thanks for all the input!!! Is it any easier to roll the binding thats been pressed in half around a paper towel tube? Easier to attach from front or back to front? Seems like such a long continuous strip to press in half. thanks

I heavily starch my binding fabric before I cut the strips. This is what helps me the most with binding. Starch stabilizes the fabric so the strips are accurate, and it also means that when I press in half the fold stays very crisp and accurate.

It doesn't make any difference in terms of ease of sewing whether you sew from the front first or the back first. Those who plan to hand-finish the other edge usually machine sew to the front. Those who plan to machine-finish the final edge usually sew to the back first.

Recently I have put more effort into the sandwich by pulling the backing real taut and taping it to the table, smoothing the batting down very carefully and smoothing the top down. I pin approximately hand-width apart and double check the back to make sure I have no puckers. Then, I run a zigzag stitch around the outer edge of the top. I trim the excess down - but not to the edge - just in case something is off. Last quilt had NO puckers from the SID and it was easy to maneuver.

I don't usually, though I have a few times when some of the stitching near the edges were opening up.

Here's a neat trick which I've used for binding. You roll your binding and then
insert a double length of thread long enough to tie around your neck. Here's a picture (scroll down a bit).
http://whatarajaneloves.blogspot.com...ile-quilt.html

you should trim/square up your quilt before attaching the binding, then some people stitch the binding to the front and turn to the back to hand stitch down, others do it the other way, as in stitched to the back and folded to the front. i always hand stitch mine, i've tried machine attaching a couple times and am never happy with the results and it sucks to take it out...but that is just me. check out the binding tutorial, it is very helpful :)

I always trim my excess batting and backing off and then
stitch around the edge of the quilt. I was told that it helps to keep the three pieces together better than if you do not stitch. I have neaver had any problem and I always just use longer stitch.

What ever you feel comfortable with is what to do.

cassiemae :-)

I usually don't sew around a quilt before binding it but I did on the quilt I repaired for a friend. It was a baby quilt for her son (he is now 16) and the first time she washed it it frayed so bad the binding fell off. First I had to square it and then I sewed around the edge to help stop the fraying. Then I attached the binding. It seems to be holding and will be for her first grandchild. The quilt top was made by her, it was tied by her mother and had the binding attached by me. There are a lot of people involved with that quilt.

Stitch around your quilt before trimming. Sew slowly and hold all the fabric down so you don't get any loose fabric or tucks. And pull the backing taut. I usually pin mine and use my walking foot. Then I stitch my binding on the front. Trim away the excess batting and backing. Turn binding to the back and hand stitch in place.

I stitch around the edge before adding the binding, just my personal preference. When I make binding it is just a tad wider than it needs to be. Then I starch the daylights out of it fols in half and trim to the exact size I need so the edges are as good as I can get them.