How to Join the Binding on a Quilt Edge

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Framing your quilt with a well-constructed binding can perfect the look of your quilt. Since you have, undoubtedly, spent a huge amount of time and effort creating your quilt, it's important for the binding to be flawless. Knowing how to join the binding ends together will give your quilt the finishing touch it deserves. Like any great work of art, your quilt needs to be framed.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Tape measure
• Scissors
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Stitch the binding around the edge of the quilt. Leave 5 inches of quilt and binding not sewn at the start and at the end of the stitching. Leave enough binding at the end to overlap with the binding at the beginning.

2. Lay the quilt edge down flat. Smooth the beginning binding along the edge of the quilt. Smooth the ending binding along the edge of the quilt, and overlap with the beginning edge. Measure the bindings for an overlap of ½ inch. Cut the end of the binding off at the ½-inch overlap.

3. Pin the right sides of the binding ends together. Sew across the bindings with a ¼-inch seam. Press the seam open. Pin the binding to the edge of the quilt. Sew the remainder of the binding into place.

References

• Quilt University; Basic Binding Instructions; Cheryl Petreman
• Linda Matthews; Binding a Quilt; Linda Matthews; April 2009
• Nancy's Notions; Binding a Quilt with a Double Fold French Binding; Nancy Zieman; 2003