Let’s talk about how to finish – or bind – a quilt. This is adding that final finished edge to cover the raw edges of the fabric and batting layers after the quilt has been quilted. One option is to roll over the back fabric edges and sew them to the front to finish that edge. I personally like the look of a separate binding – gives it a clean finish. It’s also a fun excuse to use another fabric and use it to finish off the final design. In this tutorial I’ll walk you through the process of finishing a quilt by sewing a separate binding to the outside edge. The best part? It’s so much easier that it looks!
How to Finish a Quilt, or Add a Binding
When I first learned to quilt, I was really nervous about learning to bind a quilt. Once I did learn how, I was amazed at how easy it was to make a really good looking binding. Now it’s one of my favorite parts of the quilting process.
Cutting the Fabric to Finish your Quilt:
I like to do a double binding on my quilts – meaning there are two layers to the binding edge. This gives the binding an extra layer of fabric to hold up against wear and tear.
To get this I typically cut my binding strips 2 ½″ wide. You can cut your strips across the width of the fabric yardage, or cut them on the bias, which means to cut them diagonally across the fabric.
There are pros and cons to both methods. Cutting straight-edge is easier with less fabric waste. Bias bindings are sturdier because the fabric edge is not on the straight of grain, which helps it not wear as fast. If you are going to have any kind of curved or scalloped edge to your quilt, you will need a bias binding.
I talk more about how to finish a quilt with a Bias Bindings in this post, including how to cut the bias binding strips, piece the strips together, and sew the binding to a quilt. I also show how to bind a quilt with rounded corners.
One determining factor for whether you cut straight edge or bias binding is the fabric itself. You may want to put a stripe or a gingham on the bias to make a diagonal design for the binding. The fabric I’m using for this quilt already had a diagonal motif, so I choose the straight edge to keep the diagonal design as is.
How to Finish a Quilt with a Straight Edge Binding
When cutting a straight edge binding (or any straight strips of fabric) before you cut, make sure your selvage edges line up straight with each other. This may require refolding the fabric and pressing a new center fold as the fabric may come off the bolt with the selvage edges not matched up.
The square off the end of the fabric so that you get a 90 degree angle from the fold to the edge of the width of the fabric.
To do this: line up the center fold on a straight line on your quilting mat. I like to put the side to be trimmed on the right side. This way I can use the straight bottom straight line on a cutting mat and the full width of my ruler to make sure I have a perfect 90 degree angle and a clean, square edge. Carefully trim the edge to create a straight edge and therefore, a straight strip of fabric.
(The reason this step is important, is that without a 90 degree again, you will end up with a V shaped strip.)
Flip the squared up edge to the far left of your cutting mat and use your ruler to measure the width of the binding strips.
I generally cut my binding strips 2 ½″ wide, unless it’s a small quilt when I might cut them 2 ¼″ wide.
Trim selvage edges off of all strips and sew them end to end with a ¼″ seam allowance to create one long strip.
Press connecting seams open (so you don’t have bulk) and then fold in half lengthwise and press.
Using a ruler and rotary cutter and the quilt top as a guide, trim the excess batting and backing layers for a clean, straight edge. s Be careful to keep the quilt’s sides square.
Pin the raw edges (non-folded-edge) to the raw outside edges of the quilt front. This is personal preference, but I like to pin the entire binding to the quilt before I sew it down. This helps keep the binding taught and prevents potential wavy quilt edges later.
How to Miter (or Mitre) Corners on a Quilt
When you come to the corner put a pin in the corner at a 45 degree angle.
Fold strip to the side at that same 45 degree angle.
Now fold the strip back on it self with the fold at the first edge of the quilt and matching up the binding edges to the edge of the second side of the quilt.
Place one more pin on the new side at a 45 degree angle. This will create a little triangle flap of fabric in the corner. Repeat at all four corners. When the strip gets back around to the beginning fold the ends down so that the strips meet-up. Press with your iron to make a crease at both folds.
Trim both ends to ¼″ away from the folds.
Remove pins, match up strips right sides together and sew ¼″ seam right on the pressed crease. Press seam open, refold strip and pin the joined binding to the quilt.
Sew binding in place using a ¼″ seam allowance. I highly recommend using a walking foot if you have one.
Sewing Mitered Corners
When you get to the corner keep flap down and sew until you are ¼″ away from the corner.
Lift the needle, but do not cut the thread. Rotate the quilt and flip the little triangle flap so that it lies the opposite direction.
Begin sewing next seam right at the edge of the last side. Repeat at all four corners.
When your binding is sewn to your quilt front fold the folded edge of the binding over to the back of the quilt and pin or clip in place. (I have finally started using Clover Wonder Clipswhich I really love – and so do the feet of my family members. Less worry about stray pins ending up in the carpet as I drag the quilt around to hand-quilt it.)
