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Ok, I am wanting to bind a quilt. I usually use 2 inches folded in half. If I up that to 3 inches fold and iron in half do I still sew it on at 1/4 inch or do I move it to 1/2 inch to get a bigger binding edge on the front???? Sorry I know that sounds stupid but I have never changed it up in my whole life I usually just do the 2 inch, iron in half and sew on.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
DeMaris
personally, i start with 2.25". 3" seems very wide and changing up your automatic 1/4 seam would mean a new skill and seem strange. the 2.25" fills the binding nicely when complete. it's all personal preference, though.
Nancy in western NY
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My favorite binding width is 2.25. And I don't press my binding in half anymore and it seems to be more pliable when I sew it on.
Why are you wanting to change it to 3 inches? Are you wanting more binding on the front or back?
Yes Pat that is exactly what I am looking for is more on the front and equal on the back. It seems my fronts are smaller than the back is and I want them more equal.
Thanks
Maybe play around with some scraps to determine the best size. I woulds say increase to 2-1/2" and trying sewing slightly larger than 1/4" binding -- 3/8" and see if that looks better to you.
That being the case, you need a slightly wider seam if you are sewing onto the top (some like to apply to the back first.). I like to use 2 1/2 inch strips folded double and then a scant 3/8 inch seam on the top of quilt.Originally Posted by DeMaris
I always fold the binding into thirds and crease it with my fingers. This tells me what seam allowance to use so it will wrap perfectly. Then I move my needle so the edge of the presser foot rides on the edge of the fabric and the needle hits on the first crease. THEN I measure to see exactly what that seam allowance is so I know how far to stop from the ends to get a perfect miter at the corners. Hope this helps and makes sense.
Michelle Guadarrama
Do you use 2.25 then fold just that in thirds or do you fold 2.25 in half then half again? Sorry feeling thick this morning. It sounds like just what I am after as I never seem to fill the binding with equal amounts each side.
Finished is better than a UFO
When I cut my binding, I cut it at 2.5 inches, fold it in half and iron it. I trim the edge of my quilt before I sew it on, but leave it a bit wider and trim it more as I sew down the binding by hand. So I use the 1/4 inch from the edge of the binding on the quilt but it may be a bit more when I trim as I sew. The majority of my quilts I use flannel for the back so need to make sure there is enough so it doesn't pull out. (I sew around twice, so my binding is attached.)
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