Originally Posted by
Daylesewblessed
You can choose the width of binding you prefer and decide if you want an equal width on the front and back.
The question was about bindings for show quilts and I believe equal width is a high priority, along with fullness.
My notes from a lecture by an NQA certified judge on what judges look for include these points on binding:
Binding (more quilts are ruined by binding than anything else)
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Are binding edges straight?
Is the binding width in proportion to the size of the quilt?
Does the batting fill the binding to the edge? (this remains a key factor)
If the binding is hand stitched, does the thread match the binding?
Are hand stitches tiny, tight and invisible?
Are all corners square or smoothly rounded?
Are miters and joins stitched both front and back? (this is a critical point, too. Miters come apart over time if not stitched closed and that is why it is preferred)
I square up, preliminary trim, and mark the binding edge line on the sandwich, but to make sure the binding is full, I don't do a final trim of the batting and backing until after the binding is machine stitched on the quilt top.
Using the stitching line as a guide, I trim the batting/backing to the width I want the binding to be. The thickness of the batting adds just enough 'extra' to guarantee fullness and using the stitching line as a guide guarantees an even binding edge and equal front and back width. This process works no matter what binding width you use because all you are adjusting is what's going inside, nothing else.