mine are 2.5

2 1/2 inches so I can double it. It makes it last longer.

I cut it 2-3/4 inches and use a 3/8 inch seam allowance. It's a very comfortable size to work with.

was cutting them 2 1/4 but am starting to make quilt-as-you-go strip quilts and find if I use 2 1/2 binding I can better use the leftovers in the strip quilts

I cut mine 3 inches. Thats what I was taught at my quilting class

me too and I use the glue method. It makes it so much easier.

I also cut it 3 inches,I like a widre binding.

2"

ditto

I use 2 1/4" then fold over ,sewing a 1/4 " seam and having a 1/4" seam on back.

Forgive me for being stupid but I am a newbie. What do you make your binding out of? The fabric you r using or a color fabric that matches? I thought u had to buy binding.

I usually do my at 2-3/8 inbetween 2-1/4 and 2.5. Seems to work better for me.

You can buy binding but it gets costly and it is difficult to match your quilt so you cut the fabric of choice into strips, mine being
2 1/2" wide and join them together, (I do a miter join but you don't have to do that) Fold the long fabric strip in half and press then sew the raw edge to your quilt top, fold to the back and whip stitch it. I think most of us quilters make our own, and no question is a stupid question, we all have asked them at one time or another, how else would we learn?

Usually 2 & 1/4

2 1/2 here

Ditto

I cut mine 2 1/2 or 3 inches at the most,

2.5

Ditto

1-3/4" for a flat quilt, or 2-1/4" for fluffier. I like them thin and tight.

2 1/4".

I cut mine 2 3/4 inches because my walking foot doesn't make a quarter inch seam, its wider even with my needle moved all the way over. If I cut my binding smaller its not wide enough when I fold it back to hand stitch.

Thank u Judi I am learning so much from all of you. I just love getting up of a morning with my coffee and read the board. Again thanks Monica

I have always cut it 2 1/2". Never heard of "Sharon Schamber's method". Where would I find it? I always open to new things.

I usually make my binding from the fabric used for the quilt. In fact, I am so anal (not liking a lot of seams in it) that I buy enough of the yardage (based on 4 times the length of the finished quilt) so I can cut it along the selvege. Usually the binding is the same as the outer border, so I also cut the borders next. The rest of the fabric is used in the body of the quilt and leftovers go in the stash for scrappy quilts. (Guess my scrappy quilts could be freebies then!) OH my binding widths are either 2 1/4 or 2 1/2! When I first began quilting I think I was using 3 in widths. Have to go check on that.

I like bindings to fit the quilt. Sometimes a quilt looks better with a larger binding, sometimes a smaller one.

So, I take a scrap, folding it like I would a real binding, pin it in place, and see how it looks. I adjust the width until I like it, and the seam and edge allowances fit properly. When the final binding is as wide or narrow as I desire for that particular quilt, then I measure and cut that.

Sometimes it does depend upon the fabric I have left, of course, but usually it's all about how I like the looks of it. Also, since I use many different battings, that plays a roll in the width as well.

Debbie in Austin

You simply adjust your seam allowance to compensate for the wider binding. The wider the binding, the wider the seam allowance. A binding doesn't have to use 1/4" seams. At least, that's my take on it :)

Debbie in Austin

2 1/2 was the way I was taught.

If you have a binding that's flat -not enough stuffing- the fabric seems to wear a lot faster on that sharp edge.

I haven't read the whole thread, but am I the only person using 1 1/2" strips for single-fold binding? I was taught to cut single-fold at four times the finished width of the binding plus 1/4" for the folds. I use thin batting, which I suppose would make a slight difference, usually 1/16" loft (poly or cotton).

I've read most of the replies and would encourage you to double your binding. When the edge starts to wear, you'll have the life of the quilt almost doubled for just an extra 1/2" or so of fabric per strip.

I cut muine 2 3/4". That extra 1/8" after folding makes turning easier!

Right now I'm hand-sewing everything, I have limited hand strength, and to be honest I don't know if I'd manage to sew through an extra layer to make double-fold binding. I've been making sure that I'm using sturdy fabrics for the bindings, though. There's also the issue of cost (I am very broke and fabrics cost around £10/m in the UK), especially since I'd often have to order in more fabric if I were to double the binding. I've seen a lot of people simply use the backing fabric as binding, and that's not doubled over and may not even be good quality fabric, so I assumed that single-fold should be sufficient.

How long does it usually take bindings to wear out?

Depends on how you are going to use the quilt. If it is a walling hanging and not going to be USED, if it is for display or if it is a utility quilt and going to be USED lots. If you cut your binding on the straight of grain or on the bias and if you doubled your binding or just have single.

Depends on how you are going to USE your quilt. Is it a walling hanging, display or a utility quilt? Also if your binding is cut on the straight of grain or on the bias and if you do a single or double fold binding?

2 1/2 for larger items/2 1/4 for smaller ones

the quilting classes we took last summer we were taught to use 2 1/4, but the bigger quilt i am in the process of making now i been thinking about 2 1/2

3 inches and double it, have done 2 1/4 and used single with unmitred corners.

2 1/4....except when I have a really thick quilt and/ or batting.....then 2 1/2"

I think that I am defiantly in the minority. I am actually getting ready to sew the binding to the back of a quilt and I cut this binding at 5" and folded in half to 2 1/2" add in the 1/4" seam and folding it inhale again and this binding ends up being about 1 and a smidge inches. I am either doing it totally wrong or I don't know what. But I like a thicker binding. It seems to finish and balance a quilt better. But that is me.