I suggest a matching thread (or a thread that blends well) and a sturdy needle. Hand binding goes much more quickly if you have a needle that is longer and heavier – and I can do it with out a thimble with a heavier needle too.
After putting a knot in the end of the thread, hide the knot at the edge of the quilt where the binding will fold over and hide it.
Bring the needle through the very bottom edge of the bias strip and tack it down on the backing fabric, right underneath where the needle came through.Then slide the needle through the backing fabric, behind the binding strip bringing the needle out the bottom edge again. This creates a blind stitch.
Repeat!
Finishing Mitered Corners When Binding a Quilt
Tacking down the mitered corners is even less intimidating than attaching the binding to the quilt in the first place. And they really do look so tidy and neat.
Continue blind stitching the folded binding edge to the back of the quilt until you get about ⅛th inch away from the edge.
Make a nice 45 degree crease in the binding at the corner and then fold it back over it self. Use a couple stitches to tack down the fold and then continue to blind stitch the remaining edges. Repeat at each corner.
That’s it. Honestly, it’s so much easier than it looks and once you get the hang of it, you can bind a quilt with out even thinking about it.
Personally, I really like binding a quilt by hand because not only does it create a clean, blind finish, but it’s also mindless sewing and pretty much the only time I sit down to watch a movie or TV.
But binding a quilt by machine can be efficient and look equally clean and tidy. For more tips and explanation I have a Machine Binding tutorial here. There is another great machine binding tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew.
Recommendations on Washing your Quilt:
I personally love to machine wash my machine-quilted-quilts when they are done because they soften up a lot and have a more loved, crinkly look. If you’ve used cotton battingthey are likely to shrink slightly more. (I don’t machine-wash hand quilted quilts as liberally.)
I wash the quilts on a gentle cycle with a very mild soap and dry on a low heat setting. If you’re at all worried about color bleeding, the first time you wash a quilt throw in a Shout Color Catcher (available in the laundry aisle at the grocery store). Remember from our discussion on choosing fabrics for quilts, if you’re using high-quality quilt fabrics, you should have very little worry about colors bleeding.
This post is sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing Machines. I bound this quilt with a Baby Lock Accomplish straight stitch machine which is a great way to get it done fast! If you’re interested in learning more about Straight Stitch Machines go here.
I have been a Baby Lock ambassador for over 6 years now and have loved every machine I’ve worked with. They also have machines simple or complex to fit your needs! You canfind your nearest Baby Lock dealer here. Baby GoHERE for tips for choosing the right sewing machine for you.
If you have any additional questions about how to finish a quilt, leave a comment and I will answer in them in the comments section below.
(To see the finished version of this patchwork quilt made from vintage sheets go here.)
Related
FAQs
Trim both ends to ¼″ away from the folds. Remove pins, match up strips right sides together and sew ¼″ seam right on the pressed crease. Press seam open, refold strip and pin the joined binding to the quilt. Sew binding in place using a ¼″ seam allowance.
Which one is the simplest way to finish your quilt? ›
No binding (pillowcase method).
This is the simplest way to finish your quilt. Instead of applying a binding, you simply sew around the edges of the quilt sandwich as if it were a giant pillowcase, leaving an opening on one side that's big enough to turn the “pillowcase” inside out.
Should I wash a quilt after finishing it? ›
Top Reasons To Wash:
wash because quilters love the crinkle after a wash and dry. wash so that new recipients don't think they ruined the quilt when they wash and dry [and the quilt crinkles]
Which one commonly used to finish the quilt edges? ›
French Fold Binding
Also known as double fold binding, this technique is the tried and true way to bind your quilt. You begin by taking fabric strips, typically at least 2.5” wide, and fold and press them lengthwise before sewing them around the quilt's edge.
What are the three layers in classic quilting? ›
A classic quilt is made up of three layers, the top layer is the decorative one, the second is your batting material and the final layer is the backing fabric- but you can be as creative as you like with the design.
What are the three layers in quilting? ›
Quilters call the process of assembling the three layers (quilt top, batting, and backing) as making a quilt "sandwich." It is best to assemble the layers on a large, flat surface where the entire quilt can be spread out.
Do you start in the middle when quilting? ›
Start quilting in the middle of the quilt and work your way out. This will eliminate pleats and puckering that may form if you try to work from one side to the other. Place the sandwich underneath the walking foot and hit the needle down button. Lock the stitch.
Which comes first quilting or binding? ›
Binding a Quilt: a Complete Tutorial. Binding a quilt is the final step in finishing. Before you bind, you need to somehow “quilt” your quilt. This means to attach the front and back, with batting in between.
