Was I wrong ~ or ~ was she
 

I went to Joanns to get fabric for binding (only). Didn't need any extra. The quilt is 41x61. I am going to cut 2 1/2" strips. I couldn't figure out how much fabric I needed (it's 44" wide)

The woman at the cutting counter told me I needed a min of 65" or so. ??? I told her I would cut 2 1/2" strips selvage to selvage and she told me no, to cut one long strip so that I didn't have to piece it. It's only one seam on the long sides and none on the short.

I've never heard of cutting 2 1/2" strips going longways on the fabric. I would have had to buy more than 2 yrds. I ended up buying a whole yard and now realize I only needed 1/2 yd.

There's different ways to cut binding. Cutting with the selvedge is one way to have the least stretching of the binding. I frequently cut my borders that way, but never the binding. Stretchy binding isn't a problem for me...I usually cut mine on the bias which is the stretchiest of the three... with the selvedge, across the grain or bias. She sounds like she mostly sews clothes. When making clothes, you don't want a stretchy cut, almost everything is cut with the straight of grain which is running with the selvedge. Sounds like you have figured out how to calculate your own yardage for the binding. That's best, that way you will cut it your way.

Next time don't tell her what you are doing. I always just tell them at Joann's how much I want.

I thought I needed help. :/

I often use the same fabric for an inner border as the binding, and if I have enough, I do cut lengthwise so I don't have to piece the borders. But you can do it whichever way you want. I've found that many of the people at Joann's don't have a clue. For future reference, here is a binding calculator to help you figure what you need before you go:

http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/C...Calculator.php

In 2 states and 5 cities I've never meet a JA's 'cutter' who was a quilter.
If you had told this story on an LQS I'd have been much more surprised.

Believe it or not Jan, she said that's the way she was taught in a quilt class. I would have definitely gone to a LQS, but it was after 6

And I swear some don't even sew at all.

Our Joann's has more guys than girls now and believe me...you want to know what you need.....

she wasn't wrong.
she just gave you advice based on her training and opinion.

either way is correct.