I was just wondering if I have been doing this wrong since I am sort of a self-taught quilter. When I am ready to add the binding on my quilt, I always trim the edges, including the batting and backing so I have a straight edge to sew the binding onto. Is this the best way to do this or do you leave it all on so you have some extra batting to add to the binding part to make it not be flat? I am open for suggestions and your reasoning. :-)

I trim the edges too.

You should leave at least a 1/4" of the batting sticking out from the top. This will help "stuff" the binding and make it firmer. Judges at quilt shows will look for a nice stuffed binding. Plus, if you don't have have your binding stuffed, it will fold in half and then it will start to wear along the edge and split, especially if it is washed a lot. Many antique quilts have split bindings just because they didn't fill the binding enough and they were used and washed a lot.

Me too!

This was very helpful. I will try it on my next one. Thanks so much!

I do the same.

I do a basting stitch where I think the future seam allowance is going to be. Then I lay the quilt on the floor with my biggest mat underneath and cut the excess away. I am able to double check the straightness against the parquet flooring by lining up my long ruler with the squares. I move around the whole quilt this way - makes the corners square. If I cut off some of my basting I pin that portion to hold the sandwich together. Then I sew my binding on.

Every time I do a large quilt this way I swear I'll never to it again. Never crawl on the floor again. Never, never, never. I don't listen to myself. When I finally manage to get up I head to the medicine cabinet for pain relief and die the rest of the day. :)

Yeah, but then your binding has to be at least 1/2" wide (showing). That's not a look I want most of the time.

I always trim the top/batting/backing even and then attach the binding.

Here are Sharon Schambers video on binding (there are 3 parts):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vHI7rgZpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--xgi4nux8

Makes GORGEOUS, stuffed, firm bindings.

I trim mine and square up as much as possible if needed and then sew on the binding. I use a generous 1/4 inch seam with a 2 1/4 or 2 1/2" binding, folded over, and the binding is usually "full". I watched an Eleanor Burns show once where she marked the sides of the quilt and then sewed the binding on and then trimmed off the excess quilt. I tried it once and couldn't make it work for me.

I'm with you on this.
I know many people successfully use this method but I know for sure I'd slice right through whatever I wasn't supposed to cut. :mrgreen:

I echo/ditto all this!