Hi
I'm about to finish my first quilt but I'm completely confused about a step in the pre-binding stage....

I have my quilt sandwich all put together and have basted the border (about 1/8 inch from the raw edge). My question is, at this point, what exactly do I do with the excess batting and backing sticking out from underneath the quilt top? I cut the batting and backing about 3 inches larger than my quilt top. Several books I have read have said to cut the batting and backing flush with the quilt top and then sew the binding. Then I've read elsewhere that I shouldn't cut the batting and backing until after the binding has been sewn to the quilt top. Then contrary to this, I've heard that the batting and backing should not be cut flush with the quilt top at all, but rather a little bit should be left sticking out from underneath the quilt top (half inch or so) to "fill" the binding. But, then again I don't understand why you would "fill" the binding. Doesn't the binding get folded over right on the flush edge of the quilt top to the backside?.

LOL. I guess as this is my first quilt, I'm really having problems visualizing how this binding is actually going to work and actually fit onto the quilt.

Thanks so much for any help!!
Best,
Cam

Hi Cam congrats on your first quilt Here is a tutorial with pics if it helps

http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2007/05/tutorial-how-to-bind-quilt.html

Have fun

Jacqui

Great tutorial, Jacqui! The only thing I do differently is I do trim my excess backing and batting even with the quilt edges BEFORE I put on the binding. This allows me to square up the quilt if it isn't quite square all around. Sometimes when a quilt is stretched tight in a frame, the edges get just a bit distorted - this is why I trim before adding the binding.

Nola

At another forum there was a discussion on how to apply binding. Some pinned it in place, others did not. Some used a single folded binding, others used a double binding. Some pressed a fold at the center of the binding, but when one person said they merely folded the binding, lined it up with the trimmed edges and began to stitch, I realized that was how I was going to do mine. I sew the binding to the back of my quilts, with the quilt top face-up! Then I carefully align the edges (I cut my bindings 2 3/4 inches to give a good double fold) and stitch with a bit longer stitch length. Then after I join the ends of my bias cuts, I roll the binding to the front and top-stitch all the way around, using a smaller stitch. (I cannot do hand sewing so all this is done on the machine and is easier for me.)

I hope I did not make this sound too confusing. I like he double binding and not ironing a crease gives some lee-way to adjust the binding as you go along. AND I do use the walking foot. I could not get along without it for binding!

June

Nola, I also trim my batting and backing in squaring up my quilt. I use double fold binding and sew it to the front and turn binding to the back and sew by hand or machine from the top side of quilt!

Betty

Betty, you do your binding the same as I do. I always use double fold binding since most times the binding is the first thing that wears out on a quilt. I generally make my own binding cutting the strips 2 1/4 inches since I don't like a real wide binding. Sometimes I make a continuous bias binding, but this isn't really necessary until the quilt as curved edges.

Nola

Nola, the last time I did a continuous bias binding was when I did Linda O's Spring WH! I cut strips and sewed them together, then I cut the bias strips, joined them to make a barber pole strip binding. I do love that effect but it is work. If you check in the Spring Album of 2007 I think you can see it. It turned out really nice I think!

Betty

I, too, cut my backing and batting even with the edge of the top - and square up the quilt as necessary.

I, too, use the double folded binding - for the same reasons as Nola and Betty. I DO, however, usually sew the binding onto the back of the quilt and then top stitch along the edge on the front of the quilt. I have found that when I try to stitch it on the top and fold to the back and stitch along the top edge that the back never turns out even for me. That's just me. Maybe I just need to practice more the other way. I have about 16 quilts that are back from the quilter but all need binding. Guess this would be good practice, eh? LOL!

And Betty - I loved the look of the binding on my Spring WH. In fact, I have used the multi-fabric binding on several quilts.