Tried putting binding on by machine
 

It was fast, but I'm not too happy with it. I really had trouble with the corners: my machine, even with a 90/14 needle and the walking foot on, didn't want to move over the hump of fabric. The other problem was that after flattening the binding with a decorative stitch, my edges are now wavy! This was a baby quilt for a friend...and she won't notice or mind, but what can I do to improve? Any suggestions? Except for the waves and the corners, it looks good....:(

I've tried this several times and it never works for me either. I stick with the front by machine and then hand stitch to the back.

i've been quilting a long time (first quilt in 1976) and have never been happy with a machine binding---they never turn out as nice as a hand stitched binding (mine anyway) to me it seems like putting so much work into a quilt i simply ruin it if i try to *cut corners* and do a machine binding. I've watched videos and tried lots of peoples (new-improved way) but in the end i always regret having tried it again- so..all i can offer is:
if you really want to do your bindings by machine- there are good tutorials & videos available---watch them & practice- after a while you may figure out what works for you that you are happy with- me, i will stick with the (old fashioned way) ;)

I have also had the same problem like to do front by machine and back by hand it looks alot better in my opinion

My favorite machine way is no binding but bring the fabric from the back to the front, tuck under and hem. Depending on the fabric I will use either a straight stitch or a decorative stitch.

For the corners, I use my ruler and place it 1/4" from the corner (tip) and slice it off. I do that by lining up the 45 degree line with the top edge of the top (not the backing). Then I pull the backing fabric back, pretty sides together then sew from the corner to half way from where I cut it. Then finger press seam open and if necessary clip corner to decrease bulk. Pull the fabric back to the front and "pop" that corner out. It's easy then to tuck in the fabric for hemming. That's probably clear as mud. If I can figure out a way to do a video on it, I will or if someone knows of an online video showing this technique that would be great. My dear Mother-in-law showed me how to do this years ago and it's really neat since it makes a mitered corner and it's not bulky in the corner.

Rule of thumb - If I want a 1" hem, I trim the back to 2" from edge of top all the way around then trim corner. Make sure you are 1/4" from corner because of the seam allowance.

Another "I don't like the look of machine binding" person here. Maybe more practice would make it better, but mine just look a little messy compared to hand sewn binding. And I like the hand sewn process, so only use machine bindings for charity quilts, and then mutter under my breath.

Have you tried the new way with the flange? It's really neat. Do a search for flange binding.

I agree with leatheflea. I machine sew them on the back and then hand sew them on the front. They have all looked nice and only took me maybe a week to do the hand sewing in the evening while watching TV with the DH.

I only do machine binding. I think it gets better and better as you do the quilts, I do 99 % charity quilts and think they look good either way. My corners are flatter as I have learned to pin the corners more

I use the machine for my charity quilts also, and I really don't think they look all that bad. I sew binding from the back, flip to front and pin-miter the corners...pinning around. Then I use the stitch that looks like a zig zag, except the zigs and zags are little machine stitches. Onto the binding with a zig and off on the quilt with a zag. Have I explained so anyone understands? I can adjust my "ZZ" to the width that looks good, and the little sewing stitches are about lgth 2 1/2 on the dial. Sometimes a 3. You just need to slow down and maneuver the corners to get them right.

I signed up for one of those Craftsy tutorials and she does the same as Mermaid suggested, sew first from the back & fold over to front and she sewed a straight stitch, but I think a ZZ would look better. Haven't tried it yet, but hand sewing the binding on a big quilt or even a lap size is hard on these old hands.

These videos by Leah Day were helpful for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MRfA...feature=relmfu

I found that I really like a serpentine stitch for the binding rather than the invisible stitch she demonstrates, so I use a serpentine for the last step.

I also found that glue before that last step can help, especially with the mitered corners.

It sounds like you don't pin enough. I have never glued, I'd make too big of a mess.....sigh!!

