Beginner Quilt Series Part 4: Binding Your Quilt

This is the last step of our quilt-a-long! If you’re new here, we’ve been working on a beginner-friendly series on making a scrap quilt from start to finish. So be sure and click the intro link below and start from the beginning. Today in Part 4, I’ll teach you how to make and attach a quilt binding.

Introduction

Part 1: Making the Blocks

Part 2: Putting the Top Together

Part 3: Making the Quilt Sandwich

Let’s get to it!

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At this point you should have a finished, quilted, and trimmed quilt sandwich, ready to be neatly bound. First you need to actually make the binding. You can choose one fabric, or do what I did and piece several fabrics together. I decided to gather all the black and white prints I had and cut my strips from those, creating a pieced together binding.

You’re going to use your rotary cutter and mat to cut 2 1/4” strips from these pieces. If you need a refresher on how to use a rotary cutter and mat, here is the video I created recently on how to do that.

A more mathy person might figure out exactly how many strips of what sizes they’ll need to go all the way around, but I just cut what feels like plenty. If I don’t have enough, I’ll cut some more, ha! Once you’ve cut plenty of strips, you’ll need to sew them together end to end to make one long binding strip.

There are two ways to do this. The more traditional method is to sew them together with a diagonal line of stitching. This creates less bulk and helps the seams to visually disappear. When I use a single fabric to bind a quilt, this is the way I choose. If you do it this way, position the ends of your strips as shown below and sew along that yellow chalk line. Then trim away the triangle. Opened up, you should have a straight strip.

The other way, and the way I’ve chosen to do mine in this case, is to just sew them together with straight lines, end to end. For some reason, I feel like on a quilt so full of straight lines and with a pieced together binding, the straight joints lend a more modern looks, while diagonal ones distract. Call me crazy.

So, I’ve sewn my strips together into one long binding piece. Here is my very scientific method of making sure it’s long enough:

I simply lay my quilt out on the floor and place my binding around the perimeter, pooling several inches at the corners. If it doesn’t quite make it, add more strips.

Next, you need to press the strip in half lengthwise, so your binding then looks like this:

Now you’re ready to sew it on!

Choose a spot at the bottom of your quilt. Starting with one end of your binding, line your binding’s raw edge up with the quilt’s raw edge. Don’t start sewing right at the edge of your binding, though. Start about 7” from the end of your binding. Those 7” will get sewn at the end. Don’t bother pinning your entire binding on to your quilt. You’ll just use your hands to line it up as you go. An added note: you will likely still need to be sewing with your walking foot.

Sew your binding on using a 1/4” seam until you get to a corner. Stop and backstitch when you’re 1/4” away form the end. I stick a pin in my quilt sandwich right there so I can see where I’m going to stop. Remove the quilt from the machine.

To create a nice corner, turn the binding up at a 45 degree angle, then back down on itself, creating a folded edge that lines up with the top edge of the quilt. See the photos below for a visual of these steps. Then you’re going to start sewing right at the edge (backstitch) and keep attaching your binding until the next corner.

When you get all the way around to the bottom edge, stop sewing when you’re about 7” away from where your original binding piece begins. Those ends need sewn together before you can finish sewing the binding on.

Figure out where the two ends need sewn together and mark that spot. I usually just crease it real good on both sides. Open the binding up and pin the two ends right sides together, then sew along that pressed line. Trim away the excess, then refold your binding. It should now fit perfectly in the unsewn space on your quilt’s edge. Finish sewing that section of binding on to your quilt and you’re done!

We’re on the final step!! This is one I thought would be much easier to show you with a video, so here is a quick video on how to hand stitch the binding onto the back of your quilt. I choose hand stitching because I think it looks so nice! There are plenty of people who just put it under the machine to finish the binding, but I’ve never been satisfied with the imperfections that creates on the back of the quilt I just worked so hard on. Plus, once you get going, it really doesn’t take that long, especially if you do it while watching a movie ;)

Here are the clips I mention in this video. They will prevent lots and lots of pin stabs and you’ll find endless uses for them in your sewing room.

To get that cuddly, crinkly soft feeling that handmade quilts are famous for, wash and dry your finished quilt! Getting a just made quilt out of the dryer is one of the best things ever. Seriously.

I hope this series has given you confidence to try quilting, or just the inspiration to get out some scraps and start a therapy project! If you’re ready to start another quilt, I have another recent tutorial on how I made this amazing color block quilt for my daughter’s birthday.

I you made a quilt with this tutorial, or even just a few blocks so far, I would absolutely love to see it!! Please send my photos, or tag/message me on Instagram and show me. That would really make my day :)

I’ve already used this quilt daily since I made it. I realized it’s been many years since I’ve made a quilt for myself. The last several have been for my kids or for family members. I already had to rescue this quilt from my daughter’s room, ha! There’s just something about a new quilt.

Here are the rest of the posts in the series!

Introduction

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4