I highly recommend the video which Holice made on binding.
You can bookmark it. The site seems to be down right now (for me anyway).
http://www.quilterstv.com/channel/video/134
Don't worry if you miss a few spots. Most of my quilts have a few spots where I missed and have to touch up with some hand sewing. I'm getting better though, so will you.