Binding cut on the bias a must?
 

I am thinking of trimming the edge of a baby quilt in gentle curves. If it is shallow, must I use binding cut on the bias?

I think you would find it difficult to bind a quilt with gentle curves with anything but bias cut binding. Just be mindful of not stretching it and it should turn out just fine.

I agree with Terri D. You need to have a "little give" in the binding fabric for the curves.

Yes I think you need to use bias binding for sure so it will bend around the curves.

I haven't tried this on a quilt, but when I make 10" diameter round potholders, I find that straight of grain works better for me than bias binding. I experimented with both and never expected that straight of grain would be better, but it was. :)

Yes. I only use bias binding on quilts but definitely on anything with any amount of curve.

Cutting bias strips isn't that scary. You don't need to sew a tube and draw lines, then cut on the lines. Just cut a 45 degree line, fold the raw edges together, then cut your 2 1/2" or 2 1/4" strips from that edge. Sew the strips together on a diagonal -- like you would non-bias strips. No need to stress about bias strips. If you went to your local quilt shop, they may even cut the strips for you. We will do that for customers where I work.

I agree...it isn't scary. I don't sew the tube either. I use Bonnie Hunter's method. When you make the 45 degree cut, you take that piece and sew it to the other side of the rectangle. See pics on the link below.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/...-bindings.html

My advice is to find a method of making bias binding and just learn to make it as your results will be so much better. I finally mastered this technique and can now make enough binding for a King sized quilt in about an hour. I tried many methods before I found this one which finally made perfect sense to me. That twisted tube of fabric always confused me until I found this tutorial.

http://piraterodgers.com/tutorials/cbt/

Yes, you need bias binding to use on any curve. It is not difficult, you just have to be careful when pressing if you are using the tradition double fold binding.

I'll give bias binding a try! Thanks so much everyone.

I have found a way to make bias binding really easy. Explaining it won't be so easy. Begin with square of rectangle piece of fabric. Fold the bottom right corner up, fold the top right corner down, just like like making a paper hat. Here is the tricky part. take the bottom left corner and fold it up toward the top right corner so that you're folding the edge along itself. it should make a strange looking rectangle shape. Make a narrow 1/8 inch cut to remove the double fold of fabric and cut your strips with a rotary blade the size you want!

Sorry, this is from a confused newbie: I thought binding is always supposed to be cut in bias? Do you just use a straight strip of fabric to bind your quilts?

I do gentle curves and use binding not cut on the bias just fine. It's those dips in deep scallops that really get you. So i think you should be fine.

Bias binding is a lot easier to use if you heavily starch the fabric before cutting the strips. I use a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo laundry starch and water, but multiple layers of spray starch would work also. It stabilizes the bias just enough so you get accurate cuts; the "give" is still there, though, when you need it around the curves without the fabric over-stretching from handling.

I only do straight binding and cut strips WOF.

When I do curved corners, I only do the curves with bias binding and the rest with regular binding. You have to take the time to measure and mark where you want the bias pieces to go but worth the work.

Personally, I have never had a problem doing bias binding and if you are hand finishing, the thread just disappears into the fabric. If the baby quilt will be used a lot, the bias binding is also longer wearing because of the cross grain of the binding.

Be sure to show us the completed project.
peace

Hey there "confused newbie" :) Not all binding needs to be on the bias. With me .... this is my own opinion .... it depends on how my quilt is going to be used. If the quilt is a wall hanging, placemat, or tablerunner I will bind them with a straight grain binding. Any quilt that will be used as a bed cover or lap cover then I will use a bias binding. The reason is that the bias binding will wear better on those type of quilts than a straight of grain binding. Being new to quilting it is great that you are asking questions. Just remember there is no such thing as the "quilt police" and what works for you is the right way for your quilting. Keep asking questions.

I'm with the majority here, I feel that a bias binding would be best to use with curves ..... even gentle ones. You might also want to check out these videos of Sharon Schamber's glue binding technique ....

http://quiltinggallery.com/2008/05/1...rs-school-glue

I think you and I went to the same binding school! I have always preferred using folded bias bindings on all my quilts. I think I get a stronger binding, whereas I have seen frayed edges on straight of grain bindings after several years of use and washings. And bias is easier for me to sew as well. They mold around the edges easily.

Although I'm new to quilting, but I've always loved any kind of needle work and if I remember right, I've learned to cut bias tape back in middle school when we had some classes called "textile arts". That's what I've used ever since for anything textile, bags, book covers, and now naturally my quilts. I have never even considered that I could bind something with a straight strip of fabric... :D I'm aware that bias cut fabric may be longer lasting, so thanks for the tip about considering the use of a quilted item! I think I'll stick to using bias tape for my baby quilts and bed quilts.

If you are binding straight edges you don't need bias binding. If you are binding a curve of any kind you will need to cut bias binding to get it to lay properly. The only other solution would be to make a facing and turn it to the back of the quilt.