Carolyn All Day

I just saw the post & you tube video for making continuous binding and it really did make it look easy!

What I need to know is when it comes to making the binding for quilts, should I use the 1 or 2" clover bias tape maker?

And which bias ruler? I didn't see the one the video mentioned available on Amazon. Does anyone use one that they love and that makes bias tape an easy process?

Thanks!

NanaCsews2

I don't use the bias tape makers anymore. I simply fold over the bias binding fabric and press. Then I sew the raw edges to the back and bring the binding over to the front and sew with a decorative stitch. It is faster and easier. I don't show my quilts so this works for me, vs. sewing on the front, folding over and hand stitching the binding down.
This is the binding ruler:
http://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Stu...+binding+ruler

And here also: http://www.missouriquiltco.com/simpl...ty-studio.html

QuiltnNan

i do the same. i have the bias tape makers, but don't use them anymore. i like having the double layer of fabric on the edge of the binding that you don't have with the bias tape maker. i don't use bias binding unless there is a curve.

joyce888

I agree with cutting my binding and folding in half for a double layer. I always sew raw edge to the front and hand stitch to the back.

Jackie Spencer

I don't use a bias maker either, and I cut mine 2 1/4 inches.

Shelbie

I cut mine at 2.5 inches. I find the 2.25 is just a little narrow for me. If I am doing a flannel quilt, I'll cut my binding at 3 inches as the thicker fabric just seems to need more binding. I have a friend who cuts her binding at 2 inches which I just can't handle. It all depends on the quilter and the quilt. I always cut continuous bias binding and I don't press it in half before attaching. Just folding it and applying it works well for me so that's what I do. I just use my longest Olipfa ruler (36") to draw the lines for my bias which works just fine for me. The only bias binding tutorial that I use is the one by Shelley Rodgers (you can google it) because it is so easy to follow (almost idiot proof) and again I can handle it!

crashnquilt

http://www.patemeadows.com/Cutting-B...ing_ep_61.html
I have been quilting for a few years now and I have found this link for cutting bias binding and LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. I love using a stripe fabric for binding but could not get it cut to have all stripes going the same direction. I just use this method in the link and VOILA all stripes going the same way, binding goes together fast and easy, and you only "waste" about a 4 inch triangle piece! HOW GREAT IS THAT!

nanna-up-north

I pretty much use this method, too. Except I just use my 5x36 ruler to cut the widths and don't draw a line. It's quicker for me. I cut my bias binding 2 1/4" but that is too snug for flannel like Shelbie said. And I sew the binding to the front and fold it to the back and hand stitch. It looks very neat and doesn't wear out.

Carolyn All Day

Thank you very much everyone! I've never made bias tape before, so it's great seeing and hearing multiple ways of doing it.

Prism99

I don't use bias strips for binding unless the quilt has curved edges. Straight-of-grain binding is easier to handle.

The Clover bias tape makers create two folded edges. For quilts, you generally want to bind with just one edge folded, which gives you the double layer of fabric at the quilt edge that wears better.

I have found that the width of the strip to cut depends greatly on the batting. For thin battings, I like 2.25" strips for binding. For thick battings, I like to cut 2.5" strips.

I actually do not like cutting continuous binding -- creates too many seams. I simply cut strips of fabric cross-grain (width-of-fabric, the usual method for cutting quilting strips) and sew them together on the machine. I'm sure there is another Youtube video that shows a very simple and easy method to do this, as that's how I learned to do it myself! I used to get confused and sew the strips together wrong, but the Youtube method shows how to do it very quickly, one strip after another. I did this last night for the binding on a baby quilt, and it took me at most 5 minutes to cut the strips and 5 minutes to sew the strips together (and press seams open, and trim seams).

Edit: It was hard for me to believe, but I have found that *not* ironing the strips in half works better! The binding rolls over the edge better, plus it saves time. It took me a long time to try this out, but I'm happy I finally did.