Binding, Bias or Straight-cut?
05-12-2013, 07:32 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,541
Yep, ditto to what has already been said. I don't like the wasted fabric on bias binding and I think it is harder to get a nice flat finish on a bias binding because of its tendency to stretch. I have often pulled the backing fabric to the front especially on baby quilts. I want to try binding with a piping accent some time soon.
05-12-2013, 07:34 AM
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Springville, Tennessee
Posts: 1,123
I am a new quilter - but I attended a trunk show by Janice Pope, and she started by repairing old quilts. She agreed that you get more threads on the bias to wear than on the straight of grain. She said that most of the repairs she has done was on worn and frayed binding. She always uses bias and strongly suggests that we all do. Interesting.
05-12-2013, 08:39 AM
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I use straight-grain binding almost exclusively because it is so much easier to work with than bias. When I do bias-grain binding (usually just because I want a candy-cane stripe on the diagonal, but bias is also necessary for curved edges), I have learned from experience to prewash the fabric (I don't usually prewash); otherwise shrinkage can create a wrinkled binding and skew the quilt from square. Also, if using bias strips, I heavily starch the fabric after prewashing so the bias doesn't stretch on me while sewing. It's so much less work to use straight-grain, that's what I usually use.
05-12-2013, 09:13 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 8,117
I cut it on the straight grain if the side of the quilt are straight. If they are curved, then I cut it on the bias. I also like the look of plaid binding on the bias and I will us it on straight or curved borders.
05-12-2013, 09:52 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
99% of the time I will cut my binding strips on the bias even if my quilt edges are straight. To me, it just feels like it "hugs" the edge of the quilt better than straight of grain. If I only have a smaller piece of fabric for my binding, then I cut it straight of grain.
05-12-2013, 11:04 AM
#18
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
My experience is that I have used straight grain binding for over fifteen years and not had problems with fraying or excessive wear (and my quilts are mainly snuggle, lap quilts that get washed a bit). I have only used bias binding when I was binding a curved quilt and once when I had striped fabric that I wanted to "swirl" around the outside of the quilt and I achieved that through cutting it on the bias. But generally speaking, I personally don't bother to cut it on the bias otherwise. For me, it's simply not worth the extra time and effort. But as with all things quilty, do what works for YOU and makes you happy!! 
Jan in VA
05-12-2013, 12:38 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 645
I have used both types, straight and bias. For me, straight is quick, uses less fabric and is trouble-free. But the finished edges seems stiff, to me, not supple and bendy, as the quilts bends. Bias takes longer to make, needs to be handled gently and carefully sewn to the sides. I always use bias when i have a stripe or a plaid. But the result is a luxurious feel to the suppleness of the quilt. I guess it could be compared to the difference between a Ford and a Cadillac. Both will get you there( a completed quilt), but what a difference in ride! Jmho. Do what works for you!
05-12-2013, 12:52 PM
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,501
Straight grain binding for straight edge quilts. Bias grain binding for curve or scalloped edge quilts. OR occasionally I will cut striped fabric on the bias to get the stripes to look like a barber pole pattern.
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