I have been wondering how much batting you all leave around your quilt tops? I had been allowing 1/4 inch of batting around my quilts,cut a 2 1/2 inch strip of fabric ,folded it to 1 1/4 inch,sewed it on at 1/4 inch ...but it seems too bulky... hoped I could get feed back as to how other quilter do their bindings... thanks,

I usually cut my binding at 2 1/4" and sometimes at 2", but I cut my batting flush with my quilt top. :D:D:D

In my opinion it is better to have a bulky binding than a thin binding. When a binding is too thin after repeated washings they don't hold up as well. After sewing the binding on, I fold my binding just past the stitch line then mark the batting where the binding ends after folding. Measure and cut. Hope you understand, hard to describe in words.

I cut my front/batting/back even and then add the binding. Don't know if that is right but it works for me. I use 2.5 inch binding folded in half and add it using the walking foot with approx a 1/4 inch seam.

Thank you for your help..

:thumbup: Me, too.

And here are Sharon Schamber's fabulous videos on binding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vHI7rgZpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--xgi4nux8

I cut my batting to the edge of my quilt. I use a 2.5" binding.

It's not that it's wrong, it's just a different method.

My backing, batting, quilt top are all trimmed flush and even BEFORE I attach the binding to the quilt sandwich.

they are fabulous, she make it look so easy,to get a perfect binding...thank you
thank you for the sites.

I cut my batting even with my top. I cut my binding 21/2"

i cut my batting flush as well. but i make sure not to cut my binding too wide as that will leave the binding 'empty'. i'd heard that the quilt show judges like to see the binding 'full'

I cut my batting to the exact size of the top. :thumbup:

I don't cut anything till I have the binding attached to the front of the quilt. then cut it to the right size. But then again I have really wide bindings. the one I just finished last night was cut at 6 1/2" folded in half to 3 1/4" and then it ended up being around 1 1/2" wide. this is the thickest that I have ever made a binding. but that was because it was actually a boo boo. was only supposed to be 1" when all is said and done. I like to have a thick full and wide binding. We spend the money and time picking out the binding and then it is often times so thin that you cant see the wonderful pattern on it. but that is my opinion.

I cut my batting flush with the front or top of the quilt. My binding is cut 2 1/4" wide.

I trim all layers and make sure it's all square after quilting and then use a 2 1/4 binding unless I'm going to machine sew both edges and then I use 2 1/2 binding. I trim with rotery cutter as well so I have a nice straight edge to use when I combine batting peices...

I do this also

I machine baste through the quilt (front, batting & backing) in the seam allowance. Lay it on the floor and check to see if it looks straight before I trim. There is still time to correct it if needed.

Quilt show judges actually check bindings on the show quilts. The binding should have batting all the way. That means cutting the top, back, and batting the same and squared up. Then adjust the binding so that it fits snugly without and unfilled spaces inside it.

ali

I have always cut the batting flush to the quilt edge. I recently read that the binding should be full with batting, so next time I will leave the batting a 1/4" beyond the edge of the fabric. I use 2 1/2" binding.

What she said.Me too :thumbup: