I always square up my quilt when I get it back from the quilter's and see that she's sewn a line about 1/16" all around the outside of the quilt and I usually have to cut a lot of it off to square it up. I don't sew it back down. I just bind it as usual. But I do sew my binding together so they don't drift apart when sewing. I learned that trick a few years ago and it's made a world of difference. Takes a little extra time, but it's so worth it. I sew 1/8" of the raw edge of the binding edges to each other before sewing them to the quilt.

Seems like a waste of time and thread to me. Besides, it would take away that puffy "the binding is full" look, I like my binding to have some weight to it. But, seems like it is a matter of personal preference.

Makes it easier for me and sewing the binding on is a piece of cake. thank you for sharing Have a blessed day Ellen

serge the seams
 

I always serge the the seams on all my quilts. I makes for a nice clean edge and makes it easier to turn the binding over.
I would try it and if you don't like it than don't do it again. Good luck in what ever you decide to do.

I just sew about 1/8 inch from the edge all the way around before binding. It holds the edges together. That's how I was taught.

Yup, I do it all the time. It just seems to make the ends neater and easier to work with.

on the baby quilts and the doll quilts I check for square, trim if less than 1/8 of an inch (find the problem if more than that) quilt then check for square again, then serge with the blade disengaged, then bind.

when binding as in piecing it is good to use a single,straight needle throat plate...the zig zag plate is just not able to produce a really nice straight stitch.....this is when my SINGER 301A really shines.

do not my BERNINA hear me say this

I always serge the edges after the quilt is quilted. For me it is easier to get the binding on.

I sometimes do a very loose slip stitch all around a sandwich to keep the fabrics stable to do binding. A serger might serve the same purpose.

I also sew my binding edges together before sewing it to the quilt. It really does help to make it go on better. Especially with bias cut binding.

I also DO NOT press the binding in half - because by the time the binding has made all it's turns -the half-way line is 'off' where the fold line actually is by the time the binding is ready for it's second stitching.