Extra Wide Binding question
 

I have seen bindings that were extra wide, has anyone done it this wide? It almost resembles the wide binding that is on baby blankets with the satin fabric. Sure looks nice.

Perhaps it is backing fabric brought forward to "bind" the quilt?

I have used the extra wide binding. Sometimes it is as wide as 1 inch finished. I use it primarily when I have a white or light colored outer border and want some color brought out to the edge.

Would depend on the quilt for me. Some quilts lend themselves to a wide binding more so than others I think. Just need to remember not to trim so much batting!

I'm not sure what you're describing. Can you tell us how wide this/these bindings are? Better yet, can you post a photograph?

I do them on baby blankets using flannel backed satin. I think I use the method in a Fons and Porter book. Here is an example of one I did: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t199953.html

I was just thinking about this the other day! I like wide bindings;sometimes to me the narrow ones don't complement the quilt, they just bind the edge. I often bring the backing forward for binding, especially on flannel quilts. When I was a kid, we always slept with homemade quilts--that is all we had. I remember spending the night with my non-quilting grandma who had store-bought blankets with satin bindings, and I thought they were the fanciest things I had ever seen!

I always use extra wide bindings. To me wide binding frames the quilt. I cut the strips wider and machine sew both sides:thumbup:.

I think some quilts just look better with a wider binding.

I had seen this while looking for something else on a search, thought I saved it but can not find it now. If I remember right it was quite wide. Have to look again. Thanks for all of your responses. I am just not sure how wide you could go without it being too far into the edges of the quilt.

Mary Is there any chance of you doing a tute ? Do you put quilt in the extra wide ? Before joining a group I always tried wider bindings but since then do thin things which personally don't like.
Can we see any pictures besides baby quilt of wide borders.

when you trim/square your quilt up after quilting; before binding leave an extra 1" (or how ever wide your binding will be on each side) that way, when you add your binding it will still be 'full'. sometimes wide bindings are a good choice.

This sounds like a great way to do it!!!!

My mom used to make quilts that had a very wide binding. They were about 2-3 inches wide on the top side. They were all done with mitering ( much the way you would miter a border) at the ends through a single layer of fabric. It is a fabulous finish for some quilts. I wish I had a photo.. as describing it just doesn't create the accurate image.

I see what you are saying and it makes sense depending on width of the binding. Am quilting one right now, might leave extra around when I trim, so I can do the wider binding. It will be good for the quilt I am working on as the border is wide enough and it is a rather plain fabric. Thanks for the help.

I use it all the time because it makes a nice clean finish, it is easy to work with, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg, it comes in a variety of colors and now that I've learned how to make continuous binding with neat 45 degree corners I'm a happy quilter.

I like fat bindings. They can act as another border and frame the quilt better than a narrow one. On large quilts the 1/4" bindings look, in my opinion, almost out of proportion.
You don't have to go any farther into the edges of the quilt. Cut your backing and batting wider to accomodate the wider binding and still go 1/4" in on the quilt side.

How wide do you cut them, I am thinking if I do the sewing on with a 1/4 inch seam, when it is folded over the binding will be flimsy if it is wider. Maybe I am wrong.

If you wanted, say, a 1 inch binding, you would leave 3/4 inch of batting and backing beyond the raw quilt edge. When you sew binding to your quilt edge you use a 1/4 inch seam and when you fold if over you will be going over your 1/4 inch seam plus 3/4 inch of batting and backing to equal 1 inch fully stuffed binding. For double fold binding your fabric strips would have to be 5 inches or so, I forget the exact equation.

This sounds like fun but I'm confused about the corners. If you sew the binding on with a one inch seam allowance for example, when you get to the corner do you stop one inch from the end, rotate the quilt and flip the end up and fold back down as usual? I'm having trouble visualizing it. probably should experiment but it's easier to ask here first, lol.

If you choose to do a wide binding which lends to the overall design, be sure and extend the batting and backing beyond the top so binding will be filled.

Thank you KarenJ! Your explanation is great, it was the sewing on with 1/4 inch that confused me, now I have a better idea of what to do!!! I hope anyways!!

Very good question.
Yes, it's true. You need to use a one inch seam allowance on the batting, batting and binding strip, and stop one inch from the corner to turn. The quilt top doesn't really have to be into the seam more than 1/4 inch, but I think that would be really hard to do because you wouldn't be able to see it while you are sewing.
I think I would baste the top to the batt and back and then sew the binding on from the back. That way, when you get to the front, you can see where to put the binding edge. A nice decorative stitch would hold down the front in the right place.
Maybe someone else could figure out how to sew this on from the front.

I was all set to try the wide binding on the quilt I am finishing up now, but after figuring what I had allowed for the regular 2 1/2 inch seam binding, were I to cut it twice that size, would not have had enough. I will try it on the next one and plan on that from the beginning to allow for backing, batting around the quilt. Thanks so much for all of your help.