Originally Posted by quilterjoan

Hi Madame, I even go so far as to sew the binding by machine. I apply to the back and bring around to the front and stitch by machine. The hand sewing is much nicer but if I had to stitch the binding by hand I would not finish the quilt. So-o I give up a little but FINISHED is important too. I love the work but am not good at hand stitching and don't enjoy it either. Enjoy your day

Originally Posted by madamekelly

You asked me to share how I do binding. Here it is, if you have more questions just ask. I cut bias strips 2.5 inches wide, and long enough to go around the quilt. I usually just cut a yard of fabric at a time. If I have extra, I save it for another project. I iron it in half lengthwise, using spray sizing. I start in the middle of a side, leaving a 1 foot 'tail' hanging loose, and sew it, with a 1/4 inch seam, all the way around the quilt, stopping about 8-10 inches from where I started. I lay the 'tail' I left before, across where it will be sewed, and cut it off near the middle of the open space. I take the other 'tail' and lay it across the other, over lapping them. Very carefully, measure a 2.5 inch overlap, and cut only the second 'tail, at that measurement. Draw a diagonal line (45 degree) from one corner of one 'tail'. (I fold it to get it in the right spot.) Match the now square ends, right sides together, and pin. Lay it so you can see the drawn line, check for fit in the unsewn 'gap'. If it fits well, sew and trim, if not, fiddle with it until it does. Lay it down smooth and attach, using a 1/4 inch seam. Don't forget to miter the corners as you go around them *( there are several methods for mitering corners, just use the search on this board to learn how to do it). Because you used a bias strip, the binding will roll nice and flat to the back, and I then hand stitch it down, using a 'blind hem stitch', or a 'ladder stitch'. I DO NOT try to machine sew it down, as I know me too well and I will definitely screw that up. Feel free to try it on a small sample to see if it works for you. I hope this helps. I encourage you to find a tutorial for "french binding" so you can see it in action. I hope I have this clear enough to follow, clear as mud,