I have always, when done w/a quilt, cut off to the edge of the quilt, tacked on the binding w/pins and sewed by machine all the way around...only then whip it to the backside of the quilt by hand sewing it down.

I have a friend that suggested machine sewing it down instead of by hand. I noticed (and didn't think about it till later) she had about 1/4 of the batting and backing past the edge of the top layer of the quilt. Is this what you do?Or do you cut your quilt before binding flush too??And, then I ask myself..why do I cut it to the edge?I have no idea! I guess I thought you were supp. to!:)Tag you are it!! Skeat

I never cut it off even until I put the binding on by machine on top first, then cut it even, turn and hand sew it to the back. A lot of people sew it by machine on the back first then turn it to the front and sew it by machine again. In that case you would have to cut it even so as to know where to sew. Marge

I have read on here - sorry can't remember who - someone say they leave about a quarter inch of batting past the edge to 'fill' the binding. I'm about to bind a lap quilt for my neighbour and am going to try that. BTW I machine to the top and hand sew on the back.

K x

what does BTW mean?

I cut the edge clean (and square) AFTER the binding is sewn down. Then I turn the binding and hand stitch (for the nicer ones). Sometimes, I sew the binding to the back of the quilt, trim the edge, turn the binding to the front and use a decorative stitch with my machine to sew it down.

I square up the quilt and cut the batting and binding even with the top. Then sew on binding with a slightly larger than 1/4" seam, (I use 2 1/2" strips for binding) then turn to the back and hand sew down.

I trim the quilt layers even then I sew all around the edge with a 1/4 zig zag stitch. This keeps the edge flat and make sewing the binding on su much easier. I use the zig zag as a guide when hand sewing or machine sewing the binding in place.

BTW = By The Way

i've seen an episode on Quilter's TV about doing the binding entirely by machine. i'm usually in too big of a hurry at that point to do anything that neatly!

I machine stitch on the front, trim even, then hand sew the back.

I serge edges together, thus cutting excess off. Serging puts the layers together neatly . Then I sew on folded binding, raw edges usually on the back. Then I either hand sew or decorative machine stitch. I often add a hanging sleeve before sewing the binding on - just add it between the top binding and back of the quilt, then sew it down by hand.

I machine the front, trim, then hand sew the back too.

But quilts where I've put fur on the back, I machine it to the back then hand stitch it to the front. Too hard to hand stitch to the fur! lol My hand stitching is pretty neat so it doesn't matter whether it's the front or back.

This is exactly what I do :-)

This is good! I find it very helpful and also very interesting that we all do a bit different. You are great for answering!! Let's wait and see if he hear more opinions on their 'how I do it...binding!':)Skeat

I think I do it the same way as some of the rest of you...square up quilt..add binding with slightly larger than 1/4" to the front., flip over to the back and hand sew.

It really depends on how wide you cut your binding. I cut my bindings 2" wide, so they don't need extra batting to "fill" them. If you cut them wider than 2", you need to compensate for the extra binding fabric, so it's a good idea to leave some extra batting extended beyond the seam.

Cathe, is that 2" then folded double? I do 2 and a half inches, folded double then raw edges machined to right side. Then you get a fold to hand stitch to the back, no fiddly turning under. Is that what you do with 2" or is that a single bind?

K x

Here's what I just did...tadooom!:0)I had to bind a quilt for a friend that dropped off her binding and quilt...(just doing a favor!)I left 1/4" of batting and backing past the edge of the top layer. Sewed the binding on the top edge all the way around. The binding was on fold...and, her binding could have been a bit longer for me..didn't measure it but, it was about 2 1/4" wide. I folded the binding down the backside, pinned, mitered the corners and used my 1/4" presser foot...sewed that puppy down..and, it looks great!! Then I had to run one of my kids to the LQS for a project/fabric and while there...I asked several of the older women about the binding. They said they always leave their batting and backing out about 1/4" to give some more protection to the quilt and they said they always sew down the binding (like I just did) if it is a quilt that will be on the move:)
I did go home and pull out some of my oldies...(quilts) and looked very closely at the edges...there is some wear on the binding..only. I'd say, no matter what...we will still outlive any of that type of use on them:)LOL Skeat

Yes. Cut 2" and then fold. Machine sew on top and then turn the folded edge to the back and hand stitch there. No fiddly edges.

I have used a 2 1/4" for flannel quilts, since they are thicker.

I dont hand sew the back binding and I dont use pins.
I use 2 1/2 inch binding and sew to the front of the quilt. Iron the seam open then fold to the back and glue with elmers glue and iron in place.
Use a stitch in the ditch foot to sew from the front in the ditch.
Be sure to square up your quilt first to get an even stitch on the back binding.

Thanks Cathe - I read 2 and a half inch somewhere but find it a little generous! I'll go for 2" next time!

k x

I usually sew on the front and hand stitch on the back. My question is, do you ever sew the binding to the front before you layer? I am doing a quilt with inside corners and think it would be easier.

So sorry grandmasue...I am not exactly sure what you are asking:)I fold my binding, press...sew the open end by machine to the front edge...so what I end up w/what is going to the back is the fold. That is what I usually do and miter the corners on the back...does that help?:)Maybe come back and give more detail for silly people like me:)Skeat

I think if you do it that way you're not achoring the binding to the quilt and then you'll have a lot of pull on the back stitches. Just my opinion.

