sandrab64

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.

Raggiemom

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.

bakermom

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

Deborahlees

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

grann of 6

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.

sewmom

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.

QultingaddictUK

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

rj.neihart

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.

Shirlrh

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

canuckninepatch

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