Connecting Quilt Binding
- Ann Skaehill
- Jul 27, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Connecting your quilt binding doesn't have to be so hard. This short video shows how I connect mine. View the photos below to see it all step by step,
Step 1: Begin by giving yourself plenty of space to work between the beginning and the end of your sewn-on binding. Here I have given myself about 16" of space with plenty of length of my binding tails on both sides.
Step 2: Use a leftover binding scrap or cut off about 3-5" of excess binding and set it down open and perpendicular to your quilt edge. The binding scrap needs to be the same width as the binding you're using on your quilt. Here I'm using a 2 1/2" binding.
Step 3: Bring the left binding strip over the top of the red binding scrap and trim it flush with the right edge of the scrap.
Step 4: Repeat step 3 by bringing the right binding strip over the top of the red scrap. In the photo you can see the trimmed left side binding sitting just underneath the right strip that is still in my hand.
Step 5: Using scissors, trim the right binding strip to match the left edge of the red scrap. Now your gray binding is overlapping by exactly 2 1/2".
Step 6: Grab some pins and a few sewing clips.
Step 7: Bunch up the quilt so that you have more room to work with your two binding strips. We are going to connect them Right Sides Together (RST) just like you did when you made your binding before sewing it to your quilt.
TIP: When matching your corners RST the outside of the folded edges will be facing each other. You should see the INSIDE of the fold in your hand.
Step 8: Use the sewing clips to hold your bunched up quilt out of the way for easier sewing. Below you can see how to properly place your pins to allow for perfect corner-to-corner sewing. You can also see that both creased edges are facing each other which means we properly placed our binding RST.
Sew between the pins using a short stitch. I like to use a 2.0 stitch length when connecting binding strips.
Step 9: This is an important step! Pull out the pins and all the clips to ensure you've connected your binding strips properly BEFORE you cut off the corner outside of your sewn seam. There should be no pulling on the quilt in either direction. The bottom of your binding should lie perfectly flat against your quilt edge.
Once you can see that all is well and you do a little happy dance that you NAILED IT, use a ruler and rotary trimmer to trim away the outside corner of the joined binding strips. It's perfectly acceptable to use scissors here as well. No matter what blade you're using, ensure you keep a 1/4" away from the sewn seam.
Step 10: Go back to the sewing machine and use a backstitch where you begin. Use your fingers to ensure everything is nice and flat in that newly conjoined seam and sew it to your quilt using a quarter-inch seam.
Step 11: Lay the quilt edge on a flat surface, take a picture and post that sucker on Instagram because you DID IT! Your quilt is flat, nothing is pulling, and you perfectly joined your binding and finished sewing it to your quilt! If you used my tips to help you connect your binding, tag me in your post! I want to celebrate with you!
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