Its already in there - 99.7 percent of the time, you should follow the directions, don't question the instructions. As for binding, some folks like a binding at 2.25 because it goes on tighter, but as a new quilter, you will have more success at 2.5. And you understand that those 2.5 strips are cut the full WOF (width of fabric, ie the 44/45 inches). So you end up with a 2.5 by WOF strip. Okay?