I like to do binding too. I bind for a friend that has had her knuckles replaced. Did not know they could do that. They set the tips of her fingers off slightly to the side so that she will not jam them. She cannot bend them to hold the quilt to bind. I bind all of her quilts and still enjoy doing them. I have two of my own that I am working on right now. Christmas gifts. MNM

I got so frustrated with one binding I did on my last quilt, I sewed on another border, front and back, and tied the darn thing like a rag quilt.

I do binding on the back side first, then turn it over to the front and sew it by machine. If I had do to that by hand, it would look bad and I might never get it done!

The first time I did binding, it took me six hours on my first doll quilt. now I get it done on a doll quilt in about 10 minutes. and I am learning to quilt, so that is really big for me. God bless.

I cut mine 2-1/2", fold in half lengthwise and press, then sew to the back at 3/8". I then press the binding, from the back, which lets it lay flat. The when I turn the edge over it is perfect in line with the first sewn seam. I don't even pin anymore except for the corner to get a good miter. I'll explain why.

Once the binding is halved it now measures 1 1/4" which equals 10/8ths. With a 3/8th seam, it reduces the binding to 7/8. You lose another 3/8th when it is pressed to the front, now 4/8 left. That leaves 1/8 for the turn and 3/8 to sew. the folded edge matches the sewn line. When I use a straight stitch to sew the binding on, I pin. When I use a decorative stitch I pin with my fingers.

I will admit that sometimes the batting in the seam wants to curl up and not lay flat. When this happens I overcast the seam either before or after I sew the first seam.