WHY are quilt bindings cut on the BIAS

Reply Subscribe

Page 2 of 7

Last »

Thread Tools

03-18-2011, 01:49 PM

#11

gaigai

Banned

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Houston, TX

Posts: 7,286

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamer2009

Can someone explain this to me please...

They are only cut on the bias if you have curves or a scalloped border. Otherwise they can be cut on the straight of the grain. I've NEVER cut bias strips. As a matter of fact, the one time I did a scallopped border, I went out and bought pre-made bias strips and used those.

03-18-2011, 01:51 PM

#12

maryb119

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Iowa

Posts: 8,107

The only time I cut my binding on the bias is when I am binding a curve or if i want to use a stripe or plaid and have the bias look. I use a straight width of fabric cut for straight edges.

03-18-2011, 02:04 PM

#13

hperttula123

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Northern Wisconsin

Posts: 7,991

I have never cut on a bias for my binding. I could see if you are going to have scalloped edges it would be better, but not for a square quilt.

03-18-2011, 02:04 PM

#14

quilter68

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Pennsylvania

Posts: 2,694

If you cut one yard of fabric on the bias by 2-2 1/2 inches you will get yards and yards of binding. Much more than straight of grain. Anyway (Bias binding) that is all I have ever known.

03-18-2011, 02:36 PM

#15

olmphoto2

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Wisconsin, South Central

Posts: 1,035

This is a good explanation, Gale, of the reason for bias binding. Two of them have to do with strength and durability and the last is for aesthetic reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gale

Here's a blog post that explains the differences between bias and straight of grain binding:
http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2011/01...cs-part-1.html

03-18-2011, 02:45 PM

#16

BellaBoo

Power Poster

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Front row

Posts: 14,646

The older members of my guild thinks if binding isn't cut on the bias it's not real binding. Bias binding is a pain in the butt to make so I don't make it. I use double fold straight 2 1/2" strips cut with my Go and run it through the Simplicity Binding machine. I have yards of binding in minutes. I think double fold is stronger then bias.

03-18-2011, 02:53 PM

#17

gale

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: North-Central Indiana

Posts: 4,909

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

According to Barbara Brackman, reknown quilt historian, bias binding was rarely, if ever, seen on quilts prior to the scalloped-edge quilts of the 1920-1930s.

I prefer the look, feel, handling, and strength of double fold (aka French fold) binding with mitered, hand-turned, handsewn corners.

But, as you can see, it's a purely personal preference.

Jan in VA (quilting nearly 30 years.)

When I use bias binding (which I have only done on curved projects so far) I use double fold just as if I was using straight-of-grain binding.