seam allowance when binding on quilt
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 106
seam allowance when binding on quilt
Ok now I may be a problem, but I have another question about quilting. I have googled so many ways of putting binding onto a quilt, and I am really confused. I always thought you put your 1/4 inch seam foot on sew on the binding as normal, when finished turn over the binding and sew. But i just googled one and it said to have a wider sewing seam, as when you turn your binding to the back, you must Never have any emptyness within the binding. It should feel fat! what is right, please help me as i am fairly new to quilting, and have in the past made a couple and have noticed that the binding when turned feels empty?
Idle Di
Idle Di
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 12-22-2019 at 03:20 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
#2
You do want your binding to be full. It will last longer that way, and look nicer. But there are many ways of accomplishing that. You can cut the binding smaller, or increase the seam allowance, or cut the batting a little further out from the quilt top after quilting. Experiment with how you want to do it, and it may be different for each quilt you make.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,461
I cut my double fold binding at 2-1/4 inches. Fold it in half and use a 1/4 inch seam to attach it to the front of the quilt. This allows me to fold the binding around to the back and hand stitch the binding to the back, covering the thread line. My binding are always full but binding width and seam allowance are personal preferences, use what works for you.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,061
I don't trim off my batting until after I've put on the first machine stitching of the binding, and I use that seam for my measurement.
I cut my bindings a bit fuller than most, at 3" and so I trim .5" from that seam line for a nice full binding. When we say "full" that doesn't mean round, just the same as the body of the quilt.
If you have a half inch finished binding and you trimmed everything at 1/4" that means half your binding is empty.
You can add in little wisps of left over batting if you need to.
Edit: It's not that big a deal really, but if you want to show your quilts it is expected (along with mitered corners). Doesn't impact the kindness of a gift or the durability of the quilt. For the first couple of decades of my quilting I used straight bindings with butt joints. Decided to switch to bias French double fold binding and miter corners because that was the expectation/standard but mostly I just say Boo to the quilt police
I cut my bindings a bit fuller than most, at 3" and so I trim .5" from that seam line for a nice full binding. When we say "full" that doesn't mean round, just the same as the body of the quilt.
If you have a half inch finished binding and you trimmed everything at 1/4" that means half your binding is empty.
You can add in little wisps of left over batting if you need to.
Edit: It's not that big a deal really, but if you want to show your quilts it is expected (along with mitered corners). Doesn't impact the kindness of a gift or the durability of the quilt. For the first couple of decades of my quilting I used straight bindings with butt joints. Decided to switch to bias French double fold binding and miter corners because that was the expectation/standard but mostly I just say Boo to the quilt police
Last edited by Iceblossom; 12-21-2019 at 08:26 PM.
#5
I cut my double fold binding at 2-1/4 inches. Fold it in half and use a 1/4 inch seam to attach it to the front of the quilt. This allows me to fold the binding around to the back and hand stitch the binding to the back, covering the thread line. My binding are always full but binding width and seam allowance are personal preferences, use what works for you.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,422
Welcome to the binding decisions group. There are many different techniques for binding. Take some time to discover your perfect way.
Binding 101 has been a process for me but it does get easier. I suggest some practice samples first on some blocks. Mark right on the block the cut binding width and the stitch settings.
For 2 1/2 inch binding, I use a 3/8 inch seam allowance on the first side stitch down.
For 2 1/4 inch binding, I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance on the first side stitch down.
Typically, I stitch the binding to the back of the quilt and bring to the front. I can see where I'm stitching the binding edges and get a fairly straight line.
I don't press binding in half. The crease is in the wrong place for the final fold over when you look at it lengthwise.
Binding 101 has been a process for me but it does get easier. I suggest some practice samples first on some blocks. Mark right on the block the cut binding width and the stitch settings.
For 2 1/2 inch binding, I use a 3/8 inch seam allowance on the first side stitch down.
For 2 1/4 inch binding, I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance on the first side stitch down.
Typically, I stitch the binding to the back of the quilt and bring to the front. I can see where I'm stitching the binding edges and get a fairly straight line.
I don't press binding in half. The crease is in the wrong place for the final fold over when you look at it lengthwise.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
I don't trim off my batting until after I've put on the first machine stitching of the binding, and I use that seam for my measurement.
I cut my bindings a bit fuller than most, at 3" and so I trim .5" from that seam line for a nice full binding. When we say "full" that doesn't mean round, just the same as the body of the quilt.
If you have a half inch finished binding and you trimmed everything at 1/4" that means half your binding is empty.
You can add in little wisps of left over batting if you need to.
I cut my bindings a bit fuller than most, at 3" and so I trim .5" from that seam line for a nice full binding. When we say "full" that doesn't mean round, just the same as the body of the quilt.
If you have a half inch finished binding and you trimmed everything at 1/4" that means half your binding is empty.
You can add in little wisps of left over batting if you need to.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Tn
Posts: 8,710
I also wait to trim the batting and backing. 1/4 inch seam is necessary to keep the block dimensions. Although if you have a plain border it wouldn’t matter. After putting the binding on I will trim batting and backing a bit wider than just the 1/4 inch allowance. You can figure out by trial how much excess you need to fill your binding depending on the binding width you prefer to work with.
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