I don't cut anything till I have the binding attached to the front of the quilt. then cut it to the right size. But then again I have really wide bindings. the one I just finished last night was cut at 6 1/2" folded in half to 3 1/4" and then it ended up being around 1 1/2" wide. this is the thickest that I have ever made a binding. but that was because it was actually a boo boo. was only supposed to be 1" when all is said and done. I like to have a thick full and wide binding. We spend the money and time picking out the binding and then it is often times so thin that you cant see the wonderful pattern on it. but that is my opinion.