OH NO A DOUBLE POST>>>MY APOLOGIES.

Ditto...

I cut my binding 2 3/4 in and fold in half. That extra 1/4" which is really only 1/8 " really makes turning binding easier. Also I sew mine on the back and turn to the front and then sew. also I make my corners slightly rounded since I can not seem to get miter corrners right by top stitching on the front. Good Luck!!!!

This tutorial shows the exact placement of the needle when hand stitching the binding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdC1_1_cx0 I do it backward from this tutorial, but that probably explains a lot! We've probably bombarded you with suggestions, but when in doubt Google it. Attach the word "tutorial" to any quilting term and you'll come up with all kinds of stuff to peruse. Some work better with a video, some like step-by-step photos. Whatever sinks in!

I had trouble for quite awhile with too much binding folding to the back of my quilt. The front and back were obviously uneven (wider on the back than front) and that bugged me. I was cutting my strips at 2 1/2". I tried using 2" strips and that worked really well for just barely covering the stitches when folded to the back. I pretty much use the same kind of batting with all my quilts so thickness doesn't vary much at all from quilt to quilt.

As for hand stitching, it is hard to describe. The link that Chele posted for Dreamweavers tutorial is a good one. It has really clear pictures. It's the site I found when I was trying to figure out how to hand stitch binding.

I wish I was closer because I would gladly help you with both binding and FMQ. I'm not perfect at either but I've come a long ways with both since I first started quilting. But alas, KY is quite a ways from MS. :)

Oh, gee, wish I could sit with you and play. Shelley has a bunch of great info here: http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting...ding/index.htm

Breathe deep and relax, play with scraps first.

piney

This site really helped me to understand about bindings. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

http://quiltersden.ca/wp-content/upl...t-Binding2.pdf

I cut the strips 2 3/4" x # of strips to go around + 15", fold and press, sew to quilt with 3/8" seam allowance (the width of my even feed presser foot). The best quilter's helper I've found is the Fons & Porter book "Quilter's complete guide to quilting". Although I use a wider seam allowance because I like a wider binding, the method is the same. I've had my book for many years and still refer to it from time to time. Try it on a small project and see how you like it.

I do this in reverse -stitch to back and fold to front - completely machine stitched.

I do this in reverse -stitch to back and fold to front - completely machine stitched.

I use 2 1/2 inch binding folded in half. Stitch it to the front with 1/4 inch seam and hand stitch the back down. The hardest part for me was ending it but I bought the Fons and Porter binding tool at Joanns. It's just a plastic piece but has all the markings on it and really simplifies it.

I do my binding exactly as CoventryUK does.

Sorry to hear about your problem with binding i am like that when it comes to putting the quilt together after pinning a thousands pins and started my quilting i had to unpick about 6 rows of stitch in the ditch and remove all of the pins because the backing was all up the s...t :( and my fingers was screaming for mercy I hate this process but i love the process of finding pattern,fabric,and the actual sewing the little squares etc... Please don't give up you will find lots of helpers right here, my quilt is all unpick for another day maybe i'll pay $250.00 for some one to quilt it for me:(

Don't get discouraged, we all struggle with one thing or another! You'll get it!

I use the 1/4" seam allowance but I do use different widths for the binding.

I always use double binding anywhere from 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" width...I have even used a tad larger for something very heavy.

I feel the same way. I took the class at the LQS and watched the online videos but I just can't understand the part where the binding strip ends meet. I even had hubby watch the online videos and try to help me. Nothing.

During my binding class at the LQS I sewed the front first and didn't know you were supposed to do back first. I was so frustrated about how it turned out but then my 15 month old son saw it in a grocery bag and now he carries it everywhere and loves it.

I make my binding just under 3/8" because that's the width of the base of my walking foot on my Bernina with the needle in the far right position. I cut my strips 1 3/4" for single binding and 2 3/4" for double binding.
If I am binding a quilt with pieced blocks and no border, this binding covers the points of the blocks, but I don't care.

