How do you to keep the edges together when binding a quilt
 

Do you baste your three layers together on the edge? I have trouble keeping all three layers even and together as I sew on the binding, particularly the backing. I am doing a charity quilt with poly batting that was donated to me. It is much thicker than warm and natural. One other quilt I did, I serged the edge and that solved my problem, but I didn't like all the extra thread that puts there. The one I am working on just now is a tied quilt, therefore it is not quilted right to the edge.

Hi from Germany/Tyrol! I "quilt" around the edges of the quilt before I sew the binding on. I know that's one extra step, but it keeps the layers together and nothing shifts when it comes to binding the quilt. A friend of mine zigzagged around the edges of her quilt, but that was a small quilt, I wouldn't want to try that with a large one.
Greetings!

I lay the quilt out, trim to size, squaring it all up and then fold my double chanel binding and match all 4 layers plus batting...if trimmed right before sewing, the size will be perfect and it will be easy to apply binding.

I like to sew around my quilt edges with a serpentine stitch. I line it up so the center of the stitch is at the edge of the fabric and the inside is within the seam allowance. It catches it just enough to hold down the edges.

if not quilted to the edges- a stay stitch of some sort is needed around the edges of the quilt- personal choice if you want to use a straight stitch, zig=zag, serge, what ever- but some sort of stitching is necessary to keep everything from stretching out of shape- the alternative would be pins every inch or two.

Most time I quilt to the edge and so I do not have to fight this problem, But on those occasions that I do a QATG and do have loose edges, I either do a quick baste on the machine (usually at a looong stitch length) or if my serger has a thread color loaded that wont scream - I will square it up and serge the edges together (I use a long stitch here as well and I prefer one needle :the one that will give be the largest loops - but have been know to use two when I feel extremely lazy).

If I am adding binding to a quilt, I use a narrow zig zag stitch to hold the layers together. When I am tying a quilt, I sandwich the layers........batting, backing right side up, top right side down and pin every 4-5" .....leave an opening for turning........slip stitch the opening and tie the quilt.

If I don't have it quilted to the edge, I use lot of pins and pin by binding down before I start. That way I can check to make sure all the layers are together.

I square it up, then do a narrow zig zag stitch around it before binding.

Some times I use a large basting stitch or zigzag if it's not quilted to the edge. Don't have trouble with cotton batt or 80/20 but poly sometimes takes a little taming.