I need help with a Binding Question
 

After sandwiching and quilting, the backing of my quilt extends a little more than 3 inches past the edges of the quilt top. Do I fold this fabric over the front and use it for my binding or do I need to cut the excess fabric off even with the top edge and sew on a seperate strip for my binding? If so, how wide do I need to cut my strips? This will be my first time to do a binding and I want it to be done correctly and look as nicely as possible. Thank you in advance for your help.

There a 2 ways you can do binding. If you want your binding to be the same as your backing then you can cut this extra fabric to 2", press fabric in half, fold it over sandwich and then stitch to the front. If you do not want the binding the same then you need to trim the all layers including backing even. Then cut 2 1/2" strips fold in half and attach to the sandwich. It can be attached to front if you want to hand stitch binding down or to back if you wan to machine stitch binding down. There are many good tuts on attaching binding. do a search on thise board oro the internet and you will find many. Good luck!!!!

I always cut the excess off once I've quilted my sandwich. It's not a good idea to use binding that is cut with the grain of fabric....... straight with the selvage or cut edge. The reason I was told is because with the straight of the fabric there is only one thread that runs along the edge and it will get worn and tear with use. I know that is true because I have several old quilts that have the binding worn along the fold. If you use bias strips you will have 100's of threads along the fold and they will make the edge stronger and less chance of wear.

I cut my bias 2 1/4" and fold it in half. Then, I sew it onto the quilt using a 1/4" seam. 2 1/2" width binding works well, too, like bigsister63 said. You'll want to check out some of the tuts to help you do the corners or round off the corners and you won't have to worry with that. Then, I turn the folded edge to the back and hand stitch it in place.

Good luck..... let us see your finished project..... I'm excited for you.

nanna

I will NEVER use bias binding for a straight edged quilt. Too much chance of the binding getting pulled out of shape and causing binding or quilt puckers.

I have used bias, and straight of grain, have never had a problem with either, Welcome to the world of quilting!Enjoy the adventure!

Ditto, and I wanted to add that whether you use the backing or cut it off and sew on binding is totally a personal choice. It's your quilt, do what you like. :)

I think that "it's your quilt, do what you like" is the part that gives newbies fits. The real problem is not knowing what you like yet when you're new to something.

That said, I folded over the backing on the first quilt I made. A lot of really old quilts are bound that way. The problem with that method is by the time the edge wears out you don't have any of the original fabrics left to repair it with.

I personally like French fold, straight grain binding. French fold is the one where you fold the binding in half and sew both raw edges to the quilt. Single fold or double fold are where the raw edges are folded in to the center of the binding and it's only one layer thick over the edge of the quilt. All of them can be cut on cross, lengthwise or bias grain lines.

There's also the one where you sew right sides together and leave an opening. Turn right side out. Technically not binding but another way to finish your quilt.

Oh and there is facing - where you sew the fabric piece to right side and fold completely over at seam line so that it doesn't show on front. Then hand sew edge down on back.

Good point. Lord knows I don't want to give anyone fits, lol. I was trying to ward off the Quilt Police, who sometimes insert their opinion that quilts HAVE to be done a certain way. Personally I prefer the trim-and-bind method.

You will find lots of good advise on this board .No one way of doing binding. Do what works for you . I do strait of gran cut 2.5" folded in half unless I have a curvy border

look up this online, bringing backing to the front for binding. there should be info out there for you and maybe a video, tute too. good luck. it can be done.

I'd just like to stick my nose into the conversation, to share a binding tip. If you can, use a patterned/printed fabric, for your binding (rather than solid). With a print, your stitches won't be as obvious and if they get a bit crooked, it won't be as noticeable. Even better, is to add a printed border and match your binding to that! With the right color thread, those stitches will all but disappear! :thumbup:

LOL, it's a real delicate balance between the two!

You don't *need* to do anything! Whatever way you choose to do it is right. I've done it both ways. Folding over is easier, but the stitching will show unless you hand-finish it. And I find that the corners are a little harder to miter that way. I think I'm a separate binding person, because I like the little extra splash of color a good binding can bring.

For the fold over, if it's a big quilt, I fold the backing in so the raw edge goes just under the batting, then fold over the rest. I double-check my width using (usually) a 2-finger rule. Any less than that and it's a pain for me. It's probably about an inch and a half.

For binding, I use 2.5", folded in half along the length and then pressed. I use a quarter inch seam for smaller quilts, and 3/8" for larger ones (leaves me a little more wiggle room when feeding through the machine). In either case, I hand-finish to the back using an applique stitch so it's invisible.

Since you have 3" left, I think you can do either method :)

I never use bias or straight of grain binding strips. I use 2-1/2" strips, cut width of fabric, Fold in half and press, joined on the diagonal and usually round my corners, I pull the binding kind of tight when I sew onto the front, then hand stitch onto the back. I suggest you look this up on here or look in quilting books and try different ways to see what works for you. I have been quilting 45-46 years.

Go to YouTube and type in "quilt binding". Up will pop so many different ways to bind. I do not like to bind quilts. I am not "into" binding for some reason, even though that's the very end of the quilt. But, if you type that in, you will find out many ways to choose from. That's probably the easiest way to learn. You need to put the raw edges of the binding against the raw edges of the quilt and sew it that way. No one said that. I wouldn't know that if I never bound a quilt before. I thought I would mention it in case you didn't know that part. But check out YouTube. Lots of variety!!

