Cutting binding strips

[GrandmaLinda]

I remember recently seeing a video from Fons and Porter about cutting your binding strips and how not to make them look crooked at the fold once you open them. Does anyone know what I am talking about and how to correctly cut a binding strip so that it is straight.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: Cutting binding strips

Fold your fabric carefully along the selvedges. Line up the folded side with a vertical line on your cutting mat. Cut across the horizontal lines of the mat using the width you need the strips to be.

[Madeforyouinma11]

Re: Cutting binding strips

Is this what your looking for?

http://video.fonsandporter.com/videos/1405_rotary-cutter-basics/

http://video.fonsandporter.com/videos/2063_learn-more-about-the-rotary-cutter/

[JCY]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I don't line anything up on my cutting mat. It's not as accurate as cutting with rulers. I use 2 rulers next to each other to get accurate dimensions & cutting. I just cut 2.5" wide strips from the WOF yardage. When pressing the fold, I use Best Press & gently press the fold out. Don't wiggle the iron back & forth. I sew my strips end to end for however much length I need to go around the perimeter of the quilt + 10" leeway for overlap. JCY

[Hulamoon]

Re: Cutting binding strips

It seems you have to join with the Fons and Porter site?

I always enjoy watching this gal

How to measure, cut and make a binding strip - Quilting Tips & techniques 093 - YouTube

[easyquilts]

Re: Cutting binding strips

It seems you have to join with the Fons and Porter site?

I always enjoy watching this gal

How to measure, cut and make a binding strip - Quilting Tips & techniques 093 - YouTube

I like her, too...

[Cat n bull]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I use the lines on my cutting mat all the time, especially for cutting large WOF pieces.

If the pieces that I need are less than 12", I use my June Taylor shape cut ruler. I love that thing for cutting strips!

I do big strips like Jean, fold in half selvage to selvage, which most quilting cotton comes folded that way anyways.

I line up that fold on the horizontal 1" line on my mat, then put my ruler on whatever measurement I need, using the top and the bottom of the mat's numbers to line it up. I have doing this since I started and I do not have accuracy issues.

[Cat77]

Re: Cutting binding strips

Question about folding selvage to selvage: I use the "wiggle" method (hold the fabric up selvage to selvage, then move the two side gently about until there is no bump/crease left on the folded part) to align my fabric. This works fine with shorter pieces of fabric. However, lately I've bought some bigger pieces (more than a yard) and my arms are not long enough to stretch that far. Does anybody have a solution for that problem?

[Iris Girl]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I use the lines on my mat to line things and measure also. Since I am not making anything *show* quality this works for me. If the mat is a 32nd of an inch off from the ruler so be it. *Don't sweat the small stuff* its all for fun and pleasure not ripping my hair out over a 32nd of an inch.

[Barb44]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I had heard so many times that mats were not accurate and that different brands of rulers had different measurements, so I checked. The measurements on my mat and my 4 different brands of rulers were all exactly the same. Not even a 32th of an inch off. So I don't worry about it. I use whatever works best at the time. Sometimes we can become "nuts" about these things.

I straighten my fabric using the "wiggle method" also. But I don't work with long pieces any more. I learned from an instructor on Craftsy to tear my fabric into manable pieces. 99% of the time I am cutting strips anyway and why deal with all that extra length on my cutting table. It is so much easier to press, starch and cut this way.

[Cat n bull]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I have to laugh at the "mats aren't accurate" idea. Olfa makes mats, AND they make rulers. Do you honestly think they use DIFFERENT measurements in their mats than they do their rulers? An inch is an inch is an inch. It is not subjective, and rulers do not have some sort of alternate "inch" than mats.

[Quiltfreestyle]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I think the only time you need to worry about accuracy on the mat is when it gets old. When mine got old a lot of the lines got very faint & blurred. You couldn't really see to line things up...
I don't sweat the small stuff & just go with whatever is easiest at the moment.

[Hulamoon]

Re: Cutting binding strips

I use my mat ruler

[pokeygirl]

Re: Cutting binding strips

Dang....I learn so much from all of you.....thanks bunches.