What are the 4 basic types of quilting? ›
There are four basic types of quilting, though there are all sorts of patterns that use more than one of these techniques. Our four basic types of quilts are: Pieced, Appliquéd, Paper Pieced, and English Paper Pieced.
What is the difference between border and binding on a quilt? ›
A binding finishes the raw edges of a quilt. A quilt must have a binding to be complete. A border is part of the quilt top. It's an optional design element.
To start there is no binding on the finished piece. Instead the piece has been sewn together, all three layers then flipped so that everything is right side out and the opening that was left is sewn together by hand. Then the quilting is done. Follow these simple steps for this no binding flip and quilt technique.
Does binding on a quilt need to be on bias? ›
For a square quilt straight grain binding, meaning fabric strips cut cross grain or length-wise grain, will work well. If, however, you're binding a quilt with curved edges, you'll want to cut bias strips for your binding. The stretch in the bias makes it easier to maneuver the binding around the quilt's curved edges.
Which borders go on a quilt first? ›
Generally, the side borders are added first. Measure the length on each side, and also measure the center of the quilt. If the measurements differ, take an average of the three.
What order do you put borders on a quilt? ›
Borders are usually sewn to the two longest sides of the quilt first and then to the remaining two sides with the final two extending straight across the ends of the first border.
How do you make the perfect corners on a quilt? ›
How to make great binding corners
- Step 1: audition your binding placement. ...
- Step 2: attach the binding to your quilt. ...
- Step 3: flip and sew the corners. ...
- Step 4: join the binding ends. ...
- Step 5: trim the corners. ...
- Step 6: fold the corners in place and stitch the binding.
The best advice with quilts is to wash them only when necessary to prevent fading—usually not more than twice a year. Hand-washing with cold water and mild detergent is the preferred cleaning method since it is the gentlest; as a last resort, you can use a washing machine's delicate cycle using cold water.
Should you wash quilt in hot or cold water? ›
To wash your quilt, set the washer to a gentle, delicate cycle with cold water only. Add a dye- and perfume-free detergent. For bulkier blankets like quilts, recommended to use a large load capacity washing machine. If your quilt is a king size, use a large, front loading washing machine.
What is the original method of finishing seams and edges? ›
The seam is pressed to one side. Overcast Seam Finish: This is one of the original methods of finishing seams and edges, dating prior to the invention of the sewing machine.
What is the most important thing in quilting? ›
Thread choice is important for any quilting project, because it holds everything together. It's best to start with a simple, strong thread, and wait on specialty threads like metallic or monofilament thread (made for invisible stitching), which are more difficult to work with.
What is the golden ratio in quilting? ›
The ratio, in its simplest form, is 1.6 to 1. So if you are doing 3 quilt borders, each border should be 1.6 times larger than the previous one. For instance, if you want to add 3 borders totalling 8″ per side, the first border would be 1.5 inches.
“The Jane A. Stickle Quilt is probably one of the most famous quilts in America, if not the world.
What are the 5 kinds of quilting? ›
Let's take a look at some of the different quilting techniques.
- Hand Quilting. Hand quilting involves sewing the layers of the quilt using a needle and thread. ...
- Free Motion Quilting. ...
- Walking Foot Quilting. ...
- Trapunto. ...
- Longarm Quilting. ...
- Hand-Tie Quilting.
5" squares (sometimes called "Charm" squares or "Nickel" squares) are a versatile size of fabric for quilters to work with. United Notions markets their 5" squares under the term "Charm Pack" which contains 42 5" squares (or roughly 5/8 of a yard). TIP: 5" charms are easily sub cut into four 2.5" squares (mini-charms).
What makes a quilt Fluffy? ›
Loft is the density or 'fluffiness' of your quilt or doona. A thin quilt has a low loft and a thick quilt has a high loft. If you like fluffy and airy doonas, look for a higher loft.
Should I press my seams open when quilting? ›
Many quilters always press seams open, with good results. Press open when lots of seams come together in one spot, creating too much bulk. Quilt tops are flatter when seams are pressed open; that problem becomes more of an issue when using heavier fabrics such as flannel or denim.
Should I stitch in the ditch before quilting? ›
Stitching in the ditch between borders helps stabilize the fabric, maintaining straight lines and preventing distortion. If you choose to stitch the ditch, do it as the first step before adding any quilting design in the border or sashing.
Which side of the batting should face the quilt top? ›
Quilters who don't know about “up and down” often put the dirty side down, so that the seed flecks don't shadow through the quilt top. However, this is incorrect! The dirty side is actually the right side of Warm and Natural and should face up when layering the quilt.
