How to Sew on Blanket Binding & Miter the Corners
Whether you make an intricate blanket or a simple throw,, binding will finish the blanket in simple and beautiful style. Blanket binding comes readymade and folded, which enables you to sew it around the outside edges of your blanket to finish the raw edges. If you take the time to miter the corners, your blanket will look especially professional and attractive.
Things You'll Need
- Unfinished blanket
- Tape measure
- Blanket binding (enough to go around the entire blanket edge)
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread
Instructions
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1
Measure around the outside perimeter of the blanket and add 10 inches to this measurement.
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2
Cut the blanket binding to the measurement from Step 1.
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3
Lay out the blanket on a work surface with the top facing up. Place the blanket binding on top of the blanket with the narrow half of the blanket binding facing up. Fold the end of the blanket binding over half-inch to conceal the raw edge of the blanket binding. Match up the raw edge of the blanket with the raw edge of the blanket binding.
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4
Begin stitching the blanket binding to the blanket edge using a half-inch seam allowance (starting by stitching down the half-inch fold you made in Step 3). Start your stitching approximately halfway down the side of the blanket and stitch until you reach 1 inch from the corner. Stop stitching and remove the blanket and binding from the sewing machine.
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5
Fold the blanket binding into a mitered corner by creating a diagonal pleat that extends up from the corner of the blanket. As you turn the corner with the blanket binding, fold the binding over onto itself; this will create the diagonal pleat. Adjust the blanket binding to continue stitching around the corner and down the second side of the blanket. Pin the mitered corner to hold it.
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6
Place the blanket back into the sewing machine and begin stitching again where you stopped. Your stitching will create a 90-degree corner in the blanket. Continue sewing along the entire edge of the blanket until you reach 1 inch from the next corner. Stop stitching and remove the blanket and blanket binding from the sewing machine.
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7
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to miter the remaining three corners, and stitch the remaining sides.
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8
Cut the binding so it is approximately 1 inch longer than is necessary to bind the blanket. Fold this excess over onto itself to conceal the raw edge, and stitch over the fold to secure it. This will make folded edges of the blanket binding at both the beginning and ending points of the blanket binding.
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9
Fold the binding over the edge of the blanket to the back of the blanket. Turn the blanket over and pin the blanket binding in place around the entire edge of the blanket. Fold each corner using the technique described in Step 5. Pin the folded mitered corners to secure them.
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10
Stitch the binding in place on the back of the blanket. Begin stitching at a halfway point between two corners. Because you already have the corners folded into a mitered diagonal fold, stitch until you reach the corner point, and then pivot the blanket 90 degrees to turn the corner. Continue sewing down this side of the blanket until you reach the next corner. Sew all corners and sides in the same fashion.
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