I machine stitch mine to the back, then bring to front, use matching top thread, and matching bobbin thread to backing, and use serpentine stitch. Looks good to me.

Search you tube for Missouri Star videos -- just watched one for sewing binding on the machine -- Jenny's videos are great. Good luck!

Same here.

I also machine sew on the front and hand sew on the back. I get the neat look I like. Do whatever works best for you.

Glue the binding on before sewing. Press with a dry iron. Then use the clover clips or pin the binding to prevent shifting. This includes the mitered corner. If the corners are too bulky, snip a small triangle from the quilt corners. Snip a little at a time and only snip enough to make the mitered corner. There really shouldn't be any bulk at all to the corners. Try using the serpentine stitch with a shorter stitch. Also, I prefer sewing the binding onto the back first then bringing the binding to the front when I use the serpentine stitch. It allows me to control the way the front binding will look. Practice on a sample to see where the left edge of the stitch will fall with the binding. I sew the left edge directly onto the edge of the binding, then it is uniform all the way around. I use an 80/12 needle and size 40 thread. I don't use the walking foot with the serpentine stitch.
Once the quilt is washed, you may not notice the wavy edge at all.

I decided to do my last quilt binding by machine using the school glue method on both the front and the back (no pins or clamps needed with this and no fabric shifting.) It was very fast but I did not care for the final "look" of the binding on the back. I guess I will stick to hand sewing which I find relaxing anyway. As ckcowl mentioned, I felt like I "ruined" the quilt by cutting corners.

I actually prefer the hand sewing on the back. I put the binding on as usual, used the clover clips to hold it, then sewed from the front. I think my decorative stitch was not placed right (should have been on the inside edge) and was too large, since it flattened the binding. Clipping the corner might help. The reason I did this was that I found out about to shower late and it would have taken most of the day to sew it by hand. I'll probably practice on some charity quilts to see if I can come up with a better way. I have an older Bernina that has the serpentine stitch. I might try that. It would probably go over the miters as well. Washing this one may help. I'll be doing that in the morning. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I have hand problems and it's difficult to hold a needle for hand sewing (the pinching action is what gets me) so machine binding has been a life saver. It's that or no quilting at all so if my binding looks a little 'off' I'm OK with it :) I'm going to try the serpentine method on my next quilt.

I machine bind all my quilts too. My quilts are made to use and I expect will be washed a lot. I know the machine binding will hold up better than my hand sewing. Not to mention, I don't like hand sewing! :) However, I sew to the front then flip to the back. I will agree that I like the looks of hand sewing the binding better, it looks neater to me but everyone should do what works best for them.

While i prefer handstitched bindings, when i do machine stitch one i use the serpentine stitch on my machine also.
I will also use it for SITD in place of a straight stitch

Of all the quilts I have made 90% of the bindings were all machine stitched.....I think accurate measuring helps a little. I sew on the front first, then fold to back, I allow enough material to go past my original stitch line, pin or glue in place very well, then sitch on the front in the ditch, I catch about 99% that way, and I am done quickly.....the last binding I hand sewed took me a week, and in the end did not feel the end result was any better and especially for a childs quilt felt the machine sewn was stronger...IMHO :eek:

When I first started quilting about 4 years ago, I had a TERRIBLE time with my binding. But the old "practice makes perfect" is so true. I can do a beautiful machine binding now. You will prevent wavy edges if you measure through the center of the quilt or even in from the edge several inches, cut your strips that length. I don't pin my binding at all, at any point. I used to glue baste when I rolled it to the front, but have now found I don't even need to do that. The handy dandy steam iron makes a wonderful crease, I press the corners well, and use the blanket stitch nice and small. Nearly all my quilts are charity quilts so they need to be bound by machine.

