Binding
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 390
Binding
I just finished hand quilting a quilt and am ready to bind it. I was critiqued by a county fair judge on a quilt I entered two years ago that the binding was not full enough. I have been reading that some quilter's are now cutting the binding 2 1/4" in order to not leave any space in the binding. Sounds like a good idea to me. However, I began this quilt over two years ago and at that time I cut the binding the standard 2 1/2". I don't want to cut 1/4" off. I have no more fabric in case of a slip. In order to make sure the binding fulls enough, should I sew the binding on at 3/8" rather than 1/4"? Will this be enough or is there a plan B or plan C that would work better. After all the work I have put into this quilt, I don't want to make mistakes with the binding.
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,342
Depending on the edge of your quilt, if it is designed so that you could use 3/8th of an inch for sewing on the binding that would be the easiest option. Since I use my GO or my June Taylor's Shape Cutter to cut my binding, I like the 2.5 inch binding, but then I don't show my quilts and couldn't care what a judge would say.
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 390
Also, is it still good practice to fold the binding in half? I will be seaming the binding on the diagonal in order to reduce the seam bulk. The binding was cut selvage to selvage. I think I read somewhere to trim the quilt leaving the batting and backing 1/2" longer than the quilt top in order to fill the binding. Would this work with a 1/4" seam?
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Morris Plains, NJ
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If you have a plain border on, I agree, just sew the binding at 3/8". If you have an edge where doing that will cut off part of the design (e.g. Star points), you could cut the batting and backing a little wider and then sew the 3/8" seam.
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,463
Ideally binding is supposed to be the same in the front and back of the quilt if it is 1/4 inch or other. I would use the seam allowance that enables you to do that. You might want to cut a little section at 2-1/2 of scrap fabric and try out some seam allowances first. Judges also look to see that you have hand sewn the little 45 * angles on each corner of the binding closed.
#7
My binding for 3/8" seam allowance is 2 3/8". That fills the binding really well.
My binding for 1/4" seam allowance is 1 3/4"
When I go around the corners, the miter is fairly tight, i don't have to sew it all down.
My binding for 1/4" seam allowance is 1 3/4"
When I go around the corners, the miter is fairly tight, i don't have to sew it all down.
#9
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#10
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,397
Also, is it still good practice to fold the binding in half? I will be seaming the binding on the diagonal in order to reduce the seam bulk. The binding was cut selvage to selvage. I think I read somewhere to trim the quilt leaving the batting and backing 1/2" longer than the quilt top in order to fill the binding. Would this work with a 1/4" seam?
If you're unsure about your binding, cut some scrap fabric at various widths and sew about 6-8 inches on your quilt. Use a long basting stitch. This way you can audition various widths and seam allowances, and once you figure out what looks good, you can easily remove the basting stitch.
I usually use a 2" or 2.125" (2 1/8th) binding, with a quarter-inch seam allowance. Personal preference.
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