How to Bind a Quilt With Yarn

Bind the edges of a quilt with yarn.

Binding refers to the finishing of a quilt that is completed by securing its edges. A strip of fabric typically is folded over the unfinished quilt edges and stitched into place. You can then add yarn to this binding to further secure the quilt edges, cover rough edges and add texture and color. Yarn binding is done by couching the yarn along the edges of the quilt, using a yarn couching attachment for your sewing machine.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Yarn couching sewing machine foot attachment

Instructions

1. Unwind a few feet of yarn and run it through the guides on your sewing machine. Pull the end of the yarn under the sewing machine's arm and to the front of the machine.

2. Thread the end of the yarn through the couching foot attachment. Attach the couching foot by following the brand-specific instructions included with the clip. It should snap into place on the plastic needle housing.

3. Set your sewing machine to "Free Motion Quilting" or "Free Motion Spring Action" if this setting is available. If not, simply set the stitching width to about 6 inches, and the stitch length to 2 inches to provide enough room to couch the yarn.

4. Start the sewing machine and place one corner of the quilt under the needle. Slowly pull it through the machine so that the yarn is couched along the quilt's edge.

5. Run the quilt one stitch past the end of the quilt edge. Reverse stitch once to maneuver the quilt back into place. This will create a fully bound edge.

6. Pivot the quilt so that you can run the next side through the sewing machine. Continue until all edges are bound with yarn.

References

• Nellie's Needles: Couching Yarn
• Fave Quilts: Couching Yarn on Quilt Binding