How To Choose Binding For Your Quilt

The final step of constructing a quilt is adding the binding.

Binding is the fabric that's used to cover the raw edges of a quilt after it's quilted, one of the last steps before you can finally say it's finished.

Quilt binding can be narrow or wide, depending on the look you're trying to achieve. You can bind with a fabric that's already in the quilt or you can choose something new. Binding can be made from a single layer of fabric, but two layers are lots more more durable.

Which Fabric Grain Is Best for Binding?
Lengthwise grain strips have threads that tend to run fairly straight along their length, ending up parallel to the edges of the quilt. If a single thread becomes weakened and breaks, it could split the binding along one entire side of the quilt, traveling as far as the weakened thread travels.

That scenario is most likely to be a problem for quilts that are used and laundered, both actions that make the raw edges under the binding rub against it abrasively.

Crosswise grain fabric strips are a good choice for binding. The grain isn't usually perfectly straight, so there's less risk that a split would damage an entire side -- it would be more likely to travel a short distance then stop when it butts into the quilt's front or back. Crosswise strips are also stretchy enough to wind around large curves along a quilt's exterior.

The grain in bias binding strips runs at an angle, so it moves from front to back after the binding is sewn to the quilt. A split would affect a fairly small area of the quilt's edge, giving you more time to make repairs.

Stretchy bias strips are the best choice for binding tight curves and deep angles, but crosswise binding is perfectly fine for most quilts.

About binding on your quilt.

Once you finish your quilt, you'll need to put binding on it, and often the first question is whether to use single fold or double fold binding.
On the surface of it, this should be a simple question to answer.
Why use two layers of fabric when one should be enough?
And, that is a really good question.
The answer may not be so easy, however.
The first real question is how will your quilt be used when it is finished?
If it will be a wall hanging and not be dragged around the house by a loving child or thrown over a couch and snuggled with, single fold binding will probably be fine.
However, if your quilt will be used quite a bit, then you will probably want to used double fold binding.

For illustrated instruction on how to bind a quilt, Watch these videos.

by one of the best quilters I know. She explains everything in simple terms so anyone can become a master at the art of quilting.

How to Sew Quilt Binding

NOTE: Before you begin to stitch the binding on your quilt, stitch
1/8 inch all the way around your quilt - securing the quilt

top, batting and backing.

That way, all the layers will move together as you attach the
binding, and you are less likely to get puckers and wrinkles

as you attach the binding.

Cut the length of binding you need to go around the diameter of your Quilting project. However, your quilting instructions may tell you to use purchased binding such as hem tape. It's your choice.
Leave a three-inch tail of binding. Begin in the middle of the quilt. Pin the binding to right side of the quilting project. Continue pinning to the first binding
Stitch the binding with a 1/4" seam allowance or whatever your quilting pattern instructions call for. Sew to 1/4" of the first corner. Backstitch and remove the quilt from the sewing machine.
Miter the corner. Pull the binding straight up so it is parallel with the quilting project. Use your fingers to form a 45-degree angle where you took the backstitches. Bring the binding back down in alignment with the second side of the quilt. Pin this edge in place.
Begin stitching again 1/4" from the corner. Be careful not to catch the binding in the mitered corner. Continue to the next corner. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get to the starting point.
Fold the three-inch tail of binding you left unstitched at the beginning together with the end of the binding. Join the two ends together.
Stitch in place.
Turn the quilting project over. Pull the binding to the backside of the quilt. Pin in place. Keep the corners mitered as you work around them. Stitch the quilt binding in place by hand.

Things You’ll Need:

Quilt
Scissors
Pins
Needle
Thread
Sewing machine
Quilt Binding

Quilts with scalloped, curved or deep angles on the edges could
be good candidates for a special no-binding treatment.

Using this method, you blind stitch the edges closed, tucking
the seam allowances inside.

While it requires hand stitching, it is relatively easy and
gives you some flexibility in handling curves and sharp angles.

One drawback is that it shows the wear faster than regular
binding. So, this technique should be saved for a wall hanging.

Here's how you do it:

Quilt to within 5/8 inch of the edge.
Trim the batting so it is 1/4 inch inside the edges of the quilt top.
Trim the backing so it it even with the edges of the quilt top.
Turn under 1/4 inch seam allowances on both the quilt top and backing. As you do that, enclose the batting inside one of the seam allowances.
Blindstitch all the way around your quilt, securing the quilt top to the backing.
Do enough quilting at the edge of the quilt to secure the
seam allowances and batting in place.

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