Hi everyone, I am tying to finish my first shop hop quilt, my question is how wide can I or should I make my binding. Would it be wrong to make the self binding 1 1/2" wide? I am stitching in the ditch, then I can do my binding.Thanks for any suggestions and help :D

sorry, the pic is so big

It is your quilt, you are free do to what you want too for binding.

I usually cut typical bindings at 2 inches, sometimes 2 1/4. But one of the best parts about quilting is you can do what you want, and get the results that you want! If you don't end up liking the result, you will know what not to do next time.

Also, if you haven't checked out the binding tutorial by Sharon Schamber, I highly recommend it. She's a wonderful teacher, and her method is extremely helpful to do a quality binding. Here's the link:

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/fre...gel/index.html

Post your completed project so we can see what you ended up with!

k, thanks, I am keeping this quilt because it is my first offical quilt I did myself. Not to mention one or two little error's. It will be loved by me big binding or not. I wouldn't mind having it a as large as I can make it, but concerned a big binding may look funny. Good to know I can do what I want though, I love that option :thumbup:

will post pic when I finish it and see what ya think!

If you have some scrap, make a sandwich of the top, batting, and backing, and do a little practicing - see how it goes. Bias binding handles a little differently than binding cut on the grain, too.

As someone said earlier, it's your quilt - my bindings usually finish at almost 1/2 inch wide - I just prefer the heftier look - and it works perfectly with one of my machine settings.

And almost everyone learns something new every time they do something different. Sometimes even when making something again - usually about half way through and the change in technique would show.

Self binding is a fun and economical way to bind. My reference says to leave twice the desired finished binding width plus 1/4" for a seam allowance. For example, for a 1/2" finished binding, cut the backing so it extends 1-1/4" beyond the seam line.

Here's a tutorial that is helpful: http://www.whatididatschooltoday.com...ory_a_qui.html

Thanks and thanks for the tutorial, that was great. Now I need to find the time to do this. :D

The tutorial was helpful -

When the back of the quilt is brought to the front and turned under - that is called "self-binding"?

My Grandma B did that a lot. She used all sorts of widths.

if this is your first binding, i think wider is easier than narrow. you'll be in better control of the binding and the stitching. wide binding looks fine on almost all quilts. you can go a little narrower each time if you like, but you may like the look and stay with wide binding forever. with the right color, it becomes an integral part of the design of the quilt itself.

Thanks, I may go with the wider binding, I wouldn't mind having the quilt as large as possible, the extra wide would make a diffrence. Good to know it is acceptable!

Please be sure to post a picture when you've finished it. I'd love to see what you decided.

Thanks, I will.It will be my first offical quilt I did myself :)

ducky i know this is off the thread, but every time i see your name i look for that silly little yellow duck. i MISS him/her.

I think 1 1/2" binding would be good...
Gives you wiggle room...
K

I like wiggle room, thanks :D

Good for you! You can make your binding as wide as you want. I usually cut my 2 inches. That seems to work best for me. Keep up the good work.

And, I like to cut my binding three inches, fold in half, ect.
I don't know how everyone else manages to cut the binding smaller and stitch in the ditch and still catch the edge of the binding on the back, but I have never been successful at it, so finally just gave up.
The biggest thing is to make sure that your binding is full of the quilt -- no flopping around. The binding will last longer is the fabric is firmly against the quilt edge.
Congratulations on your shop hop quilt!

yeah ... off-topic or not ... i vote for bring back the duck

bring back the duck

(all together now)

bring back the duck

bring back the duck????

This time with FEELING !!!

:!: :!: :!: :!: BRING BACK THE DUCK :!: :!: :!: :!:

w'e not feeling that duck :roll: !

we miss that duck :lol: :lol:

Bind it the way you want. It is your quilt.

Thanks, that is so good to hear!