How many layers should a quilt have? ›
Quilts generally consist of three layers: a pieced top, an insulating fabric, and backing fabric. A two-layer quilt can be made using something like fleece/minky to replace the insulation and backing fabrics.
What is the best filling for a quilt? ›
The classic quilt filling, feather and down provides plenty of warmth. Down provides the most insulation, while the feather provides weight. The most opulent quilts have a higher percentage of down to feather and are some of the warmest on the market.
What is the best stitch for quilting and why? ›
On some home décor projects especially, we recommend stitching a zig zag stitch between the raw edges and your seam to give your project an extra layer of security. And don't forget about the 3-step zig zag, or elastic stitch!
The quilt binding should just cover the stitching line. The binding should fold over neatly and completely cover the stitching line. Your next step is to whipstitch that binding into place. That extra ¼” of batting and backing will fill out the binding, providing a nice, firm edge.
Do all quilts need a border? ›
It's important to have borders that help keep your quilt square – otherwise your pieced top will be more difficult to 'quilt' and it will not lie flat – instead it will have little ripples in the edges of the quilt.
Should you wash a quilt before binding it? ›
Extensive machine quilting and dense stippling can significantly distort the shape of a quilt. Washing a quilt before applying the binding means that it can be blocked first – measured, squared, returned to its proper shape.
What size binding is best for a quilt? ›
The standard choice is 2 1/4″ or 2 1/2″ depending on how wide you want your finished binding to look. They are both attached in the same way. Consider the thickness or loft of your quilt as this will affect the finished look of the binding. I like a narrow look so I chose 2 1/4″.
How do I choose a quilt binding color? ›
Use the colour wheel or simple preference as your guide. Pick a colour not even in the quilt top but that coordinates nicely. Using the colour on the opposite side of the colour wheel is an excellent way to do this. For example, orange and blue.
Is bias tape the same as binding? ›
Bias binding and bias tape are interchangeable phrases for the same thing. Bias tape can be used to bind an edge, thereby finishing that edge. That's where the “binding” comes in. Bias tape can be easily made at home, or you can purchase it pre-made.
What does finishing a quilt mean? ›
Quilt Finishing is the process of completing the quilt by adding a finished edge and any other requirements based on the use of the quilt.
What do you say when signing a quilt? ›
Finishing Quilts – Labels
- The name of the quilt.
- The reason it was made – special occasion – holiday, graduation, wedding, birth, friendship,
- Topper's name.
- Quilter's name.
- Date and place where it was completed (or maybe even start date if you can remember that far back!)
- Care instructions.
Take your quilt to the blocking board and lay it out. Using a ruler, and starting in the middle of your quilt, line up one side of the quilt with the straight edge of the insulation foam so that the border is completely straight. Pin this side in place using strong pins placed every 3-5 inches.
Do you start binding on front or back of quilt first? ›
Traditionally, the binding is sewn to the front of the quilt and wrapped to the back and sewn down by hand (or machine). By starting on the back and wrapping to the front, you'll be able to do the final stitching by machine and it will look awesome (front and back.) I'll walk you through the steps below: 1.
Binding a Quilt: a Complete Tutorial. Binding a quilt is the final step in finishing. Before you bind, you need to somehow “quilt” your quilt. This means to attach the front and back, with batting in between.
What is the final stitching on a quilt called? ›
Bind- To bind a quilt is to sew the quilt's binding, typically the last step in sewing the quilt. See also: binding. Binding-The binding of the quilt finishes the edges with a seamed piece to smooth over raw edges of the quilt and hold the quilt top, batting, and backing together.
What are the 3 layers of a quilt called? ›
Quilters call the process of assembling the three layers (quilt top, batting, and backing) as making a quilt "sandwich." It is best to assemble the layers on a large, flat surface where the entire quilt can be spread out.
What is a good sentence for quilt? ›
The bed had a patchwork quilt on it. Those endless afternoons in beige hotel rooms with quilted stripy bed covers. The oven gloves and circular pot grab are made from printed cotton and quilted grey wool felt.
What do judges look for when judging a quilt? ›
They look at many things when evaluating a quilt—color, design, piecing accuracy and construction, binding, quilting density, design choice and execution, tension, thread choice, starts and stops, appliqué skill and more. However, judges don't have the luxury of studying your quilt for hours on end.
How do you wash a quilt so the colors don't bleed? ›
To stop quilting fabric from bleeding in your finished quilt, be sure to machine wash your fabric (sorted with like colors) and dry before cutting. Yes, that does mean you will have to iron or press your quilting fabrics as well!
which I really love – and so do the feet of my family members. Less worry about stray pins ending up in the carpet as I drag the quilt around to hand-quilt it.)
