Hi all-- was about to tackle the binding on my first quilt and thought I read somewhere to sew around the outside edges 1/4". Do I do that before trimming the excess batting/ backing to the top or afterwards? Thanks so much

Some individuals that have sergers do this. I don't have one so I just trim everything up and put on my binding.

I do this becaue I like to put the binding on the back side first then turn around to the front and use a decorative stitch to finish. I used to hand stitch to finish but the arthritis in my hands prevents that now. I trim after I have sewn, assured that when I attach the binding I will be getting both front and back in it.

I sew the binding on the front of the quilt using 1/4 inch seam allowance, trim anywhere that's needed, turn to back of quilt and by hand whip stitch it down hiding the threads for a clean look. Good luck and remember it's your project what you decide is the right way!

I usually do a serpentine stitch around the edge of the quilt before I trim off the extra batting. It helps hold the fabric down while I bind it.

I have never sewn around the edge before putting on the binding. However, if my border is cut on the bias it might be a good thing to do.

never have, never will,

I have never sewn around the edges ... just trim up the edges and add the binding

I like to stabilize the quilt sandwich edge before putting binding on; it makes it easier to handle.

My method is quite different. I use a permanent Sharpie to mark the *cutting edge* on the quilt sandwich. Then I use a long machine stitch to baste just outside this line. I sew the binding on by lining up the raw edges of the binding with my Sharpie marking. I don't actually cut the quilt sandwich edge until after my binding has been sewn on. It sounds odd to do it this way, but I am much less likely to make a cutting mistake plus the edges are much easier to handle -- no unnoticed flipping of the underside seam, no stretching of the edge, no bunching up of the three layers while I attach the binding.

I did use a serger once to secure the edge before putting the binding on, but did not like that method nearly as well. It compresses the edge of the quilt sandwich, plus it is hard for me to keep a perfectly straight line while serging (and more nervous about making a cutting mistake).

I always square up my quilts and trim my edges before placing the binding on.

thanks for all the input!!! Is it any easier to roll the binding thats been pressed in half around a paper towel tube? Easier to attach from front or back to front? Seems like such a long continuous strip to press in half. thanks

I heavily starch my binding fabric before I cut the strips. This is what helps me the most with binding. Starch stabilizes the fabric so the strips are accurate, and it also means that when I press in half the fold stays very crisp and accurate.

It doesn't make any difference in terms of ease of sewing whether you sew from the front first or the back first. Those who plan to hand-finish the other edge usually machine sew to the front. Those who plan to machine-finish the final edge usually sew to the back first.

Recently I have put more effort into the sandwich by pulling the backing real taut and taping it to the table, smoothing the batting down very carefully and smoothing the top down. I pin approximately hand-width apart and double check the back to make sure I have no puckers. Then, I run a zigzag stitch around the outer edge of the top. I trim the excess down - but not to the edge - just in case something is off. Last quilt had NO puckers from the SID and it was easy to maneuver.

I don't usually, though I have a few times when some of the stitching near the edges were opening up.

Here's a neat trick which I've used for binding. You roll your binding and then
insert a double length of thread long enough to tie around your neck. Here's a picture (scroll down a bit).
http://whatarajaneloves.blogspot.com...ile-quilt.html

you should trim/square up your quilt before attaching the binding, then some people stitch the binding to the front and turn to the back to hand stitch down, others do it the other way, as in stitched to the back and folded to the front. i always hand stitch mine, i've tried machine attaching a couple times and am never happy with the results and it sucks to take it out...but that is just me. check out the binding tutorial, it is very helpful :)

I always trim my excess batting and backing off and then
stitch around the edge of the quilt. I was told that it helps to keep the three pieces together better than if you do not stitch. I have neaver had any problem and I always just use longer stitch.

What ever you feel comfortable with is what to do.

cassiemae :-)

I usually don't sew around a quilt before binding it but I did on the quilt I repaired for a friend. It was a baby quilt for her son (he is now 16) and the first time she washed it it frayed so bad the binding fell off. First I had to square it and then I sewed around the edge to help stop the fraying. Then I attached the binding. It seems to be holding and will be for her first grandchild. The quilt top was made by her, it was tied by her mother and had the binding attached by me. There are a lot of people involved with that quilt.

