Binding Tutorial

Binding the raw edges of your finished piece is the final stage, where the active process of machine sewing the binding to the quilt followed by the passive and reflective process of hand sewing bring closure to your work.

First you must choose the fabric you will use for your binding.   It is likely you will need more than one strip so cut enough 2-1/2" strips, that when sewn together, will make a strip long enough to go completely around your quilt.

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​​You will need to sew these strips together.  It is best to sew them on the diagonal so they don't cause lumps in the side of your piece.  

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  ​ Chain Piece your strips.

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Cut the excess 1/4 inch away from the seam stitching..

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Press the seam to one side.

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​Fold the binding strip in half, wrong sides together, and press.  You will have a long 1-1/4" strip.

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​Trim your quilt sandwich so the edges are straight.

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​Match the raw edges of the folded 1-1/4" strip to the raw edge of the quilt top. 
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Leave about 12" of the strip loose. 

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 Using a 1/4" seam sew the binding strip to the quilt top. I use my walking foot for this step.

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​Stop when you get 1/4" from the end of the quilt top, at the corner.
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Backstitch to secure the seam.  Cut the thread.

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​Turn your quilt around as shown in the picture below.  
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Fold the binding so you have a 45 degree angle as shown below.

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Fold the binding down and match the raw edges again as shown below. ​

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​Using a back stitch to secure the seam, begin at the top of the quilt/binding and sew to 1/4" before the next corner.

​Follow the same procedure to turn each corner.

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Leave a 12 inch unsewn opening between the beginning and end of your binding
  
You should have 12 inches of unsewn binding strip at each end.

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Open your binding and using a small ruler and mat, make a 45 degree diagonal cut on one side of the binding strip.

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Lay your small cutting board on top of the quilt where you are cutting your binding strips.  Put the the uncut binding strip on top of the board and then lay the cut strip on top of the uncut strip.  using your small ruler, measure 1/2 inch from the top edge of the diagonal strip and mark the uncut strip.

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Move the cut strip out of the way.  Using the marking as a reference point, lay your small square on the uncut strip.  Be sure your cutting the diagonal the right way.  I've made this mistake.

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After your two sides are cut,  sew your binding pieces together.  Having a large opening helps with this step.  Twelve inches is a bare minimum.  

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Sew the binding onto the quilt.

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 Press the binding away from your quilt top.

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 Turn your work over and press the binding so it covers the seam on the back side.

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 Press your binding all the way to the end of the corner so you can make a crisp corner.

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 Fold he binding at the corner so you have a 45 degree angle at the back of the piece.

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Hand sew the binding at the back using a blind stitch.

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Sit back and admire and enjoy your lovely finished project.

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