Ordinarily, I attach my binding to the right side of the project, turn the edge to the back side, pin under the seam allowance, and then hand stitch. But on this project, I wanted to machine stitch from the top (using my new red/white/blue varigated thread) and catch the seam allowance with a decorative stitch. In doing this in the past, there always seemed to be places where the seam allowance poked out and didn't stay where I had pinned regardless of how many pins I used. Then I had to rip and restitch.

Somehow, recently, I stitched my binding to the back side by mistake. I scolded myself for my dumb error. Rather than rip, I decided to reverse my practice, pin on the right side and continue with my decorative stitch from the right side. It turned out great!!! No more poking, ripping, restitching.

Needless to say, I will continue to do my machine-stitched binding in my newly found manner.

Suzanne

Good job....another example of how adaptive and inventive quilting and quilters can be. Don't forget to post a picture....we'd love to see it.

I guess you shouldn't call it a dumb error instead call it a great idea. Glad it worked out for you. Don't forget the pic

WOW ! I just put the binding on the wrong side by mistake and have been dreading the idea of ripping it out and starting all over again. I considered taking it down on the right side, but think I will try your idea.
Thanks so much for sharing such a great tip. Marylou

I was taught to sew the binding, first to the back ,then when you stitch the front you have no problems.

This link was previously posted on this board by another member, & they have some great shows. This particular show is about binding in the manner you are talking about. Enjoy!

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=348391212&channel=156457828

Carla, I know this is a bit after the fact, but that is a great site. Thx.

Not a dumb error, a but a brilliant discovery! :D What a great link, loved the video, I was dreading the binding aspect of quilting, but, now I feel more comfortable and confident in when I get to that point! :D :D

Now Suz, you know that wasn't really a mistake. You were just trying a new method and it worked.......THAT'S called success!!!!

:wink: Sharon

I have done that on all my quilts. I thought that was the way...

I've always had trouble getting the decorative stitches to look good on the back because I might not have pulled the edge to the exact same place all around the back and sometimes it's so bad that I don't even catch it all in the stitching and that makes for a nice mess on the back. So, this sounds likea really good idea. I can surely catch what I can see! LOL

Sometimes what we view as "mistakes" are really just great new ways of doing things. Or as Gloria said, things that have been done that way for a long time, but we weren't aware of it. :)