I press mine, but I have read that others find it easier to do without pressing. I cut mine at 2.5" and leave 1/4" of batting and backing sticking out past the quilt top. The binding is sewn a scant 1/4" from the edge of the binding and quilt top, but this is a scant 1/2" from the edge of the batting and backing. It makes a full 1/2" binding this way.