Quilt Binding for Beginners
 

I know I have seen this question asked before, but I cld not find it. When binding a quilt do you attach the binding to the front of the quilt or back of the quilt for a beginner? How wide wld you cut the strips. I am so nervous I do not want to mess up the quilt not do I want to take apart binding that has been sewn. Thanks

I haven't tried the sew it on the back and top stitch the front yet. Just sewn to front and stitch in the ditch to catch the back (not perfect but worked). I have also sewn to the front and hand stitched the back (looked better but took longer). There are so many options - don't be nervous just do it and know that you will always get better.

For me the first question would be how do you want to attach it? If I plan to hand stitch the final side, I sew it to the front by machine and pull it to the back to hand stitch. If I plan to sew it all by machine, I do the opposite.

Strip width varies according to your batting thickness and by what look you like. If you are unsure, cut a few strips about foot long or so in varying widths and pin them to you quilt as the binding would be sewn. Some days it is just easier to look than guess.

For a beginner I would think a 2 1/2 inch strip would work best. This will give you a little wiggle room. Some use a narrower binding but you have to be more precise. This is something you can work into.

I totally agree. I also iron the binding and quilt so that I don't have to 'pull' it in place when I am working. I no longer use glue basting with the small Wonder Clips. I only use 2 of these clips, finding no need to do all at once.

I hand stitch mine to the back. Cut at 2 1/5" wide, fold in half wrong sides together and press. Sew on the front with raw edges of binding and quilt lined up and sew 1/4" from raw edge. Sew to within 1/4" of corner and remove from machine. Fold the binding back on itself at a 45 degree angle and begin sewing 1/4" from next corner. Repeat the process around all 4 corners. Slip the tail of your beginning end into the ending end about 2" (there are some good tutes on the board of making this process easy) and finish machine sewing. Trim batting 1/2" from sewn seam (leaves 1/4" of the border and an extra 1/4" of just batting) to fill binding. Fold over and start hand stitching. I only use 2-4 pins to hold that at a time instead of pinning the entire binding. Much less pokey on my arms/legs that way!

I cut my strips 2 1/2 " wide. I sew them to the front side laying the raw edge along the raw edge of the top, then trim the quilt leaving 1/4" batting and backing. I like my binding to be filled. Then I turn the binding to the back and hand stitch.

Great tutorials on this blog: http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/ I finally have nicely joined ends of the binding!