How to Bind a Quilt Using Blanket Binding

Satin ribbon was once used to bind quilts.

Finishing a homemade quilt with a colorful satin binding adds shine and interest to any project or gift. In the past, blanket bindings were available only in a limited range of pastel colors. Today most fabric or craft shops offer a wide array of solids and several children's prints. Blanket bindings are most commonly available in packaged yardages of almost 5 yards in length and 2 inches in width. Because blanket bindings are finished on both sides, there's no need for cutting and tucking before attaching one to a quilt.

Things You'll Need

• 1 unbound quilt
• Measuring tape
• 13 yards satin blanket binding
• Iron
• Sharp scissors
• Silk sewing pins
• Sewing machine
• Invisible or matching thread

Instructions

1. Lay the quilt on the floor and smooth it out flat. Measure the width and length across the middle, double each total and add them together plus 6 inches.

2. Remove the blanket binding from the packaging and iron each length on low heat to remove packing folds. Do not open the binding flat.

3. Stitch the lengths of blanket binding together using a 1/4-inch seam and press the seams open, then measure and cut the necessary amount of binding.

4. Open the binding at the fold and, with the narrow side up, fold the binding over the edge of the quilt, beginning at the middle bottom. Pin the binding in place on the top and bottom of the quilt, making sure to catch some quilt batting on each side.

5. Open up the binding at the first corner, forming a right angle. Finger press the angle down, then fold the binding back over onto itself. Insert a pin diagonally into the mitered corner, then repeat the process on the back side of the quilt. Continue this process at each corner.

6. Cut the binding end about 1 inch past the start point and fold it under 1/2 inch. Overlap the start point evenly on both sides and pin.

7. Loosen the tension foot on the sewing machine to avoid bumps and puckers and begin stitching close to the inside edge of the binding at the start/end point. Backstitch along each corner fold and again along the final seam. Press the binding.

Tips & Warnings

• Find the right tension strength for the sewing machine using layered scraps of quilting materials and unused pieces of blanket binding before beginning to sew.

References

• Sewing.com: Baby Blanket With Satin Trim
• Wrights: Applying Blanket Binding
• "Fast, Fat Quarter Baby Quilts with M'Liss Rae Hawley"; M'Liss Rae Hawley; 2009