How to Make Binding for a Chenille Throw

A highly textured chenille blanket with polka dot binding.

Most chenille throw blankets are finished with a satin fabric binding. Why settle for the ordinary when you can make your very own custom binding out of any fabric or scraps you may have lying around? Sewing the binding is easy but time consuming. Attaching the binding is even easier but requires some patience on the part of the sewer.

Things You'll Need

• Strips of fabric
• Pins
• Measuring tape
• Sewing machine
• needle and thread (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Measure the sides of your throw blanket. Make a note of these measurements.

2. 

   Use the measurements obtained in Step 1 as the total length of binding needed. Cut rectangles that are equal to these measurements in length and approximately 4 inches in width. At the end of this step, you will have four strips of fabric. Each strip will match the length of one side the blanket, and be 4 inches wide. Note: See the mitered corners step before you cut, in case you want to add these corners.

3. Fold under 1/2 inch of the fabric all along one edge. Pin the unfolded edges of the length-wise side of the rectangles onto the wrong, or back, side of the fabric.

4. Use your sewing machine or needle and thread to sew down these edges. Repeat steps three and four for each of the strips of fabric.

5. 

   Fold the folded edge of the binding toward the front of the blanket. Pin the binding to the top of the blanket, so that the already sewn edges, or wrong sides, are facing downwards, towards the blanket. No raw edges will show this way.

   Use your sewing machine or needle and thread to sew the binding to the blanket. Make sure to catch the top layer of binding, the blanket itself, and the bottom layer of binding with each stitch as you sew, so that the blanket is securely sandwiched between the binding.

6. 

   To make optional mitered, or triangular, corners, add an extra 1 inch to the length of your fabric strips. As you come to a corner, pinch a small piece of binding diagonally, and sew the excess down.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the longest stitch setting on your sewing machine and a needle specifically manufactured to handle bulky knit fabrics.

References

• Crazy Mom Quilts - A Binding Tutorial
• Wrights Classroom - Sewing - Applying Blanket Binding