Tutorial: A Nifty Way to Cut Binding Strips


One of the benefits of teaching quilting classes is learning from my students. The other day my friend and student Arden showed me a great method of cutting binding strips that she learned from Marjorie Rhine of Quilt Design NW. It’s very likely this method is known to many already but it was new to me so I wanted to share it with you.

Cut strips to your desired width. Strips can be of varying lengths, of course, but most quilters cut strips along the crosswise grain from selvage to selvage, also known as width of fabric or WOF.

Lay one strip on top of a second strip, right sides up, aligning the edges. Bring the short edges of the doubled strips up next to each other, still with right sides up. I’ve pinned these to my design wall so you can see that the strips form a U shape and the ends of the strips are parallel at the top:

Layer the strips at the top so that you have four layers, all right side up:

Take the strips to a cutting mat and cut through all four layers at a 45° angle:


You wind up with strips with parallel diagonal cuts at each end:


Place one strip in front of you and feed the second strip in from the left, aligning the edges and allowing for a ¼” offset at each end for the seam allowance:


Stitch from notch to notch:


Join remaining strips the same way, press seams open, press in half lengthwise, and before you know it your binding is ready to attach:

As the Barefoot Contessa would say, “How easy is that?”

 

 

 

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7 Responses to Tutorial: A Nifty Way to Cut Binding Strips

  1. Judy says:

    Thanks for the info…..sure makes it easier! My nugget o’ knowledge for today!

  2. Leslie says:

    I can hardly wait for my next binding project! This just might keep everything in a row as opposed to the dreaded one front side strip alternating with one back side strip. Thanks for all the sharers involved!

  3. Arden Shelton says:

    hahaha You quack me up. Thanks for the great description. I’ll forward it to my quilt groups now that you’ve made it look so simple!….Arden

  4. Nancy A Smith says:

    Neat! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Diane says:

    Oh Nubs, for your non-quilting groupies, this post is way over our heads. But, it must be clever and wonderful!

  6. Vickie Rooks says:

    Hi,
    Thank you for adding to my techniques. You are so generous to share when you discover or come across a great tip.

  7. Lovely explanation, and I love being able to power cut, too. Great tutorial and thank you for sharing with the Tips and Tutorials Festival!

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