bind faster?

You can eliminate that by stitching the binding on the back first, then topstitching on the front. No worries about catching the binding on the back that way. You can get a stitching line that wanders from the binding to the quilt, but at least it's all caught and secure. It's a good way to quickly bind utility quilts. KJ

I like the method KJ describes, with one change: when I sew down the binding on the front, I use a decorative stitch and a thread that looks good with the rest of the design. If it meanders a bit on the back, it just looks like part of the quilting/decorative stitching design. From the front, it adds to the overall design. If you don't want it to show at all, use that invisible thread or some very, very neutral color that won't show much front or back.

Sunny

Yup, that's a really good idea Sunny. Something that gets thick and thin would work well I think. KJ

I'm the odd man out in the group -- I never do binding by hand, only by machine. I make my own double fold binding -- just like that sold in the store except I make it 2 layers of fabric. I spray baste the fabric together, cut as many w-o-f strips as needed and then and sew them together in one long strip. I put the strip through this bias binding "thingy" which folds the raw edges to the center and iron it as I pull it out of the "thingy". Then I fold it in half so the folded edges meet, press it and sew it to the quilt using a decorative stitch. You have to stop at each corner of the quilt, take the whole thing from the machine, fold the binding around the edge and form a miter look corner. Pin in place and sew that edge. I have this unbelievably complicated way of joining the ends of the binding together at the middle of one short edge -- the bottom if there is one. Don't ask me to try and explain -- it just makes my head hurt -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

I am not sure I have pasted to following link correctly, but if not, you can use the info to find the discussion.

After getting detailed information from this discussion, I used the meandering stitch method to machine apply the binding to my very first quilt. It worked great! I am an absolute novice quilter and I do not want to have to do hand work if there is any way possible to use the machine.

Hope you find the forum and find it helpful.

Jerry in North Alabama

So, you sew both the front and back of the binding at the same time?

-- Anita --

I like this! This is exactly what I'll do!

-- Anita --

Yep -- in one fell swoop. I used to try and fold the binding a mit less than in half so that one edge was just a hair longer than the other. That longer side went on the back and I would stitch on the front and that way I was sure to get the back of the binding with the stitches. When I started using a decorative stitch -- and often I use just a simple multi-stitch zig zag -- I could just fold the binding in half and I knew the width of any decorative stitch would be sure to catch the back of the binding. If I am doing a wall hanging or something I know won't get used and laundered very often, I will make the binding a single layer. One layer of fabric binding along the edge of a well used quilt won't last too long :-)! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

You may have already thought of this, but if you make the binding strips a little wider, it's easier to catch it in the back. You may also find that the reason you're not always catching the back is that your seam allowance, from where you first attached the binding, varies. You may want to stitch on the binding first, then trim the seam allowance to 1/4".

You could also use fusible thread in the bobbin when you first stitch on the binding, then iron the binding to the back, then there won't be any shifting of the binding when you stitch again from the front. I admit I've only heard of this method, I haven't tried it.

Hand stitching the binding to the back of my quilts is my favorite part, 'cause it's the last thing I have to do before it's finished!

You're right, it's my seam allowance that's the problem, but also, the fabric sometimes stretches a bit and I just can't keep the folded part on the back stay.

I don't mind it too much, because I can do this while watching TV w/ DH after the kids have gone to bed, but it just takes a long time...

I think I'll try doing the stitching on the back, then fold over to front and topstitch, just to see how I like it.

-- Anita --