I used to press the binding in half too, but after reading a recommendation on this board I tried not pressing it. And once I tried it, I liked it! When the binding isn't pressed, the fold falls naturally. It isn't hard at all to keep the raw edges even. I don't use anything to hold the binding while machine sewing to the front. I sometimes use wonder clips to hold the binding as I hand sew it to the back, and sometimes I don't.