TO: erastan947. I don't know about the quilt police but judges don't mind your technique as long it is well done - even seam and good corners. It is a perfectly acceptable technique.

don't tell the quilt police but i usually use extra wide bias tape works for me

This is what I do too.

I have had the same problem but I got better when I made 12 mug rugs. It was small and easy to handle. It really helped just practicing on something little. Then I could look at the corners and see which ones turned out best and because it was so a quick thing, I could remember what I did on each one.

Seems like there are a few different sizes of the cut that works for different people! I do 2.5 also.

I cut my binding strips at 2.25. I use a 1/4" seam allowance when sewing it to the quilt. The strip is folded lengthwise and ironed. I sew my bindings on the back and then turn them to the front. I then use a decorative stitch to sew the binding down. A walking foot is helpful, but some stitches wouldn't work with that foot. I still sometimes get a wrinkle or two in my binding and I know that it's supposed to be hand stitched to the back, but I want mine finished and I don't like hand anything so this is the way that I do it. Simply quilts has a good way for connecting the ends so it just looks like a seam and that's the way I connect mine. My quilts aren't perfect and neither is the binding, but they're finished and loved and that's what matters. It takes practice like anything else.

That's exactly what I do. When I roll the fabric over to the other side I glue baste it and iron it down, no pins necessary this way. I machine stitch mine, but hand stitching will work too. You just have to make sure your raw edge that you are encasing is very straight, that's the key here IMO.

GREAT video...thanks!

Same here. Actually, I use the width of the walking foot, which is about 3/8".

This is how I do mine. I am a fairly new quilter and I tried a few different ways, but this is what looks the best.

I cut the 2 1/2 inch strips, and sew them together, on the slant, until I have enough to do the whole quilt, then press them in half...I then sew it to the back side, which eliminates the raw edges, and then turn it, and sew onto the front, there is the fold, no raw edges.......I use the 1/4 inch foot guide, and it works great. Be in a calm state though when trying it, if I am upset, or nervous about something, I mess anything up, every time.

This works for me, too!

I cut all my bindings 2 1/2 inches press in half lenghtwise with wrong sides together and sew to the top side of the quilt and then fold to back and hand stitch it. If you have thick batting you might want it a little wider, because your binding should be filled with batting also. Hope this helps and wish you were close to me so I could help you in person. Karen McTavish used to live close to me and she hated doing bindings and would bring her quilts to me to bind.

Wow!!!! What a wonderful binding video. I thought that I understood the process, but I still learned a several very useful tips. Thanks!

I love to bind.....send it to me :-D

I use Eleanor Burns method. Works like a charm. The method is in all of her books. Even my first binding was perfect. I have shared this with several quilting friends & they love it too.

I do mine just as Hilary does. Cut a 2 1/2" strip; iron in half the long way; sew from front, raw edges together; and flip over to the back and I like to hand sew it (the fold will be on the back). See: http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/. Click on "Binding your quilt". Couldn't be any easier.

Dont Hate Me 'Cause I Love Binding .... I enjoy the binding, making the mitered corners and even two color binding, where the front is different than the back. If I can do it, I'm sure you can learn too...Good Luck

I always use 2-1/2 inch strip for binding, fold in half and press. Then sew the strip to the quilt edge with 1/4 inch seam. Some use wider and wider seam but that is how I do it. Then fold over edge of quilt to the back and hand stitch down to finish.
Sometimes I sew to the back and fold to the front and stitch down on the machine with a decorative stitch.

They have all given good advice. Would make pot holders for practice. Good way to get good.

same here....breath, relax, it will come to you. you may be trying to hard, hugs.

one thing that I did not see mentioned in other replies.......I cut binding strips from selvage to selvage, only do bias binding when there is a scalloped edge.....that might be your problem.........and of course, must use the walking foot to apply. When trimming top before applying binding strip, I leave about 1/4" batting extended over the edge of the top.....this will fill that binding nicely when completed. Just what I found works for me. We all experiment a bit and find the best way for each of us.

Dito for me too.