How to Bind a Quilt
1.
What is a Quilt binding? Because a quilt is layered with a top, batting and backing, it results in a layered raw edge around your quilt.
Quilt binding is a narrow length of fabric that wraps around these layers, giving the quilt a smooth finished edge.
2.
What kind of binding should you use.
Some of the fabric stores offer pre-made bindings, which are fine to use, but it is more economical to use your own fabric.
A quilt looks better if the binding is made from some of the fabrics that are used in the quilt top, or a coordinating fabric.
Some quilters like to use single layer fabric for their binding.
Most quilters use the double layer binding to finish the edge of their quilts.
3.
How to make your own binding.
Single layer binding is usually 1 1/4"fabric cut on the width of yardage.
Double layer binding is usually 2 ¼"fabric also cut on the width of yardage, these strips are sewn together folded and pressed in half the length of the strip.
Bias binding is binding that is cut on the bias of the fabric, this binding is used mostly on quilted items that have a curved edge, the stretchy bias binding makes it easier to mold to the curved edge.
4.
How much binding do you need for your quilt.
Measure your quilt, length and width, add these dimensions together and multiply this sum by 2, will get you the length you need.
Then divide this sum by the width of your fabric, (I round off to 40") this total tells you how many strips you will need, then multiplying by width of your binding gives you the amount of fabric you need.
An example: Your quilt is 50"long by 50" wide.
50+50=100x2=200, 200 divided by (40") =5 strips needed to bind your quilt.
If using a double fold of fabric 2 ¼" x 5strips = 11 ¼" of 44" fabric.
5.
Attaching binding to the quilt.
As with all patchwork, the ¼" seam is used to attach the binding to your quilt.
Once you have attached the binding all around the quilt, join the tail ends of the binding, finish stitching it to the quilt, then fold the binding over the edge of the quilt and press with your iron as you go.
Stitch the binding on the back side of the quilt by hand for a neat finished look.
What is a Quilt binding? Because a quilt is layered with a top, batting and backing, it results in a layered raw edge around your quilt.
Quilt binding is a narrow length of fabric that wraps around these layers, giving the quilt a smooth finished edge.
2.
What kind of binding should you use.
Some of the fabric stores offer pre-made bindings, which are fine to use, but it is more economical to use your own fabric.
A quilt looks better if the binding is made from some of the fabrics that are used in the quilt top, or a coordinating fabric.
Some quilters like to use single layer fabric for their binding.
Most quilters use the double layer binding to finish the edge of their quilts.
3.
How to make your own binding.
Single layer binding is usually 1 1/4"fabric cut on the width of yardage.
Double layer binding is usually 2 ¼"fabric also cut on the width of yardage, these strips are sewn together folded and pressed in half the length of the strip.
Bias binding is binding that is cut on the bias of the fabric, this binding is used mostly on quilted items that have a curved edge, the stretchy bias binding makes it easier to mold to the curved edge.
4.
How much binding do you need for your quilt.
Measure your quilt, length and width, add these dimensions together and multiply this sum by 2, will get you the length you need.
Then divide this sum by the width of your fabric, (I round off to 40") this total tells you how many strips you will need, then multiplying by width of your binding gives you the amount of fabric you need.
An example: Your quilt is 50"long by 50" wide.
50+50=100x2=200, 200 divided by (40") =5 strips needed to bind your quilt.
If using a double fold of fabric 2 ¼" x 5strips = 11 ¼" of 44" fabric.
5.
Attaching binding to the quilt.
As with all patchwork, the ¼" seam is used to attach the binding to your quilt.
Once you have attached the binding all around the quilt, join the tail ends of the binding, finish stitching it to the quilt, then fold the binding over the edge of the quilt and press with your iron as you go.
Stitch the binding on the back side of the quilt by hand for a neat finished look.
