Employees at the local quilt shops (not including the chains) are required to know the basics about sewing. When they fill out an application, they are provided with a test to show what they know and their score determines their possible employment. They also have to know how to operate the machines.

As far as I have been able to determine, it takes exactly the same number of square inches to make a given amount of binding no matter which way I have cut it.

I prefer to use bias binding, and one has to look really hard to find the joins.

I do prefer to cut longer strips so there are fewer joins, but I have also made a binding from scraps that had many many joins.

Google 5 yards from one fat quarter. There are several good tutorials on the tube technique. I've only used it once but found it easy.

I always figure my binding the way ckcowl explained above and never run out.

I am of the mind of several of the above posters; I never ask for advice in JoAnn's--I just estimate what I think I might need and buy it. If you are near Whittle's in Kentucky, now there is where you can get some excellent advice from everyone there, even some of the customers!

But I see you're from Florida, so remember that when you are passing through Tennessee on I-65 and watch for them; they are just above Bowling Green in Kentucky.

None of the cutters at my Joann's sew or quilt !

I usually cut my binding into width-wide strips, as I like a bit of give to snug up the binding as I go. It gets rid of a wavy edge, especially if there has been a lot of quilting in the quilt. I do like my sashings and borders cut length-wide.

I usually make my binding with the same fabric as my last border, but I also do pieced borders and pieced bindings. When buying fabrics for a quilt, I usually round up to the next whole yard (if it says 5/8th, I buy 1 yard) to take care of the oops! factor, so I always have extra.

I cut my binding WOF. The only time I used a bias binding was when the fabric I chose was striped, and it gave the binding a candy cane look, which was great, because it was a child's quilt. I've not done any curved quilts, so haven't had to make bias binding for one.

Thanks Katier825 for the site for binding calculator. That's a real saver for me. If nothing else it tells me how many strips I need to cut.

length x width gives you around the quilt then you divide by 42 that gives you the strips and say you need 8 you x that by 2.5.....so that will give you the amount you need so you don't over by so much but we always need something in the stash.

The only thing I can think of she was talking about borders. Then yes length wise is great no seams and very stable so no waves. Binding though you are absolutely right and you don't even need a full 1/2 yard just 5 strips should do it.

I can't tell any difference in seaming binding or not. Why is it a problem other then a few minutes to sew a long length? I have purchased ready made custom binding and it was seamed. I can see buying lengths of fabric to use only for binding and having lengths of binding from just that fabric to use for many quilts.

Geri B - you made me laugh out loud!!

Thank you so much for this calculator link. It is now in my favorites.

Thankfully, the ladies at my JoAnn's strive to save me money when I buy fabric--cutting binding on the long length does not save me money.

Oops! You forgot about the other two sides of the quilt. And it is added, not multiplied. You need to take length + width and double that. You have to add some for all the seams in the binding, and another width-of-binding for the overlap at the end. Each strip gets width-of-binding taken off of it for seaming.

Many people don't like having "unnecessary" seams in their binding and would rather have on continuous strip.That's probably why she suggested what she did. My DD had the same thing happen when she asked for help figuring amount(this was at a LQS not JA). IT's a matter of preference. Had she asked me I would have shown her how to make her binding using the width of fabric 'cause I don't like waste and I think buying the full length is wasteful. My preference

It is sometimes nice to cut sashing and borders on the lengthwise grain if you do so at the beginning of the project. However, it is customary to cut binding on the crosswise grain or the bias grain because you can easily control the stretch. If you join these pieces with a bias seam they are almost undetectable. Someone gave a link to a chart for estimating how much you need to bind various sized quilts. I tuck it in the back of my wallet just for reference. You must be careful of the 'knowledge' clerks in fabric stores have. Much of the time it is very little.

