How to Attach Binding to Blanket Edges
Attaching binding to a blanket intimidates some beginning sewers. Too many unfinished blanket projects sit in a closet because a sewer lacked the know-how to attach the binding. Creating a polished finish to a blanket is within range for any sewer. Simple steps lay between you and your nearly complete blanket.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Binding
- Sewing pins
- Thread matching binding color
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Measure the entire perimeter of the blanket before sewing. Add 10 extra inches to the total measurement. The perimeter equals the length of the blanket's four sides added together. If, for instance, the blanket measures 6 feet long by 4 feet wide, the perimeter will equal 6 + 4 + 6 + 4.
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2
Work with one long strip of binding fabric. If the binding comes in smaller increments than the total length you require, sew the strips together. In Step 1, the blanket's perimeter equals 20 feet. The length of binding strip needed, for this example, is a continuous 20 feet, plus the additional 10 inches.
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3
Fold the entire strip of binding in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing inward as you prepare the strip to slip over the blanket's edge. Iron the binding on a low to medium setting, especially if using a satin binding strip.
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4
Choose the middle point on one of the blanket's longest sides. Fold one of the strip's ends under 1/2 inch to hide the raw edge of the binding. Pin the binding's folded end to the blanket's middle point. Begin aligning the binding with the edge closely. Smooth any wrinkles in both the binding and blanket as you go. Pin the two together. Stop pinning when reaching the first corner.
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5
At the corner, fold the binding at a 45-degree angle toward the direction of the blanket. The binding will fold backward. Place a pin on the fabric to hold the fold in place. Fold the binding, again, at a 45-degree angle, away from the blanket and over the other fold. Adjust the corner until there's a folded line sitting diagonal on the corner. Pin the corner. Continue pinning the binding to the blanket in this manner until reaching your starting point. Fold the end 1/2 inch under, as you did in the beginning, and overlap this end over the binding's beginning fold. Pin in place.
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6
Place the blanket and pinned binding under the sewing machine's presser foot at the binding's overlapped ends. Adjust the blanket until the needle is set, on the binding, 1/4 inch from where the binding and blanket meet (sew along the binding's edge facing the blanket's center). Sew a straight line on this inner edge of the binding until reaching the starting point. Remove pins as you sew. Sew a few stitches backward and forward to anchor the thread before removing the blanket from the machine. Trim any threads.
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Tips & Warnings
For a neatly sewn corner, leave the needle deeply anchored in the material and lift the presser foot. Turn the blanket until the needle is facing the next side to sew. Lower the presser foot and sew until the next corner.
