Not sure if this is where this question belongs, so just let me know if i need to move it.

Looking for some advice on machine binding verses sewing it by hand? Trying to decide if I should machine bind on a wall hanging. Is it personal preference?

Jody

I bind with the machine. I'm truly awful at hand sewing, so the thought of binding by hand gives me fits. I sew the binding on as normal on side one, then flip and use a fancy (but not too fancy) stitch on the other side. If I want it to show up, I use a contrasting thread color and something like triangles or crescents. If I want to attempt to hide the stitches, I use a matching thread and a simple straight stitch. It never completely goes away of course, but at least it's less noticeable.

I have been doing my bindings by machine for the last 15 years or so. I can't do the handwork anymore. Makes my hands hurt to bad.
What I do is stitch the binding to the front and turn to the back. I then stitch in the ditch from the front. I use a matching thread or I use a mono-poly thread so it doesn't show. Works for me, but it did take some practice to make it look nice on both sides.
Jami

Jody, I like the look of hand sewing the last bit of my binding on my quilts, but when I am crunched for time, I do like Jami does, and it works too! Sometimes, I have trouble with my threads not catching on the back and have to go back. Jami, you got any hints for that???
I love to make the continous bias binding though for all my quilts!! I have to talk myself through it to keep myself straight and cut one long huge piece of binding, rather than circles! But it makes ya feel so good when it works! LOL!
If it isn't going in a fair somewhere Jody, make it however you want. Personal preference prevails to me! On WH's I do them mostly by Machine but have done some by Hand. None of my quilts will go in a fair anywhere and the loved ones I am giving them too, will not be looking to see if it is done by hand or machine, so girly Make it fit you! You will be happier with it when ya do.
The WH's I have received from many of you on my swaps, have been done BOTH ways and look great!

Thanks for the responses I am definitely going to try my hand at machine binding.

I just sew the binding on the front first just as if I was going to finish it by hand? Then on the back side sew it on to finish?

Thanks for the help

Jody

Yep, that's exactly what I do. Sew as usual to the front, then instead of finishing the back side by hand, finish by machine instead.

Has anyone tried using one of those bias tape sewing machine feet? I was thinking that might work rather well...
KimUk

I do mine a little different. I cannot sew by hand because a pinched nerve in my neck makes my hands go sleep. It would take me a couple of weeks to bind one quilt. I sew my binding on the back side, fold it to the front and use a fancy stitch to sew it down. I like the feather stitch really well. It just makes it a little more fun. I use the same thread that I quilt with.
Vicky

Like OKNANA, none of my quilts will ever end up in a fair for judging (at least that's my plan, and I'm sticking to it!).

Like Vicky, I sew mine to the back and fold around to the front. Then I stitch along the folded edge as close to the ditch in back as I can. I use a thread that matches the backing so it doesn't show too much. This way I can SEE where my stitching is along the edge on the front of the quilt.

Whenever I have tried to sew from the ditch in the front to the edge of the binding in back, the binding always turns out getting missed in spots on the back. I don't like having to rip out all the time.

When I sew my bindings, I always pin the corners at least 6-8" going both ways. I watch to see how wide the binding is on the ront, and try to get the same width all the way.Sometimes I will pin the whole quilt, but not often. If I miss, and I do, I just take out an inch or so back on the "good" stitching and re-sew. It's not perfect, but like many, I don't do "show" quilts. I figure done is better than sitting on a shelf waiting for hand stitching!
I think I may have try the sew to the back and use a decorative stitch on the front on one of the next ones I have to bind. That sounds like it could be kind of a fun treatment for them.
Jami