How to Make Quilt Binding; Tips and Tricks

How to Make Quilt Binding Tips and Tricks

Adding the quilt binding is the final step in a beautiful handmade quilt. This is the final touch that really makes your quilt beautiful. This post will tell you everything you need to know for how to make quilt binding and successfully attach it to your quilt. I will also show you how to add a mitered corner to your quilt. Here is how to make quilt binding.

How to Make Quilt Binding Tips and Tricks

For all of my favorite quilting and binding supplies including the mini wonder clips used in this post click HERE.

What is binding for sewing?

Binding is used to cover the raw edges of a project. It is most frequently used for quilts, aprons, and other garments. It can be used in many different sewing applications. I have also seen binding used inside zipper pouches or bags to enclose the raw seams.

What is binding on a quilt?

Binding on a quilt is the border that covers the edges of a quilt. It is frequently a different color than the quilt itself and it wraps from the front of the quilt to the back of the quilt around the entire edge of the quilt.

The binding is used to enclose the raw edges left from making a quilt sandwich. It encloses the two layers of fabric as well as the batting. It is often puffy and has a bit of thickness since it has all these layers of the sandwich enclosed within it.

How wide do you cut binding for a quilt?

There is not a firm number that you must always use when cutting quilt binding. You can cut your binding in varying widths depending on the finished look you are going for. It also depends on the method you use to attach your method. I know that answer is annoying so here is an answer you can actually use.

I cut my binding strips 2″ wide. That gives me a thing binding on both the front and back of my quilt or project when I am finished. I would not suggest cutting your binding any thinner than 2″ with this method. You could cut it wider if you want a thicker border.

How to make bias binding for a quilt?

Bias binding is very similar to the binding shown above. The difference between bias binding and straight binding is that the bias binding is cut on a bias. Ok that isn’t that helpful. Bias binding is cut on a diagonal. Fabric cut on the bias has more stretch to it than fabric cut in a straight line.

Bias binding is best for adding to a curved edge. If you are using binding for a garment or a round project like a potholder I recommend using bias binding. I rarely use bias binding for a quilt simply because it is more time consuming to cut.

Check out this awesome video showing a great binding making tip.

How do you join bias binding?

You will need to join strips of binding to create enough binding for an entire quilt. Bias binding and straight binding can be joined in the same way.

I frequently use plain white or solid fabric for binding but you can also use any pattern, stripes are a popular binding choice.

**TRICK: Lie your strips of fabric out flat and mark each end with an x with a pencil. (If you are using fabric that has pattern to it you won’t need to mark the fabric.) This will save you from accidentally sewing the wrong sides together and having to rip the seams and start fresh.

Place two strips together with the x’s facing each other. The strips should be perpendicular to each other (they should form a big L.) Sew diagonally from the top corner to the corner of the strip underneath. Then grab your next strip and line it up with the other edge of the strip you just attached. Continue this until you have attached all your strips together. Do not sew the first and last strip together making a closed piece, leave them un-sewn. Clip the corners (as pictured below.)

Press the seams open.

This is what the front should look like.

How do you sew on a blanket binding?

There are several ways to finish the binding once you have attached the strips together. I will show you my preferred method.

Press your entire long strip of binding in half.

I like to roll it as I press it to keep it clean and orderly. Line the raw edge of the binding up with the raw edge of the quilt. I like to start at the bottom of the quilt. You won’t sew the first 6″ of binding, leave this open so you can tuck the end of the binding into this pocket when you make your way all the way around. Sew the binding using 1/4″ seam.

How do you make a mitered corner?

Stop sewing 1/4″ from the bottom edge of the quilt. Lift your foot and turn the quilt, then sew on a diagonal off the edge of the binding.

Now fold the binding over creating a diagonal fold.

Holding the diagonal fold firmly in place fold the binding back over again lining up the raw edges. Now you will be ready to sew along the next side of the quilt. Start sewing again using 1/4″ seam. Start directly on the corner.

Continue in this method until you have gone all the way around the blanket. Trim the binding so that it fits nicely into the pocket you created when you started. Fold the edge of the first piece of binding under so that it is not a raw edge. Clip everything in place and then sew.

The last step is to bring your binding around to the front of the quilt and start clipping it in place. You can press the binding as you clip to help it lie flat on the front of your quilt.

The corner should fold nicely into a mitered edge. Again press and clip in place.

Need some quilt ideas? Here ya go —> Quilts and Blocks

Sew the binding in place. Many people like to hand sew this part of the binding. It leaves a nice clean finished look without and seams showing. I am not one of those people! My favorite method is to use a multi stitch zig zag to attach the edge of the binding to the front of the quilt. This encloses the edge very nicely and adds a fun decorative touch to the binding. You could also use a straight stitch on the very edge of the binding.