How to Finish a Binding Strip on a Quilt

A quilt binding is the material that finishes off the edges of a finished quilt. Make quilt binding with matching or coordinating material to finish off your handmade quilt. Make your binding thick or thin depending on your preference. Use multiple layers of material to make a thick quilt binding that can last through the years.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Iron
• Ironing board

1. Measure the length of the binding. Determine if you have a long enough piece to go around the entire edge of the quilt. Sew on additional strips if your binding is not long enough.

2. Use sewing scissors to trim excess thread from all of the seams. Cut excess thread from the entire length of the binding.

3. Preheat your iron to the proper setting for the type of material you are using. Press the entire length of binding flat, ironing out all wrinkles. Look for loose threads as you press the strip, and cut them off as you see them.

4. Iron each seam flat. Separate the material left for the seam allowance, and press the seam open. Continue this process until all the seams are pressed open.

5. Determine which end of the binding you will attach to the quilt first. Fold the right corner of the strip over to the left side so that the end of the strip is formed into a triangle. Iron the corner flat.

6. Begin folding the binding in half widthwise. Fold small sections at a time, and press them flat. Continue to do this until the entire length of binding is ironed in half.

7. Open the binding up. Fold one edge in so that the edge meets the center crease. Press and fold the entire edge over. Repeat this on the opposite side. Fold the binding in half so that only the finished edges show. Attach the binding to the quilt.