Binding...whats your preferred width?

I've always used 2.5", except once when I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and cut 2.0". That was a little too narrow for me. I recently finished up a quilt with 2.25", and it looks so much better -neater- to me. I'll start using 2.25" from now on. What width do you use?

Along the same lines, I just finished a throw with minky backing and used flannel for the binding. My LQS mentor suggested adding .5" to the binding width due to the added bulk. i only added .25 (for 2.75") and it looks sloppy. Not bad enough to rip out, buy new fabric and redo, just ehh. If you use flannel, do you add extra to the width for the bulk?

I use 2.25, I like it better. :) I made a flannel quilt and I think I did 2.25 or 2.5 can't remember for sure.

I prefer 2.25". I sew my binding on the front with the machine and then sew down the back by hand.

I use 2.5 or 2.25 - depends on the fabric and pattern.

2.5". I have also used jelly roll strips for speed and convenience.

I did 3" for my first few quilts, now 2.5"

I use 2.5 also. Never tried any other size......you guys got me thinking.

I use a 2.25" binding on most quilts but do use 2.5" for flannel-it seems to stretch funny when I turn it so I like the extra to play with.

Perhaps because I am still learning, and the backing on my first quilt was flannel, I found a 2.5 cotton binding wasn't quite wide enough. But again, pretty sure it was user error.

I use 2" because I like a nice tight little binding. However if I'm using minkee or flannel for the backing I increase that a little.

2.5 for quilts, 2.75 for potholders to allow for the extra layer of insulbright. (Learned the hard way ;))

I started out using 2.5" for my binding, but on the last two I did I used 2.25" and think it looks better. I sew it on the back and machine stitch it from the back, catching the front.

I like to use 2.5" binding.... when I trim the quilt up after quilting, I like to leave about 1/4" of the batting sticking out past the edge of the quilt so when I sew the binding on the little bit of extra batting fills up the binding making it a little puffy instead of flat and the width of the binding after sewn on gives a very nice visual finish.

I use 2.5, when I trim up my quilt after it's quilted I always leave a little extra batting. When I turn my binding to the back to stitch it down that bit of extra length on the batting fills the binding nicely so it's snug.

I use 2.5" binding and always leave a little batting to fill up the binding. It looks much nicer than an empty binding. I am thinking of trying 2.25" binding for my next quilt. Your post has encouraged me to try it!

For wallhangings that will not get washed, I use 1.25" or 1.5". This is a single width binding, not doubled like for a regular quilt that will get lots of wear. It is thin and very neat, and just as easy to sew on.

I sew my bindings on the front by machine and hand stitch it to the back.

I remember I used to cut it 2 3/8" until a friend made fun of me, lol. Now I cut 2.5" most of the time.

2.5, don't think I have ever deviated from that.

I like to use a 2 1/2", I like how it looks. On some baby quilts I have used 2 1/4".

I use 2.25 for the majority. I sew to the front and handstitch to the back -as I like the look of it much better and I have grown to like the handstitching part. I will sew the binding on the back and the wrap and sew on the front baby quilts, but really don't like the look.

And here is a youtube video (under 4 minutes) using 2.25" binding by Edyta Sitar.

I generally use 2.5 but I have used 2.25. I machine sew to the front and hand stitch it to the back as well!

I use 2.25" binding strips.

I use 3" but sew to the front with 3/8" seam, as I had a problem with 2-1/2" sometimes not catching the raw edge, then having to check the entire perimeter for any other unattached edges. I do pin, maybe I need to use more pins? Anyways I am surprised no one else has run into this issue.

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Originally Posted by Preeti

And here is a youtube video (under 4 minutes) using 2.25" binding by Edyta Sitar.

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I like that and will be trying that. Thanks for posting.

Here's the link for anyone that wants to watch:
http://youtu.be/jWauykQzr7w

Uh oh... I think I did my binding wrong.

I started with 2.5 wide, folded in half, ironed, lined it up with quilt edge, and sewed all the way around. I did the corners like in the video and how Jenny, FQS, and others do it, folded it over and sewed on... mitering the corners correctly.
This gave me a tight double thickness binding with no room to spare. There is no way I could have left a little bit of batting left to plump it up or it would not have fit.

The video above looks like she sews a single layer on and has plenty to work with. For you guys who have mentioned using less than 2.5...is that a single layer of fabric binding?

If it's to be doubled, like I did mine, should I use wider than 2.5 to begin with? (before it's ironed in half, that is)
Was mine super tight because of the flannel backing? I used a low loft batting.
Did I make a goof?

2-1/2" is what I always start with, then fold in half like you said. I don't think you did anything wrong. The width of your seam could be a factor as well as thickness of batting and material used for backing.

Interesting video, and makes sense. Have followed Jenny's tut's on binding, and had no issues regardless of the backing material. Tight, a tad, but I usually pin in several places to make sure it's where it should be. 2.5 inches is what I go with regular binding, unless I'm using a false piping technique.

http://www.lvqg.org/media/2a7a5a699c...02ffffe415.pdf

And I totally ignore the part about "bias" binding, just cut WOF and run with it, either flat or utilizing the seam to create a "stuffed" piping look, it works great.

Leah, I use low loft as well, don't think you made a goof, but the video makes great sense regarding less bulk, especially at the mitered corners.

If I don't hem it (self-binding) like when I back with Minkee or Fleece, I will cut my binding to 3" and sew to the back with a generous seam allowance, then fold around to the front and stitch down. I use my stitch in the ditch foot with the little metal guide next to the folded edge of the binding and the needle slightly to the right of the fold and sew it down. The guide makes a nice consistent stitch width. With the binding being 3", when I stitch it down on the front, it does not sew on the binding on the back - it misses it - and just looks like another line of quilting.

I always use 2.5" for binding. Flannel might make things a bit tighter, but you didn't do anything wrong.

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Originally Posted by Carrie J

Leah, I use low loft as well, don't think you made a goof, but the video makes great sense regarding less bulk, especially at the mitered corners.

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And that's what I get for not finishing the video the first time......:0 I got hung up in thinking I had made a mistake and rushed back here too soon.

Also, the link you provided on the flange binding is much more clear than the previous one I had seen. Thank you!
I might try it on my next quilt binding, but I'm guessing that means I would actually have to sew straight huh?

I use 2.25 on all of mine except minkie. I think the 2.25 looks really nice.

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Originally Posted by Sonic

Also, the link you provided on the flange binding is much more clear than the previous one I had seen. Thank you!
I might try it on my next quilt binding, but I'm guessing that means I would actually have to sew straight huh?

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Girl........................
Attachment 95331

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I use 2.5, but I sew it (unless there are tricky points) at 3/8" to the front then sew it down to the back by hand. In the end, this would be like a 2 1/4" binding--the extra is in the seam. I usually have a border, so the wider seam allowance works just fine.

I have mostly used 2 1/2 and have done several methods. I like the look of the sew to the front and hand sew down on the back, but I am not very good at the hand sewing part and it takes me forever! I tried Susie's Magic Binding technique this week and really liked it - great look and all done by machine and nothing got missed!

Here is a pic of the one I did that way. I used a white with black spots as my "accent" strip. A little more work upfront, but easy to sew on and stitch down.

Attachment 95332

I've played the gambit with this too... and have decided generally speaking....2.5" binding works the best for me. It is big enough to work with easily but narrow enough to not be over whelming and the perfect width when finished to just accent the quilt and not over take it. Bigger, (at least to me) looks more like a sashing or border that is heavier than the others in the quilt and smaller looks like a large ribbing effect.