World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of August 14, 2000:
Our question this week comes from AM Lumpkin
I am a beginning quilter and I am confused about what is bias binding and
what straight grain, and cross-grain binding is.
Fran :
When you look at a piece of fabric, with the selvages on the left and right and cut edges at top and bottom, tug on the fabric from side to side - cross grain ( a little give), from top to bottom - lengthwise grain, less give, and from top left to bottom right (or top right to bottom left) bias direction - a lot of give. That explains the difference in your binding depending on how you cut it. Bias binding in addition to having the most give for going around corners or on scalloped edges, also wears the best. I hope this helps
Lynette :
In addition to what Gerri said, sometimes the fabric decides. For instance, bias binding from plaid has its own special look.
Gerri :
Straight grain binding refers to fabric cut down the lenghth of the fabric so that the lengthwise grain is parallel to the longest edge of the fabric; it has very little stretch or "give." Cross grain is across the width of the fabric (so with most cottons the "length" of the piece wouldn't be more than 42-44 inches. It has more give than a lengthwise piece and I use it for binding most of my quilts. Bias binding is cut on the diagonal grain of the fabric and has the most give. A bias binding tends to use more fabric, but is essential if there are any curves in the edge being bound. I have heard that the bias binding wears better than the others, but have never had a problem with my "cross grain" bindings. Hope this helps!
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