I have watched the video on youtube by Leah Day 100 times and just can't get the ends of the binding together. I put 2 pins in the middle of each piece so I know where to join them but they end up way too tight and I'm not even sure I'm getting the pieces turned and/or sewn correctly. If anyone knows of an easier way to join the ends, or another video to explain it, I'm open to any suggestions.

the way i do it is...
i leave a good size (tail) at the beginning of attaching the binding (about 8-10" long)
then i stitch the binding (starting away from a corner- a way's down a side...)
stitch the binding around the quilt until i am about a foot from the loose beginning....
i then secure my thread and remove the quilt from the machine taking it to the cutting table. i lay out the side where the binding finishes...
over lap the two ends- cutting them so that the overlap is exactly the width of the binding (if i used 2 1/2" binding the two ends should overlap by 2 1/2")
i then open the two pieces (so they are no longer folded in half)
place them right sides together in a way that when you stitch diagonally across them and clip the corner triangles the fold matches up and i can continue stitching the binding to the quilt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot7Trk6J2Vw

This one worked for me.

Look at the video on www.quilterstv.com
It will be under Quilters Cafe. I assue it is still showing. It shows and very easy way to join the ends.

This is the tutorial that finally got through my hard head: http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/.../binding-tips/ Good luck! Once you do it a few times, it's a piece of cake!

Hopefully I can explain it. I couldn't find the show on QuiltersTV.

When you get to the end of the binding on the side where you started.
Have your quilt laying flat away from you with the edge of the binding facing you. Stitched binding will be on top of the quilt.
Lay the beginning tail (left) flat along the edge and cut off selvedge if you did not cut it off in the beginning
Then lay the right tail on top of the left. They are both folded at this point. Smooth them out. then mark on the top the point when the top and bottom tails meet. Now mark beyond this point the width of your binding. (If your cut width of your binding is 2.5" then mark beyond the meeting point 2.5"
Cut off the excess from the top tail.
You now have an overlap of 2.5"
Open the binding and take the left tail and put your thumb in the center of the wrong side. Take the right tail and do the same with your right thumb. Stand them up... Now you have each tail standing up with your thumbs in the center of the wrong side. Rigit side of binding is facing away from you.
With your left hand lay the tail down. The tail is now horizontal. Take your right hand and twist it so the right side of the binding is facing toward you but the tail still standing upright. Now match the ends. Left tail will be facing you and the right away from you. Pin if needed and stitch from upper left of the right tail to the lower right of the left tail.

I too use the one Debra k uses. Alicia attic. This tutorial is the best and easiest as far as I am concerned. Try it she shows u how not to get it to loose or too tight. Good luck!

Great video and so much easier to understand. Thank you!! :-D

Thanks everybody! Back to the machine. I'll let you know how it turns out. :-)

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-51632-1.htm Many quilters have found this useful.