Stitch around your quilt before trimming. Sew slowly and hold all the fabric down so you don't get any loose fabric or tucks. And pull the backing taut. I usually pin mine and use my walking foot. Then I stitch my binding on the front. Trim away the excess batting and backing. Turn binding to the back and hand stitch in place.

I stitch around the edge before adding the binding, just my personal preference. When I make binding it is just a tad wider than it needs to be. Then I starch the daylights out of it fols in half and trim to the exact size I need so the edges are as good as I can get them.

Thanks for all the advice-- it helped alot. I'm nervous and excited to be so close to finishing. Then I'm on to the other 8 quilt kits my sister has sent me. Perhaps I'll get bold after awhile and design one myself.

I also sewing the binding to the back, and use a decorative stitch to sew it down. I really like the extra little touch it gives to my quilt.

How many of you hand stitch the binding? have used a nylon invisible thread, zig zag, straight stitch or use a decorative stitch on your machine to finish the binding.
Do any of you use a glue or iron on such as Steam a Seam to get the binding straight before stitching? Please let the rest of us know what works best for you.

I machine sew my biinding on the front before trimming batting and backing. Then I slice them off nicely and hand sew the to back.

Since most of my quilting has been hand quilting, I've also done the binding by hand. On the ones I've done lately, branching out into machine piecing, I've attached the binding to the front by machine and done the back side of the binding by hand. These have either been tied or hand quilted. Still not ready to tackle machine quilting!

If you wait to trim after sewing the binding on the front- how do you make sure your quilt edges are true?

I cut the edges even first, then sew a basting stitch all the way around--nothing fancy--but a little less than 1/4-inch so that the binding covers it. I just think it holds the edges of the sandwich together so I catch everything when I sew the binding.

I zig zag round the edges of the quilt before I put the binding on, I find it makes it easier to put the binding on

I mark the edges (with a Sharpie) instead of cutting them, then line up my binding with the marks.

I usually hand stitch. The only machine stitching option that works for me is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5...os=axOUdkCOtDs

I tried to put on my binding before trimming but ended up catching some of the corner fold in my cutting blade and decided NEVER AGAIN. So now I trim first then attach my binding, without stitching around the edges (unless the borders are only lightly quilted). I do use a tool by Martelli that helps a great deal. I use continuous bias binding and love the outcome as I have little waste. I do press the whole continous strip in half and then roll up on a half empty roll of toilet paper. Then I slipped some mardi gras beads through the center, safety pin to another strand and put over my head. This way I can pull off a few feet at a time and don't have the pile of binding on the floor getting all tangled. Also, many times I make my binding well in advance of finishing the quilt (sometimes I get creatively stuck and need a short distraction) and the binding stays perfectly preserved all wrapped up. Perhaps make a set of practice placemats to try different techniques until you find one you feel works for you. I put my latest binding roll on my son for the pic so you can see better what I'm trying to describe.

OMG!!!! How cute is that little guy?! AND he's such a good helper!!! That is the best advice and makes sense to me too!! I will definitely do that- maybe have my hubby substitute for your boy--haha Thanks again- melissa from Az.

I have a curious george t-shirt too!!!!

great idea! I had to look at the picture to know what you were talking about.... mind wasn't getting it until the eyes saw it.... LOL THANKS FOR SHARING

I hand baste the edge, then sew the binding on the back, come around the front and use a decorative stitch to finish. One of my sewing machines has a nice feather stitch.

Thanks for this great tip - I usually end up nearly hanging myself with the binding slung over my shoulder!! :roll:

What a super idea! I'm going to try that on the current project, when I get to that point.

I square the quilt up and then I pin baste it, quilt it, and then trim the three layers neatly.

Then I use the longest straight stitch and sew about 1/8 inch from the edge to keep all the layers together.

I pin and then machine baste the edges of the binding together before attaching it to the quilt.

I do not press the binding in half because - when it gets folded a few times, the "center crease" is off by a few threads.

I like to sew the edges of the quilt before putting the binding on because then I don't need to think about whether I have all the layers included.

I can't figure the math on my binding.... I thought to end up w/ a 1/2" binding- you start w/ a 2 1/2" strip-- fold in half- press- line up the edge w/ the edge of the sandwhich and sew it on 1/4 ". When I practiced this-- I end up w/ 1/4" on the front and bigger on the back. What am I doing wrong????

Practice sewing it on with a wider seam - I would suggest a "scant" 1/2 inch - for starters - you may need to fiddle around with what works for you