Originally Posted by Tartan

Originally Posted by Iceblossom

I don't trim off my batting until after I've put on the first machine stitching of the binding, and I use that seam for my measurement.

I cut my bindings a bit fuller than most, at 3" and so I trim .5" from that seam line for a nice full binding. When we say "full" that doesn't mean round, just the same as the body of the quilt.

If you have a half inch finished binding and you trimmed everything at 1/4" that means half your binding is empty.

You can add in little wisps of left over batting if you need to.

Edit: It's not that big a deal really, but if you want to show your quilts it is expected (along with mitered corners). Doesn't impact the kindness of a gift or the durability of the quilt. For the first couple of decades of my quilting I used straight bindings with butt joints. Decided to switch to bias French double fold binding and miter corners because that was the expectation/standard but mostly I just say Boo to the quilt police

Originally Posted by maviskw

This is what I do. I trim the binding and back just enough so that there isn't so much in my way. I sew the binding on with a 1/4 in seam. (Sometimes that is very necessary to save points.) Then I measure from the seam I have just sewn for the correct width to make the binding full after it is turned to the other side.

Originally Posted by Sailorwoman

The only advice that I would add here is that if you use flannel for binding, increase your seam allowance to about 1/2" since flannel tends to fray more easily.

Originally Posted by themadpatter

I'll just assume I'm missing something, because my binding is always full because I just fold it over onto the back along the edge of the quilt. But, the back of the binding can be larger or smaller than the width on the front. Is it supposed to be the same???

Originally Posted by momsbusy

You should be using your walking foot. Mine has a quarter inch mark.