How do you finish your quilt edges before binding?
 

I sew a large zig zag stitch around the edges of my quilt to hold the sandwich together while I bind. Do you think this would make the edges a bit stiffer under the binding? I tried using a straight stitch close to the edge but it doesn't work as well. My worry with not stitching before I bind is that it would be difficult to hold the sandwhich together especially if the quilting does not go right to the edge in places.

Do you stitch the edges before you bind?

No I don't but I am open to suggestions about that. I just make my binding and lay is on with the edges matching up then sew a quarter inch seam. My problem is keeping a quarter inch seam. It seems I fall asleep or something and I don't sew a straight line. I don't have a good 1/4 seam marker to go by on my machine. I have gotten so I do press the edges of my quilt before I sew the binding on and that helps with keeping it flat.

I will do a zigzag around the edge if I remember to do it - it makes it a little easier to bind. But I will admit that I forget about half the time

I don't stitch the edges but I don't trim until after i sew the binding on. This gives me something to hold onto if needed and gives me a view of the backing so I know if it is puckered on the edge

yes, this.........

agree that I don't cut off any excess until the binding is fully stitched on. Usually I have batting and backing hanging over the edge of the top so I tend to "quilt off" the top or at least all the way to the edge. Otherwise I would probably tack it down all the way around at about 1/8 inch in so it is hidden in the binding

I square my quilt, then do a long machine stitching all around, at about 3/16". I then pull up a stitch at regular intervals all around. I just pull a tiny bit. I then sew on my binding from the front, turn it back and secure by machine, usually with a decorative stitch done from the front. Pulling up those stitches seems to solve the problem of "wavy" edges.

I don't stitch around the edges first and haven't had a problem. But I use the Sharon Schamber method of glue basting the binding. Maybe this makes a difference?

I stay stitch around the entire quilt with a scant 1/4" seam, haven't had any problems.