At our Joanns they are told they cannot help you estimate fabrics needs. Guess that keeps from having unhappy customers with excess fabric, just unhappy customers because they need help. ;)

One of my local Joann's did have a quilter at the cutting table, a MALE quilter, even, but he fully retired about a year ago. I still bump into him there sometimes, shopping. I never really ask them for advice, though, I usually have a pretty good idea of what I'm up to when I'm there. (I have a stubborn streak!) I miss my guy though, he would always stop to chat about quilting with me. :)

We go this way when we go back to Michigan. Now another place to add to my bucket list. Thanks

My best friend when ordering fabric for bindings and backings is the Robert Kaufman Quilting Calculator you can download for FREE to your smart phone. I work in a quilt shop and use it on a regular basis. Good luck.

I have a work friend that went to work at a JoAnn's for Christmas a year ago. She could not believe that of the half dozen people that was hired with her, NO one sewed, knitted or crocheted. Then when she worked for a while, there was only one or two at that store that did. I have never asked for advise at a JoAnn's and will never, I just ask for how much fabric I need and get away from the counter. But I have been had some who do not know how to measure fabric too.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Katier825 for that link. I can figure these things but oh my gosh, that is so quick! It is now posted on my bookmark bar

Well, I think it's perfectly all right to ask for help and you shouldn't feel bad about asking. The difference was in how each of you approached the problem. She offered a suggestion based on how she would do it. Cutting strips across the fabric takes less fabric for a project that small, yes; cutting parallel to the selvedge takes more....if you don't want to piece.

Next time you'll probably know ahead of time how you want to proceed.

I have found that many of the employees at JoAnn's aren't terribly savvy.

It seems that you asked her a question and got an honest answer based on her quilting (class) training. In my experience there are multiple ways and methods to do everything in quilting, and there really is no RIGHT way. In the end it is your project and your decision.

Thanks for this site

i do work at a joanns and yes some do not have a clue about quilting i would have sold you a half a yard and told you to piece it i also quilt but i wouldn't know how much fabric to give you if you wanted bias binding but i would assume 1 yard would be plenty

I usually cut the binding selvedge to selvedge. Depending on the thickness of the quilt with the batting I usually cut the binding 2 1/4 inch wide. Prefer a narrower finished binding. For those quilters with iphones, there is an app that you can put on your phones and figures out the equations for binding, backing, how much fabric you will need if you know the size and number of sq you need for a quilt. The app in Robert Kaufmann. I just typed in quilt in the search. Installed it and love the convenience of having it with me at all times.

The same app is available for android phones too.

I have done it both ways with no issues. It I have a long enough strip I will do one...most of the times I do not so I do S/S.

I always cut fabrics for borders and binding WOF I use a diagonal seam to join them. I like the extra bit of stretch. Always works for me and my over 120 some odd quilts.

I prefer not to piece borders unless I have to, but I only make child size to twin quilts. I do usually make bias binding. Lots of good advice has been posted, and some great links. I've rarely run into anyone cutting fabrics at JoAnn's who sews, and many who don't have a clue about cutting fabric or panels accurately. I shop there for sales and novelty fabrics. I usually ask for about 1/4 yard more than I need since I prewash and many fabrics are wonky or cut a bit wonky even though I try to gently educate the cutter. I do commend JoAnns on their policy of selling the rest of the bolt IF it is under a yard for 50% off the current price as they would a remnant. A wonderful woman behind the counter told me about this a few years ago after she asked me what I was making and I told her donation children's quilts. Apparently most of the staff don't know this- you have to ask. I search for a bolt that is on sale and almost gone, then order an amount which will leave less than a yard if cut so I can use this to stretch my meager funds.

Peckish you made my day, I love your comment

if you have a smart phone download the Robert Kaufman application (its free) "Quilter's Little Helper" and you will never have to guess or buy to little or too much fabric ever again. Try it, you'll like it!

I like to cut mine the length of the fabric so I will have less spots that are pieced.

She gave you advice based on the fact she is running a business and the more you buy the more profit. She has forgotten the I will not be back. Although due to the limited number of shops we do go back eventually.

gale, I know I should know what SOG is, but it isn't coming to me. Will you enlighten me, please? LOL thanks