How to Bind a Quilt

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Once you have completed making a quilt, a neat binding will hold the edges together. Although it takes a little time and practice to learn to sew the binding, it is an important step. This final touch adds a look of professionalism to any quilt that you sew. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Pins
Thread that matches your quilt back
Sewing needle

Prepare the Strips

Step 1

Cut 2.5 inch binding strips across the full width of the fabric.
Step 2

Sew the strips together. Place the ends of two strips at a 90 degree angle to each other and sew diagonally across and trim off the ends. You will need your finished strip to be at least 12 inches longer than the distance around your entire quilt.
Step 3

Fold the strips. Fold the starting end of the strip at a 45 degree angle. Then, with the right side facing out, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press. Spray with starch and press again to give your binding stability.
Step 4

Pin the strip to the quilt. Lay the binding strip on the front of the quilt with the right sides together and the raw edges even. Pin carefully.

Attach the Strips to the Quilt Top

Step 1

Sew the binding to the quilt. Starting 3 inches from the beginning of the binding strip, sew the binding to the quilt. Leave a quarter inch seam allowance.
Step 2

Stitch to within a quarter inch of the corner. Then stop and backstitch before removing the quilt from the sewing machine.
Step 3

Lay the corner on a flat surface and fold the binding strip away from you, forming a 90 degree angle with the quilt top.
Step 4

Fold the strip back toward you, making sure the raw edge of the strip is even with the raw edge of the quilt top. Then continue sewing until you are 1/4 inch from the next corner.
Step 5

Remove the quilt from the machine and repeat steps 3 and 4. Continue sewing until you are 8 inches from where you began. Then stop, backstitch and remove the quilt from the machine.
Step 6

Slip the end of the binding strip into the starting end. Trim any excess length if necessary. Stitch the final section of binding to the quilt.

Complete the Binding

Step 1

Turn the binding strip up and over the edge of the quilt to the back. Fold the binding at the corners to form neat miters.
Step 2

Use your pins to attach the strip to the back of the quilt.
Step 3

Slipstitch the back of the binding to the back of the quilt. This must be done by hand to invisibly join the binding to the quilt.

Comments

wldrnsqltr said

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on 7/28/2009 Clear instructions. In addition to using a walking foot as suggested in a previous comment, you also want to blind stitch (rather than slip stitch) the binding to the backing.

jay1blue said

on 7/18/2008 Clear sequential directions. Excellent!!

wendy2 said

on 11/3/2007 Excellent detailed information and some great tips there too.http://baby-quilt-patterns.vox.com

Stitchingcow said

on 10/1/2007 When attaching the binding to your quilt it is much easier to use a "walking foot". This is a special foot for your sewing machine that helps to feed the thickness of the quilt through the machine. This prevents any puckering. In most cases you will need to buy this attachment because it is specilaized.
If you don't have a "walking foot" for your sewing machine the other alternative is to increase the stitch length. This can also help to prevent puckers.