No..all opinions are always welcome...how do you attach yours in the back?Honestly only do what I have been taught. But, that doesn't make it necess. right;). Thanks! Skeat

We had judges at the fair knock quilts down because the binding was not "full". So out here we sew the binding on by machine, then trim 1/4" past the edge to fill the binding, turn to the back and hand sew. And the judges like good square, mitered corners on that binding too. And it does look nice.

I am with Sandpat - square it up - fold 2.5 in strips in half, machine stitch slightly > 1/4 in on front and flip and sew down by hand at back.

It depends. Most of the time I sew the binding to the front, trim then turn to back and hand sew. If I need to get a charity quilt out fast (emergency request) I sew the binding to the back, and machine stitch to the front. Occassionally I use the self binding method for charity quilts. For those that don't know self binding is leaving the backing larger than the front (1" I think). Then fold to edge of quit, fold again to front and machine stitch. In this method you are supposed to leave a little extra batting (1/4"???).

Most of the time I sew the binding to the front, flip to the back and sew it down by hand. But, a few times, I have used the backing fabric for the binding. Trim the front and batting even. Then trim the backing fabric about 1-1/2" wider than that. Fold once and press. Then flip to the front and sew it down.

I square my quilt first......I use to cut binding at 2 1/2" but as I have been quilting I find it to big and have cut it down to 2 1/4" and now that seams a bit big too....so I believe I'm going to do the 2" .........I sew to the front and miter the cornors and hand sew the binding to the back.......someday I may be brave and do the blind hem stitch...that sounds interestin.....I've got some potholders here to practice on.....:-)......Oh my first quilt class we cut the binding 1 3/4".......now that was a full binding......also if your going to show your quilt all the judges do judge on a full binding....:-)......but I think I've heard of a way you sew the back to the front....binding is already there....might give this a try....hummmm interesting......:-)......any hoooo however it gets done is what works and just try different things and see what works for you......:-)......main thing is getting it done.....:-) Yeahh.......I have known ladies that ...that is all they have to do and they never finish the quilt.....ahhhhh what a shame.....just bite the bullet and get it done ....;-)......yattta yatttta....bing bang boom.......I'm done....:-)

That's why I use a decorative stitch. It becomes another feature and small shifts do not get noticed. It is SO MUCH faster than (my) handwork.

Some people cut their quilt edge slightly wider to make sure the quilt "fills" the binding; they don't like a flat look to the binding. Some quilt show judges will mark off for bindings that are not "filled".

I personally don't cut the quilt to size until after I have sewed the binding on. I use permanent marker to mark the cutting line and place my folded binding fabric edge on that mark. It seems to me I have more control of the edge this way.

Here is a Youtube video for an "invisible" way of attaching a binding completely by machine. This is the method I am going to use on my next quilt, as I think it will be faster and still give an acceptable look. (I have tried other binding-by-machine methods that came out totally unsatisfactory for me.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw

Since I sell my quilts, I don't want to spend any more time than necessary doing hand work. I use a method where you bring the quilt backing around to the front to create the binding and there is minimal hand sewing. You can see a tutorial here: <http://www.lorettaalvarado.com/binding.htm>

Enjoy!
Retta

How I put on a binding depends on the type and use of quilt I make. If it is a special quilt that I invest a lot of time and energy into I sew to the front first than turn to the back and sew by hand. But if it is a baby quilt or one that will be use and washed often, than I use the machine to sew on the binding. Either way is fine to me, the binding is where you will find the most wear, and I have actually replaced it on quilts before.

i square up the quilt and trim everything down.

i use a 2" folded and i attach it to the front of the quilt by machine.

then i fold the binding strip over to the back and i hold it in place with binding clips and i stitch in the ditch from the front.

I usually sew the binding on the front, trim to about 1/4" from stitching line and turn and sew a blind hem stitch on the back.

BUT there was one quilt that had a backing that really matched the front so I left an inch of batting around the quilt and folded the backing to the front, mitred the corners and hand-stitched it down

Here's a pic to show you what I mean:

Colour is washed out but you can get what I mean?

I usually sew the binding on the front and turn and so a blind hem stitch on the back.

I'm glad you showed us that...I wondered about doing that method and wasn't sure if it would work or what it might look like~Thanks for sharing! Skeat (who thinks everyone has great ideas over this!)

I also use 2 1/2" binding, trim quilt. I machine sew to the top and hand stitch on the back. I have even used a little larger binding and less trimming, Depends on the thickness of the batting and the look I am trying to achieve.

I've done both machine and hand and prefer to hand sew it. Actually, I just did something I haven't done before on my wedding ring quilt. I trimmed the warm and natural batting down about 2" then folded the quilt edges over to finish it, then hand sewed. So there is no binding on the front. Just the back. I really liked that. I think I'll do it on my next one too.

This is the way I was taught to sew on the binding. My favorite and best looking way is to take the binding, top and batting to a quilter and she long arm quilts it and then sews on the binding to the back, folds and machine sews with pretty feather stitches. It looks so pretty! Other than that I must hand sew it, not too bad for lap quilts, but a big quilt...nope.
Judithb

"I cut the edge clean (and square) AFTER the binding is sewn down. Then I turn the binding and hand stitch (for the nicer ones). Sometimes, I sew the binding to the back of the quilt, trim the edge, turn the binding to the front and use a decorative stitch with my machine to sew it down." From Martina.

I can't stand hand sewing anything so I square up the quilt, sew the binding to the back, turn the binding to the front just to the previous sewing line and then sew on the edge of the binding with either a straight stitch or a decorative zig zag.