How wide do you cut your binding fabric?

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12-22-2015, 04:35 AM

#41

Stitchnripper

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Location: Mableton, GA

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I use 2 1/4 too. Sew by machine on the front and handstitch on back most of the time. Sometimes I machine stitch from the front. Here is my question. When sewing onto the quilt can you make the binding narrower or wider by playing with the width of your seam to sew it on? Like a binding cut 2 1/2 wide and then stitched with a 3/8 seam? Does that affect the final product?

12-22-2015, 04:40 AM

#42

LGJARN52

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Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: Davenport, Iowa

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My binding has shrunk from 2 1/2" to 2 1/4"....I really like the smaller and tighter binding on my quilts.

12-22-2015, 05:30 AM

#43

Geri B

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Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Illinois

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Could that have been a typo error? I use 21/2", but i also leave 1/4"more backing/batting when I final cut the top prior to attaching binding, add binding as usual, but that extra 1/4" b&b fills that binding so it's not flat...just my way...

12-22-2015, 05:45 AM

#44

quilterpurpledog

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Location: Heart of Colorado's majestic mountains!

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I also use 2 1/4 inch cut width and 3/8 inch seam and it works well for me. Sometimes, I have to change a bit because of a different batting. i try it out on a scrap piece of batting and binding so I can be sure of what I am doing. If your pattern calls for that extra width binding it must be for a different design feature. I can see it working beautifully, but, would be a bit different to trim and finish so the binding was full of batting.

12-22-2015, 03:23 PM

#45

Jo Anne B.

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Location: Central Ia

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I was taught to make/use 2 1/4" and now like 2 1/2" better. Lol!

12-22-2015, 03:25 PM

#46

BonnieI

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Location: Arlington Oregon

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I like 2 1/2 sometimes if the quilt is thick I use 3 inch.

12-22-2015, 03:56 PM

#47

Anoka Quilter

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Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: Oak Grove, MN

Posts: 1,671

Most of the time I cut mine 2 1/4 unless the backing fabric is bulkier, or if I used a thicker batting, then I go 2 1/2.

12-22-2015, 07:05 PM

#48

tildiemae

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Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: Iowa and Minnesota

Posts: 439

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanne S

I was taught to use 2 1/2". But now I use 2 1/4" and get better results.

That's my go to measurement too. I repaired an antique quilt and it was 1" wide...cool look but a challenge to sew! But another option!

12-22-2015, 07:36 PM

#49

Jannie

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Join Date: May 2008

Location: Rocky Mountains

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacQuilter2

2.25 is perfect for me but that is because I do the hand quilting to the back. Most quilter's I know that do the binding totally on machine use 2.5" binding.

This is what I do.

12-22-2015, 11:27 PM

#50

DonnaFreak

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Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Kentucky

Posts: 493

OK...so I'm the oddball of the bunch. LOL! I was actually taught to cut my binding strips 4 1/2"! That strip is then pressed in half lengthwise to make it 2 1/4" wide. The raw edges are lined up with the raw edge of the quilt top and sewn using a 1/2" seam, then folded over to the back and hand stitched as usual. Obviously this explains why my bindings are never flat! LOL!

Donna