Which way is the best direction to cut your binding strips? Well, that depends on the project you are binding.
Does it have rounded corners or curved edges? A bias binding has a lot more stretch and will fold around those curves nicely. This gives the binding a smooth finish without puckers or cupping around the bend.
Does it have all straight edges? This is a fine time to use WOF binding.
Is it meant to be an heirloom? Using a bias binding will result in a longer-lasting quilt binding as it is less likely to fray along the edge. This is due to the many overlapping fibers that are along the fold of a bias strip, rather than a couple of fibers going the full length of the binding.
Is it for a child? This is where I’d recommend binding WOF, but with Cuddle® 3 or Luxe Cuddle® minky to give it a strong, yet incredibly soft edge. It’s not as hard as you might think it is (one layer and a raw edge to stitch down!), so consider it for your next baby or child’s quilt project.
So what are you making next? Will you use Bias or WOF binding? I’m working on another quilt coat for the fall, so I’ll be using bias binding to get around the neckline smoothly.
Happy sewing!
