I have had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands in the last 3 months. (One hand at a time!) I wanted to keep making Christmas presents, but knew I would be unable to hand stitch. I searched the web and found a tutorial on attaching the binding first, to the back of the piece. Then fold it to the front and you are able to machine stitch in place with a decorative stitch. Looks terrific! Perhaps this hint(From Missouri Star Quilts) would help other quilters.

I printed these instructions but I've been using the binding tool and I love it! There's a tutorial on Missouri Star Quilt Co. on YouTube that shows how to use it.

I never saw instructions where they show trimming the quilt after the binding is sewn on. What a great way to do it. thanks

Thanks. It's been a few years since I used the technique. I know it turns out nicely.

thanks for the information...this has always been confusing to me.

Thanks for the article. Just in time for the jelly roll quilt I am working on.

I hope to be able ! thanks!

I've always been taught to square the quilt before applying binding, but your're suggestiing not to remove the excess batting and backing before applying the binding (which I think is great and makes sewing the binding easier) how would I square the quilt?

Use clips (they look like hair clips) to hold folded binding in place while you hand sew it. Save fingers from many pin pricks!

I trim backing and batting even with front, then sew the binding onto the back side, fold binding over to front side and machine topstitch instead of hand stitch. Much quicker this way and you can sew where you are sewing.

Overlap both ends (pull snug, binding stretches) use a piece of binding, unfolded for a measure and cut overlap. Fold left tail up and lay right tail (right sides together) at a right angle with no s.a., stitch from corner to corner, diagonally. Voila! Fits perfectly every time.