How to Bind a Round Quilt

Quilt binding adds visual appeal, whether coordinating or contrasting the quilt scheme.

Binding a quilt not only gives off a clean, finished look but the binding material actually protects and preserves your quilt during use and even when being washed. The seams around the edge of a quilt, as well as the raw edges of the perimeter are the most susceptible areas to damage. If bound properly, these areas are encased and shielded from exposure, delaying both fraying and unraveling of delicate threads. When binding rounded edges, using bias binding allows you to easily work around the curves for a perfect finish.

Things You'll Need

• Bi-fold bias binding
• Pins
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Unfold the binding so all of the edges are lying flat. Fold one short edge of the binding over by 1/4 inch, with the wrong sides of the binding facing each other. The small folded edge will be concealed once you are finished sewing on the binding.

2. Line up the upper long edge of the seam binding with the edge of the quilt. The binding should be resting right side down on the quilt, with the short folded end lined up perpendicularly to the edge of the quilt. Pin the binding in place.

3. Move along the edge of the quilt, gently stretching the binding as you go. Pin the binding to the quilt edge to maintain the curved shape achieved by stretching.

4. Work the binding all around the quilt until you have reached the small, folded end at the beginning. Trim the excess binding away, leaving an extra 1 inch to overlap the beginning of the path.

5. Sew the binding and the quilt together along the first crease below the upper edge with a sewing machine. This crease is where the binding was originally folded. You should be sewing parallel to the edge of the quilt, all around the perimeter.

6. Fold the free side of the binding up and over the line of the stitching you made. The binding should wrap over the raw quilt edge and to the opposite side. The right side of the binding should now be facing outward.

7. Fold the loose binding edge up and under so the raw edges are hidden. Sew the binding down as close to the loose edge as possible to secure it in place. The raw quilt edges are now encased within binding.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your own binding tape by cutting long strips of fabric on the bias then fold and press them into a bi-fold strip. Make sure you iron the strip so the raw edges are hidden inside and the right side of the fabric is facing outward.

• Some binding tape may transfer color to your quilt during washing. If the binding is a contrasting or darker color than the quilt, do not apply the tape until you have pre-washed it to remove excess dye.