machine binding back first or front first
 

Hi, Ive seen a few different versions of machine binding and wonder which gives the better results. Some people sew the back down first, and then the front, and some sew front first. I think I did front first, and wasnt crazy about the stitches that were visible on the front when I sewed the back down.
So, do most of you sew the back first??
Thanks!
Bee

I always sew the binding on the front and then hand stitch the back. I have never been happy with machine stitching the second side and although I HATE hand sewing I always do this by hand.

I am the same-I always sew the binding on the front and hand stitch the back. I have never had good results machine sewing the entire binding by machine.

I think it is if you are going to do handwork, stitch binding to the top and finsh the back by hand and if you are going to put it all on by machine, stitch to the back first then bring around to the top and stitch down by machine.

Like the others, I prefer to machine sew the binding to the front and hand finish on the back. I prefer the look of this binding.

The one time I did a completely machine sewn binding, I started the binding on the back then used a decorative stitch to sew it to the front. It was a baby quilt.

There is a way to sew the binding on the front and machine stitch the second step. Don't know if I can explain, but this is what I do.: I cut the binding 1/4 of an inch wider than usual. Fold in half as usual. Sew to the front. When the binding is rolled over to the back it will be wider on the back than on the front. Then, on the right side, stitch as close to the binding as you can. I usually use my fingers on the left hand to nudge the binding out of the way. The stitching won't show once the binding is rolled back into place. The stitching will catch the binding on the back. Is this as clear as mud? (Actually when I was doing garment sewing in the sixties, this is what we called stitching in the ditch.)

I use the flange bindings when I can, otherwise I stitch the binding on the front first, then carefully turn the back to barely cover the stitching, then STID on the front.

If I'm doing all by machine, I stitch to the front, fold over and glue it down to the back, then go back to the front and stitch in the ditch. It is never perfect on the back, so only do this when I'm not as particular about that part - print backing, or something that won't show so much. Most quilts that I do, my imperfect back binding is good enough for me.