How to Use Satin Blanket Binding

Keep your pins handy when applying satin blanket binding.

Rubbing the smooth satin at the edge of a special blanket has help soothe many a child at bedtime. Satin blanket binding provides a smooth 2-inch border to finish either the four raw edges of a quilt or blanket, or the top and bottom of a woven blanket. Standard satin blanket binding is generally 100% polyester and sold pre-folded--with 2 inches on each side of the fold--and comes in packages of about 4 yards each. Narrow satin bindings, as well as those printed with patterns, are also available.

Things You'll Need

• Pins
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Iron
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Top and Bottom Edge Bindings

1. 

   Ironing will help keep fabric in place.

   Unfold the end of the binding and measure over 1 inch from its raw edge. Mark with a pencil on the wrong side of the binding. Fold over toward the wrong side of the binding and press with your iron 1 inch from the raw edge. Refold along the original crease and press the 1-inch fold into place so the raw edge is tucked inside the folded binding.

2. Slip the raw edge of one corner of the blanket material into the pocket you just created in the binding. The corner of the blanket should be enclosed by the 1-inch fold made in the edge of the binding on the selvage edge and by the crease in the center of the blanket binding along the raw edge. Pin the binding in place at the corner. According to manufacturer Wrights Products, the upper edge of the binding should be about 1 inch above the edge of the blanket material.

3. Pin the binding in place all the way along the top of the blanket. Keep the pins perpendicular to the edge of the binding so they can move easily through the sewing machine. Make sure the binding is even all the way along.

4. Stop pinning about 3 inches before the end of the top edge of the blanket. Cut the binding with your scissors, leaving 1 inch excess beyond the edge of the blanket. Open out the end of the binding. Fold the 1-inch excess over toward the front side of the blanket and smooth it across with your finger. Close the binding. The corner edge of the blanket should be totally enclosed in satin binding. Pin in place.

5. Put the pinned edge in your sewing machine. Sew with a straight stitch if the edge of the blanket binding is woven. Use a zigzag stitch if it is not. In either case, sew as close to the bottom edge of the binding as possible. Make sure your stitches are catching the binding on the front and back of the blanket.

6. Repeat the process for the bottom edge of the blanket.

Whole-blanket Binding

1. Fold and press the raw edge of the satin blanket binding and pin along the upper edge of the blanket in the same manner as for top- and bottom-edge binding.

2. Stop pinning at the end of the upper edge of the blanket fabric. Open up the crease in the binding. Turn the corner, bring the binding down to the next blanket edge. Re-crease the binding, pressing the little triangles that form (on both sides of the blanket) inside the binding to create neat mitered corners.

3. Pin the corners in place. Continue pinning along the edges and making mitered corners until you reach your starting point. Cut off the binding, leaving 2 inches excess. Make one last mitered corner and pin into place.

4. Put the blanket into the sewing machine and stitch all the way around, as close to the edge of the binding as possible. Stitch down the folds at each mitered corner as well.

Tips & Warnings

• To join an additional piece of blanket binding to your binding, lay the two ends with right sides together. Draw a diagonal line and stitch along the line. Trim, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance, and press.

References

• Wrights Products: Packaged Products Glossary
• Sewing: Baby Blanket with Satin Trim