Treeskirt bias/cross-grain binding question

I want to make a tree skirt - I think I'm going to piece a holiday jelly roll. I would prefer to make it round but I would like to use the jelly roll to bind it as well.  If I make it like 40" round, do I need to use bias binding or do you think the curve will be gentle enough to get away with using the cross-grain jelly roll strips? Otherwise I will just make it a square or turn and top-stitch it - anything to avoid making bias tape. Thanks for your help!

Erin

I'm not an expert but it seems like you would need to do bias if the skirt was circle.  Have you tried the bias tape makers?  I think they are made by Clover and you can get them at Joann's.  The work like a dream!   I always use a little steam with my iron as I am making the bias tape, but it is really fast and easy. 

Also, there is a formula where you calculate the amount of bias needed and cut it out of a square - you basically make the square into a tube and cut diagonally so that you end up with a long, continuous piece of bias cut fabric.  It is actually really fun because it is like magic when you cut it!  That with the bias tape maker makes it pretty quick and easy.  (Sorry - I realize this is probably not that helpful!).

No, it's helpful. I've done it before. I don't mind the cutting, pressing, etc. It's just that I don't want to waste fabric and I'll probably have to use a solid color (not a coordinating print) if I do it that way.

I know that cross-wise cuts have a bit of stretch but not as much as bias-cuts. I was just curious if anyone had done a round table cloth or tree skirt with cross grain binding and how it turned out. I may end up just making a hexagon or octagon if I have to.

If you don't want to have to fiddle with binding at all, you could just back it with an inexpensive muslin or an old sheet, sew the two wrong sides together, leaving a hole for turning, turn, and topstitch it. 

That is my plan if the binding doesn't work out.

I bound a tree skirt for my parents with binding instead of bias tape and it never did lay right.  No one else ever notices -- esp. when it's covered with gifts! -- but it still drives me CRAZY after all of these years!  I'd say do it right (either bias tape or the pillowcase method) so you don't end up in the same boat.