Placemat Binding, Baby Quilt Questions

I cut my binding at 2-1/8 or 2-1/4 in. then fold in half. As a mostly purist, I prefer to use everything 100% cotton- fabric, thread and Warm & Natural or Warm & White cotton batting.... which I buy by the bolt. I do waiver off on the purist thing by using Bottom Line, metallic, and rayon threads and some non-cotton fabrics or blends for 'special' effects, but not on a baby quilt. I only get crazy on my artsy-fartsy wallhangings.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

SNIP SNIP Dear Dogmom I like 2 1/4 for myself but for my students I suggest 2 1/2" which is suitable for all but fluffiest batting { and an added bonus, if you stay consistent in your cut size, you can then make a scrap binding out of scraps} (department of redundancy dept.!) or cut remainders into 2 1/2" sqaures, a very usable size square....can you tell I am working on reducing stash!? Also, added bonus for those who aren't as experienced with precise patchwork there is some wiggle room for error when you cut a 2 1/2" strip even when finishing by machine......I think batting depends on experience of the gift receiver, if they are children of quilters use Warm and Natural, otherwise, even in my house everyone fights over the old quilt with the fluffy batting, just feels cozier to them... I like to work with COTTON thread for quilting, quilts like butta'....and completes my successful quilt equation: Cotton fabric +cotton batting+ cotton thread =reduced problems in quilting! I like to see my students successful out of the gate, and by eliminating potential problems (thin loosely woven fabric, poly batt, dubious origin thread) they are eliminating all kinds of issues, with plenty to worry about--=precise cutting, that pesky 1/4" seam allowance, that scary rotary cutter, and the most frightening of all PICKING COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!1

Mauvice in central WI

As to the batting for a baby quilt, much depends on baby's needs and plans. If the quilt is to be used as a 'landing' in a play pen, the floor and the sofa, the fluffy Hobbs 'cloud' type is good padding. On the other hand, if baby is going to use the quilt for a Superman cape, a tent over the foot of the recliner, to dry the dog and to haul leaves, you'll want a batt such as Warm & Natural cotton. Do not assume that a dainty baby girl will treat her quilt gently. It doesn't work that way. Polly

For placemats, 2", no more, or boughten bias tape. Whatever seems good to me.

For baby quilts I tend to cotton all the way. Too many allergy issues with wool, and poly is just right out for several reasons.

Not to be morbid, but has anyone heard any more of the possible relationship between SIDS and poly bedding? Seems like a brief flurry of theories connecting the two was published and then nothing more was ever written about it. Was there ever a reasonable concern or were they just full of hooey on it?

NightMist

I usually use 2 1/2 inches for double fold binding. On placemats, if you sew this on using a scant 1/4 inch, and trim excess batting and backing, you can wrap the binding to the back and sew down by machine, stitching in the ditch from the front. I usually do this on placemats and donation quilts for kids. On my other quilts, after stitching on the binding, I use a ruler and rotary cut the excess 3/8 inch from the stitching line. Then I fold the binding to the back and slipstitch by hand. This gives a nice full binding.

I gather that the concern was for over-heating, that might induce SIDS, more than anything else; and poly batting might have contributed to that. I think now the doctors are working more on the basis that the child had an undetected upper respiratory tract infection or virus. The other thing, of course, is sleep apnoea, but even cotton batting wouldn't help then. . In message , NightMist writes

I think it was bedding in general, not just polyester. My daughter is not using any quilt in the crib -- just putting the baby in a sleep sack. And avoid overheating. This is what mayoclinic.com has to say

Julia in MN