Does binding have to be on the bias?
 

I just finished making 20 feet of binding-all of a sudden I remembered I forgot to cut it on the bias, will it still work? any advice?

It's fine. I was not taught to do bias binding until well into my quilting practice. I rarely use bias binding. I only make the effort when using a striped fabric and I want the stripes to tilt.

I began serious quiltmaking in 1983, and made a few bias bindings for bed quilts. I much prefer the lengthwise cuts of fabric for binding. I'm told the bias will last longer, but I lile the look of the straight-grain much better.

I was told the only time I really need to worry about cutting binding on the bias is if it is going to placed on a quilt with rounded edges.

Thanks so much for your quick responses, now I can finish the quilt this weekend.

I knew I would get expert answers Thanks so much ladies.

Fine as long as you have straight edges

I use bias binding for everything but as long as there are no curves, straight works. I'd probably use straight on small projects if I had strips already cut or something. I love using bias binding though.

When you use straight cut binding, the same threads run all the away down the binding. Theoretically this results in a weaker binding, since if one of those threads breaks and pulls out it will damage a greater area (possibly the whole length of the quilt) than if you use bias binding. However, most of us use straight binding anyway, unless the quilt has curved edges that require bias.