Question part 2: I took a binding class awhile ago and the teacher said to cut 1/4" from your quilt top. Then you attach the binding 1/4" onto the quilt top (or 1/2" from the edge of the quilt). When I used to cut right to the quilt top and attach at 1/4", when I turned it over, I had a ridiculous amount of excess. So the teacher said if I do it with 1/2" on the top, then I won't get that excess when I turn it to the back (which did work).
But I'm thinking that's where my problem is showing up. Since if it's not perfectly straight, but I'm sewing on a straight line, then I'm picking up those exposed batting areas and voila, total mess. So I'm thinking that if I cut the binding strips smaller, and cut right to my quilt top, then I shouldn't run into the batting problem........
What do you all do???????