Candace

I also machine baste before binding. It stablilizes the outside edge.

maryb119

I pin the binding on the edge of my quilt BEFORE I trim away the extra backing and batting. It lays flat that way. I leave about 1/8 inch of the backing and batting wider than the seam allowance. MY binding is nice and full that way. I lost points at a quilt show because my binding was not full.

oatw13

I usually quilt all the way to the edge and I don't cut off the excess backing or batting until after I attach the binding (as long as the quilt is basically square, that is!).

When I cut away the excess, I use pinking shears and leave about 1/4" from the seam. I find that I fill the binding out better that way.

Jackie R

Is that hand or machine sewing all the way around?

Bobbielinks

I always baste the edges as I quilt on my longarm machine. Many, many of the my customers have thanked me for doing this. They say it makes sewing on the binding much easier for them.

magnolia

If I am using a polyester batting I will sew around the outside. If I use cotton, such as warm and natural, it seems to "stick" better. I tried not sewing once with polyester and the fabric folded over.

littlehud

I quilt to the edges so I don't baste. I do pind the edges before quilting though

Deborah12687

I zig zag the edges then add the binding.

jljack

I don't do it...wasn't taught to do it, and never found it necessary.

PiecesinMn

I baste every quilt edge. If I'm at the machine I'll machine baste and if I'm watching a tv show I'll hand baste. Both ways work equally well for me, but I defintely do baste because of the ease with adding the binding. I baste with less than 1/4 so that I don't have any of the basting stitches show and I don't need to pull them out.