I've seen several different ways of binding a quilt from the old fashioned "hemming" up to machine binding. How do you bind your quilts?

i do sharon schambers method

I do double fold binding. I sew it on the back first, turn to the front and machine stitch. I have to do it this way because even after carpal tunnel surgery my hand still goes to sleep if I try to hand sew. My Mom always did the hand sewing and I wish I could.

:thumbup: She's the bomb!

Deep down, I think I have some irrational notion that by using her method I'm hoping my work would more closely resemble hers.

Like I said, irrational.

Here's Part 1 (of 3) videos she's done on bindings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc

I cut my own bindings, usually from the straight grain. I use just single thickness on my minis and double on other quilts. I machine sew on the front, and hand sew on the back. I actually love the hand sewing on a binding -- it is soothing to me. I am also teaching myself to hand quilt.

I do double fold bias binding. Afraid I cheat though. I machine stich both sides on at the same time. Still learning all the finer points of quilting. By the time I get to the binding unfortunately I'm ready to get it done. My mom told me it looked very good but she was just being nice I know.

sew to the front and then hand sew to the back...

I enough the hand sewing part

I make the straight cut binding, double fold then I bring to an elderly lady friend who does a lovely job of hand sewing them down for me! I pay her for this so that she gets some FUN money and I get my quilts DONE...

I hear your irrational thinking..ehhehe
Loved watching her demos..thanks for the link!

Wow! Never saw this before. Amazing technique!

Sharon makes it look like it should be second nature to us all..hehehe
Hoping to give this a shot on a smaller piece soon!

I usually use double, sewing the back on first, wrap around to the front and stitch in the ditch, using a big long 6 inch needle as a stiletto. From the back it looks like a thicker thread.
Syl

I agree! Brilliant!!!!!

What's double fold binding??

I do double folded binding, cut straight on the grain. Painiacs, that is cutting the binding twice as wide as you need, and starting with it folded in half, lengthwise. I sew the raw edges together to the front side of the quilt, (miter folding the corners), then fold it around to the back side and pin it so I'll catch it when I stitch-in-the-ditch from the front side.
If I was more patient I'd probably hand sew it down on the back side...
I then go back and hand stitch the four corners neatly.

Me too, and use a decorative stitch to sew on the front!

I bring the backing material forward to bind my quilt. You can view the method here -

http://www.lorettaalvarado.com/binding.htm

Double fold binding, machine stitched on the front and hand sewn to the back with mitered corners.

I do the knife edge binding. It is the traditional way of closing British wholecloth quilts, especially made in Wales. I love to use these old methods!

I also do double fold binding with the straight of grain on my sewing machine. Works for me and I believe it makes a stronger binding.