I have found that as I get better an better at binding, I use more narrow binding. I now cut it so it is 2.5 folded and that make a nice snug narrow binding for me. I find that the 3" often leaves an extra wide binding that is not as "thick" as the rest of the quilt. I actually turn under an extra 1/4 in on the folded side when doing the final stitching of my binding.