How to Bind A Quilt
- Maggie Reno
- Jul 19, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 20
Here are the instructions for binding a quilt.
If the quilt is bulky with double batting or minky backing, I recommend serging the entire edge of the quilt before adding binding. It smooths out the edges, flattens the bulk and makes it much easier to wrap the binding around.
Piece all the strips together by laying them RST and aligning ends on the perpendicular. Mark from top inside corner to top outside corner. Here you can see how I leave the selvage edge out of the seams.
Sew along the marked line.
Trim the seams to 1/4" and press open.
Fold the strip in half, right side out and press along the entire length of the binding.
Mark a 12" gap on the edge of the quilt.
Align the raw edges of the binding to the edge of the front side of the quilt, leaving a 10" long tail of binding above one of the marks. (Pin or attach binding as desired.)
Sew the binding to the front of the quilt at 1/4" from the edge. (When the quilt is not as bulky and there is not piecing that would lose points in the seams, I will often do a 3/8" seam allowance instead, giving the front side of the quilt a little bit wider of binding.)
At each corner stop 1/4" (or the width of your seam allowance) from the end, pivot and sew directly out to the corner.
Fold the binding out away from the quilt and then back over itself as shown.
Sew from the edge of the quilt along the next side. Continue around the entire quilt, sewing down each side and repeat the last steps on every corner. When you reach the 12" gap, end your sewing.
Line up the binding tails flat over the rest of the gap. Trim the first side to mid-way in the gap, making sure the other side overlaps that far. If not, adjust to closer to the other side.
Using either a ruler the width of the binding or an unfolded piece of the binding as a guide, overlap the two pieces and cut the second side on the opposite side of the ruler or binding 1/8" less than the width of the binding. Taking off 1/8" extra ensures you don't have too much binding to ease in.
Unfold. Right sides together, sew the diagonal from one corner to the other as show.
Check before trimming the seam by folding the binding and making sure it lays flat over the gap. If not unpick and adjust. If yes, trim the seam to 1/4", press open, and refold the binding.
Sew the remaining binding to the edge of the quilt.
Trim the corners at a 45 degree angle, avoiding cutting the seams, to make less bulk for folding over the binding corners.
Press the binding flat and outwards on the front side of the quilt.
Wrap the binding around the quilt sandwich. Pin or secure as desired. Take care to fold over the corners, layering the opposite direction as on the front of the quilt to reduce bulk in the corners.
Sew down the binding to the backing. Here are three common methods for sewing binding down.
1. Hidden Hand Stitching: Use either a Ladder or Blanket stitch to secure the binding.
2. Visible Hand stitching: Use a hand quilting stitch along the edge of the binding using a heavier thread intentionally leaving it visible.
3. Machine Stiching: On the front of the quilt, stitch in the ditch along the edge of the binding, making sure it is catching the binding in the back. This works best with 2.5" binding and a 1/4" seam allowance when the binding is sewn on. Many quilters glue the binding to the back and press it into place before sewing. *Note that many who choose to machine sew the binding often sew the binding to the back of the quilt first and then stitch along the edge of the binding on the front. That way there is no stress about making sure the binding on the opposite side is caught in the seam.
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