Binding or Piping - which is easier for quilt edging?

[LeeMiller]

I'm planning to make a baby playmat/ quilt. I'm a fairly novice sewer, I've made a couple of small quilts previously which I'm happy with but I avoided worrying about edges by making them in a 'lap duvet' style. This time I'd like some edging. I'm somewhat imprecise and impatient, definitely not expecting perfection and happy to have a slightly 'homemade' finish. But, obviously I want something that won't fall apart or look incredibly uneven and rubbish.

Which is easier to attach, piping or bias binding (both are availble in the colours etc I want)? I'm happy to handsew or use a machine if that makes a difference. Also open to rounded or square corners depending on whichever is easier.

I have made a number of quilts and the way I finish them depends on their use. For baby quilts I tend to put right sides together, machine sew and hand sew the last side once right way round - I feel it will withstand more rigorous washing.

With the others, I make my own (straight) binding, machine sew to the front and hand sew on the back.

This is how I’ve always done mine (except hand sewing the folded over bit) cluckclucksew.com/2013/01/machine-binding-tutorial.html

I do the same as TheChatsPyjamas. If I’m feeling extra crafty I’ll hand sew the last bit as I can never completely hide the last machine stitching in the ditch.

Chatspajamas’ method for me too!

I normally machine to front and hand sew to back, with homemade binding (not bias), but I’m not sure how well that would wash!

My son’s quilt with hand sewn binding has just finished its fourth year of duty being machine washed pretty regularly without any trouble.

Thank you all!

@Wildernesstips that's the way I've always done it previously, hadn't thought about the fact that it might withstand washing better.

@TheChatsPyjamas that tutorial looks very helpful, thanks. Any tips for ensuring that hand-sewn binding stays put?

And any thoughts on curved v straight corners for ease of applying binding?

Curved corners have to be bias binding as straight won’t stretch around. I’d say that straight corners are easy.

Just use lots of small stitches in your hand sewing and it should stay put! Also, Would be easy to restitch if did come undone as the machine stitching on the other side holds it all together! I think it’s called ladder stitch if you want to look at tutorials on YouTube.

Amazing, thank you so much! Now I have no more excuses not to get started (always the hardest part).