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.