Originally Posted by
NJ Quilter
I square up each element of a block as I go along. Square up each block as it's completed. Even when chain sewing, I still press/square up at each step. It's unlikely, at that point, that your top will not be square. My quilts are certainly square enough after this. After sandwiching, I will trim off major excess of backing/batting to within about 4" of the quilt top. Once the quilting is finished, I sew on my binding strip to the front lining up raw binding edge to the edge of the top. Sew with 1/4" seam. I then trim the excess backing/batting to 1/2" from biding seam. I have never cut off my binding doing this. I then proceed to hand sew my binding to the back of the quilt.
This is a good idea. I usually use a 3/8 seam to sew on the binding, but if you have points to save, you'll need 1/4 inch. This method works especially well if you put on a very wide binding. Have each element of the quilt top square before you sandwich and quilt. Then after it is quilted, do as NJQuilter does. Cut off the excess batt and back a little less than half the width of the remaining binding (not counting the seam allowance). You need to allow room for the thickness of the batt, too.
If you are turning the binding to the back and SITD from the front, you need a little more room for the 1/8 inch over-lap on the back.
If you do it this way, your binding will always be "full".