So many opinions. I have done both ways. Depending on the quilt and it's purpose. Sometimes it depends on how much fabric I have for binding if it is a scrap quilt. Usually the backing folded to the front does just fine on this. As a newbie, I hope you will continue to quilt and you can have the opportunity to try one and then another. If you still are undecided, make a couple small wall quilts to give a try on.

I do my binding both ways with one difference. When using a seperate binding ( not turning backing to front) I sew the binding on before I trim the excess off. The quilt feeds through the dogs better when the walking foot or presser foot is on material. When you trim extra batting and backing first and then sew the binding on only half of the presser foot is being used and can cause the fabric to drift.

Hope this helps some.
peace

Nana up north;

I have heard this same information and I agree with it but so many people are afraid of anything that resembles 'bias'. Everyone should try a small sampler sandwich with bias binding just to try it and practice it.

One other thing that I learned right here on the QB is to not press the binding in half before you sew it to the quilt.
Just simply lay the two raw edges together as you align them on the edge of the quilt and sew them down.

I love this and never have a crease to deal with to get in the right place. Binding turns to the back easily and looks great!
peace

That's the way I do it, too. Then when I trim, I put the 1/2 inch line of my ruler on the seam line so that I have 1/4 inch "filling" so that the binding is full.

Years ago binding was only a single fold so DDT wear. With today's double fold there isn't as much of a wearing problem.

I learned to do binding by watching YOUTUBE videos. Especially the one by the MISSOURI STAR QUILT COMPANY.

I made a quilt using the backing for the binding 23 years ago and I first now it is wearing out. I dearly love the quilt and will now cut the worn binding off and add a new binding to it. I guess it is a personal choice. At the time it was easier for me to just use the backing and it framed the front nicely.

One of the most helpful classes I ever took was a binding "how-to"... bindings don't scare me anymore and they come out smoothly every time... I agree with those who say to go online and check out some tutorials, then practice on a small "quilt"... for our class we were to bring a small "quilt"... I found cheater fabric at Walmart (many years ago) of a patchwork and made 2 small quilts for my dogs... killed two birds with one stone, as they say...
Good luck!!!

I like bringing the backing to the front as binding because I only have to take the quilt through the machine once (I sew it down on the front with either a straight stitch close to the edge or a decorative stitch). This is what I do after wrestling with larger quilts and binding strips in the past. Try them both and see what you prefer. I use Better Homes & Garden Complete Guide to Quilting as it gives about 3 methods. The first response to your query is something new I will have to try as it's a bit different than what I've done from the book. Always something new here...

Yes, I agree...thanks, bigsister63! Also, unless you already have a binding tool, I would suggest the one from Fons & Porter. It's easy to use and my binding strips always meet perfectly. :-)

I personally prefer a separate binding piece, but that's just me. Many people like just turning a piece of the backing over and sewing it down. In the end, it is what YOU like. After all, it's your quilt. Do whichever method you think looks best.

I cut my backing so that it is just an inch or so wider than my quilt after I have it quilted. I then turn it to the front and sew it down. Looks fine to me that way but then I only quilt for family.

On some of my grandmother's quilts, she turned the back to the front and bound it that way. However, those bindings have worn and and in some cases have areas of fabric missing. On others she used the double french method and they have held up much better. With that said, I use the french method to bind. I finish by hand because it makes such a beautiful binding. Too much work getting to that point for me to not finish off the best way I can. I actually enjoy binding. To me it is like putting the icing on the cake.

FOLD IT AND SEW IT :) YOU WILL DO MANY MORE :cool: NO WORRIES:thumbup:

Either way you want to do it I'm sure will look great. If you want to learn to do it with a different fabric, this video really helped me. My binding has come out really well every time (to my own amazement!). Try a practice piece first though. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buCKs-Fgvb4 (not sure if you'll have to copy/paste or if this will be a link...)

I would suggest you read all the advice here and then watch U Tube videos on the different techniques and do which ever one you are the most comfortable with. There are many different ways to do things, it is just a matter of finding which one works for you. Also, which ever one you choose, watch it several times, take notes and go back and watch it again if you are unsure. It is not as hard as it appears, it is just new to you.

Happy quilting!!! :)

I would recommend cuting backing even with top, especially for your first one. I cut ALL my binding across the grain, only time I use bias is for curves (like a round potholder). I cut mine 2-1/2" wide and fold in half with raw edges together, this will give you double binding on the edge were it will fold over the quilt, I believe this is called a french binding. A lot of the "older quilts" were done with the binding raw edges folded to the middle, which worked great except it only gave you a single thickness in the middle where you need the strength. IMHO

krisgray, how wide do you trim your backing in order to turn it to the front for the binding? I'm doing a wall hanging and it seems just silly to cut this much fabric off and then sew it back on again. TWICE.

Well, I have done lots of bindings and I just learned the 'right' name for the method I use!! too funny! I french fold! ha ha. I use bias and straight, depending on what I know about how much use the quilt will get, and how I feel! ;0)

I too have several old quillt where the binding *is* the backing, and they have not worn well. I mean, my grandmother 'old'. Even her quilts with separate bindings have worn along that edge.