I couldn't imagine spending a week to do the binding by hand when in just a short time-(30-60min.) i could have it on by machine. If i had to do it by hand, i would probably have only a few quilts done so far instead of the dozens I have completed. But it's a good thing we are not all the same- we would be boring! I also think it takes practice just like everything else. Also if I were to put a quilt in a show or something, I would do binding by hand because that is what is expected.

I am the Project Linus coordinator for my area and we machine sew our bindings as they get a lot more laundering and harder usage than the norm so I have been doing it on all of my quilts. I find that accuracy is the key to a good border, also I have an Elna 7200 which will sew through anything even just using an ordinary presser foot!

I cut my border strips 2.3/8 " and fold in half longwise.

I stitch the binding on the quilt, front side, using a 3/8th" seam.

Using a steam guide, and pinning horizontally a few inches at a time, using a stiletto to ensure that all the fabric is tucked under the back part of the binding.

In the pictures below I have used the stepped zig zag, sorry it looks so rumpled but it's Muffin's favourite and I had to get her off it to take pics LOL My favourite stitch that I use for binding is the blanket stitch which my Elna has.

The other tip that I use is that I do not go around the corners in one go. I stop at centre of the corner, cut thread turn quilt and then restart sewing, it seems to give a better corner IMO

I've been quilting for many years. I like to machine stitch the back of the binding, but before I do, I glue it with a small amount of elmers school glue, lightly press to dry the glue, then sew it by machine. The front of binding is always completed by hand, and all areas seem to stay in line.

I agree. This is what always works best for me!

Don't you mean machine sew them on the front and hand sew on the back?

I do some by machine,, you have to be very careful not to pull on the quilt as you are sewing the binding on or you can stretch it, I have done that very thing.. Jenny Doan has a great tut on sewing on the binding. Go to missouristarquilt.com
she has lots of tutorials so you have to scroll through them..

I sometimes have to sew binding on totally by machine; Quilt for Kids organization requests machine sewen binding. Some time ago I found a tutorial posted here on Quilting Board that was wonderful! I use the method exclusively, both for sewing binding to front & hand sewing to back and machine sewing binding to back, fold over to front and using a decortative stitch to sew to front of quilt. Can't find the tutorial when I did a search, however this link if very similiar. The only difference is in the method I use the quilt is not taken out of machine at each corner, but the folding of the binding is exactly the same.

http://fingerlakesart.blogspot.com/2...-tutorial.html

I have had luck with a binding foot brought from www.amazon.com

Have you tried sewing the binding on with a walking foot? It helps with the pulling and moving of fabrics.

I like doing my bindings by machine! It takes practice like so many things with quilting. Just go slow and don't expect it to look perfect the first few times. If I am doing a quilt for a show, then I do it the by hand way. Otherwise, for kids quilts, table runners and place mats, I do them all by machine.

I can't get the corners to look pleasing when I do the machine stitching ...................................sheesh......... .......so I machine stitch one side and hand stitch the other..............calla

I always hand sew mine. I just can't get used to the way the machine sewn ones look. That's one trick this old dog isn't interested in learning!

Attaching binding by machine is a three step process. First, stitch along the edge of your quilt, in just far enough to "catch" the layers (1/8 " or so). Then make sure you don't have any irregular sections outside the stitching. Next, lay your double fold binding on the backside of the quilt and stitch it down using a 1/4" seam. Lastly, flop your quilt over to the right side and with your binding to the edge of the stitching, stitch "just inside" this stitching (barely inside) and you will have a very neat top stitch that looks as well on the backside!

She's right...the flange makes all the difference. Here is a tutorial I found on this board and I used it to machine my binding front and back...not only does it look GREAT but it was easy and accurate. I'll never do a binding any other way.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ge-t77821.html

Didn't notice it mentioned here .. but when i've opted for machine stitched binding - i always make my binding wider so that i don't have to combat the "bump" ... then used a walking foot and blanket stitch ...on the front side it shows out about 1/4" from the binding seam. They were kids' quilts and i wanted to get them done quickly and make sure they stayed bound.