Flying_V_Goddess

I'm looking for a method of binding completely by machine. I've watched several videos on how to bind so I know that you fold the strip in half, sew the raw edges together, etc. The videos I've seen when the binding was flipped over to the front it was finished with hand quilting. My hand sewing is terrible. When I bring the binding to the front instead of hand sewing the rest couldn't I just machine stitch it with a straight stitch?

Rebecca VLQ

Yup, you can.

The thing that always happens to me is I "fall off" the back sometimes, so the back stitches do not look "straight" at all!

Someone said they increase the width of their strip from 2.5 to 3.5 inches and make a wider binding and it works better. I might just have to try this one!

tjradj

Yes you can sew it by machine. I only use that method.
When you sew your binding onto your quilt, sew it to the back so you flip it to the front.
If you want the topstitching to catch the back part of the binding too, make sure your folded edge on the front is barely over the stitching line, and then topstitch about 1/8 " from that edge.
If you don't care if the stitching shows on the back, which is usually not a problem if you have a busy pattern on the back, just fold it where it fits best and topstitch.
You can also use a fancy embroidery stitch instead of the topstitch on the front.
Sharon Schamber has a youtube video on using glue to hold the binding in place until you sew it. I use that almost all the time instead of pins,

amma

I use different stitches to sew on the bindings too, not just the straight stitch. Some are more forgiving than the straight stitch, like the blanket stitch :wink: I don't ever sew them on by hand :D:D:D

cjomomma

I do it by machine too!! Not good at hand sewing either. I use fancy stitches to try and make it look good.

oatw13

Here is a pdf tutorial from Sharon Schamber. It shows machine stitching the binding and also the glue method for basting. I have found that if I use the glue method, I never miss the binding on the back.

She uses a zipper foot, but I just use a zig zag foot.

http://www.sharonschamber.com/free%2...ng%20Class.pdf

There are also videos on youtube of this method.

Candace

Ack, I must say that even with all of her extra steps and work the machine binding still doesn't look great:

Mariposa

I only do bindings by machine. I cut my strips 2-1/4" wide, press in half, then sew with a 1/4" seam allowance onto the back side. I seam the ends together, then sew the top part down. Usually with a straight stitch, sometimes a decorative one. Works great for me. I don't use pins or glue.

Flying_V_Goddess

I can't get the link to show on my computer.

Quilter7x

[quote=Candace]Ack, I must say that even with all of her extra steps and work the machine binding still doesn't look great: