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Preparing Quilt for Binding

When quilting is complete, stitch a scant 1/4˝ inside quilt raw edges, through all layers. Trim backing and batting even with the raw edge of quilt top, making sure corners are trimmed to an accurate 90º angle.

Making Quilt Binding Strips

Quilt binding can be cut on the bias or straight of grain. Use a continuous strip of bias for a quilt that will be used frequently or has scalloped edges and rounded corners. Refer to "How To Make Continuous Bias" for making continuous bias binding. For bias or straight-grain double-fold binding, cut 2 1/2" wide strips of fabric and fold in half, wrong sides together.

Joining Quilt Binding Strips

Sherri Bain Driver demonstrates how to join quilt binding strips using diagonal seams. No lumps, no bumps, just smooth, perfect quilt binding, ready to apply.

Sewing Binding to Quilt

Sew double-fold straight grain binding to your quilt for a classic finish. Sherri Bain Driver shares helpful tips and techniques, including mitering binding corners and joining binding ends.

Joining the Quilt Binding Ends

The quilt is nearly bound, but how do you smoothly join the beginning and ending binding tails? Watch Sherri Bain Driver’s quick guide to joining the ends of double-fold quilt binding.

Turning the Quilt Binding and Handstitching

Sherri Bain Driver shows a basic blind-stitching technique for securing the folded edge of double-fold binding to the quilt backing. Includes tips for finishing mitered corners of the binding.

Piped Binding

In response to questions below, our Associate Editor, Sherri Bain Driver, prepared the following:

There are several techniques for doing piped binding. The method I use has you stitching the covered yarn (I use perle cotton instead) directly to the binding, and then stitch that to the quilt.  When I join binding  ends on this type of piped binding, I unstitch a portion of the piping, pin it out of the way, and join binding ends just as these instructions say. Then I reconstruct that section of piping and sew it back onto the binding before finishing the binding. It’s kind of a long process, requiring leaving about 18” of the binding “talis” loose, but makes a lovely finish and camouflages the beginning and ending of the piped binding. I hope this helps!

USER COMMENTS

Kathy_Hannah

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Binding Repair

Hi Jamie - All you need to do is to carefully un-sew the old binding, and then sew on a new binding. You just have to take care not to rip or cut the quilt when you un-sew. - Kathy

Mar 28, 2011 at 08:54 AM

Jamie47

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binding repair

I made my first Quilt almost 30 years ago. Since I believe our things should be used, the binding is a bit tattered and worn. How should I repair or replace it.

Mar 27, 2011 at 11:53 PM

Kathy_Hannah

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Piped Binding

See Sherri's information above :)

Oct 19, 2010 at 08:53 AM

JoanneG1

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Piped binding

I'm having a difficult time joining the ends of binding with piping. I can do the flat binding shown above but can't get the piped binding to join flat. I've taken the yarn out of both sides to no avail. Help.

Oct 14, 2010 at 07:24 PM

kelleymac

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binding corners

Ok, I understand what you have posted, but I can NEVER get the corners right. How do you turn the corners and sew them on both sides?

Oct 06, 2010 at 10:07 AM

d71swin

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page three won't print

this is a very good lesson on binding and I would love to have a copy in my quilting info.folder , please tell me why page three won't copy. Thank you d71swin

Jun 04, 2010 at 07:11 PM

ConnieSue22

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Binding made easy!

This is absolutely the BEST explanation and illustration of how to join the ends of bias binding. I keep an extra copy with my quilting supplies for easy reference. I have also shared it with many friends.

May 21, 2010 at 11:29 AM

heels43

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Mitering corners with binding

This is the only instruction I could find using all search engines on my computer. The instructions are easy to understand and answered my questions exactly. This is definitely the best site for quilting instructions.

Oct 18, 2009 at 03:42 PM

granynix

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BINDING A QUILT INSTRUCTIONS

This was the Best & Simpliest instructions i've ever read to sew Bindings! Thank you so much for alleviating my dread of a task that I've dreaded for over a year now.....

Aug 04, 2009 at 02:06 PM