This post is a part of the
Warm Cool Quilt-Along! Feel free to join in the fun at any time!
Today we're going to talk about machine binding! Now, I will give you forewarning, this is a very photo heavy post! I need photos when I'm learning something new, so it seems only right to share lots of photos when I write up tutorials! I hope it all makes sense.
I prefer to attach my binding to the front and back by machine. This is not the traditional way. I think the most common binding method is to machine stitch to the front, then hand-stitch to the back. I'm going to show you the way I do it!
If you're interested in a great tutorial using the traditional method, I would highly suggest
Christina's three part
binding series!
It took me a while to decide on a binding fabric for my mini quilt. I knew that I wanted something neutral that wouldn't interfere with the contrast in the quilt. I also didn't want anything too distracting so I went with this fun dot from Basics by Basic Grey. Now lets walk through machine binding from start to finish.
1. Cut your binding strips 2.5" x width of fabric. Trim off those selvedges!
2. Join your binding strips using a 1/4" seam allowance. Most of the time I attach my strips with a straight seam. For how to join them with a diagonal seam, see
this tutorial.
3. Fold your binding strip in half, press.
Yay, your binding is made! Now let's attach it to the BACK of your quilt!
1. Leaving a pretty good size tail (I usually leave between 10"-15"), start pinning your binding along the back of the quilt starting in the middle of any side. Don't forget to pin the raw open edge of the binding to the raw edge of the quilt!
2. When you get to a corner, fold your binding strip at a 90 degree angle as shown above, so that the raw edge of the binding strip lines up with the next edge of your quilt. Press fold with an iron or crease with a
hera marker (my favorite way).
3. Unfold and mark along the crease with a water-soluble pen. Pin in place.
4. Start sewing near your first pin, leaving that tail unsewn. I like to use a seam allowance between 1/4" and 3/8". Be sure to backstitch at the beginning to secure. I like to use a walking foot when I bind. A walking foot ensures the top and the bottom layers move evenly through the machine. It just makes everything go a little smoother!
5. As you approach the corner, slow down and stitch right up to the line you made, but not past it. Backstitch a few times to secure your stitching.
6. Refold your binding strip like you did the first time, pin in place.
7. Now flip the strip back over onto the next quilt side and pin in place. Continue to pin that side, repeating the same corner preparation, sewing the other sides and corners the same way. This time, when you start stitching this side, start at the corner, all the way off the edge, and sew to the line marked in the next corner.
8. After you've rounded your last corner, backstitch and remove your quilt from the machine. Pin your binding until you're about 8"-10" away from your original starting place. (If you're binding something small like a potholder, give yourself as much room as you can.) Go ahead and sew up until that point, then backstitch and again remove your quilt from the machine.
9. Now we're going to join your two binding pieces with a straight seam. For how to join the ends with a diagonal seam, see
this tutorial. Fold one end of your binding to the middle of your opening (approx 4"-5"). Press.
10. Repeat with the other end, making sure your two folds meet in the center. Press.
11. Using a ruler and your water soluble pen, mark 1/4" on each side of the folds.
12. Lift up your strip, and cut along the line you just made. Be careful to only cut through one layer of binding! Repeat on the other end.
13. Unfold both ends and put right sides together (make sure not to twist up your pieces).
14. Pin in place!
15. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance.
16. Finger press your seam open.
17. Refold the binding down against the quilt, press. Now finish sewing the binding down, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end. The binding is now attached to the back! Let's attach it to the front!
18. Before we start sewing again, first press the binding away from the back of the quilt. Press on all four sides, don't worry about the corners.
19. Flip your quilt over!
20. Starting on one side, fold the binding against the edge of your quilt, making sure to cover the stitching line created by attaching the binding to the back. Use clips or pins (you can use hair clips in a pinch, but I love
wonder clips for this), to secure your binding in place.
4. When you reach a corner, carefully use your fingers to push the quilt corner into the binding. (Put a finger on the corner of the quilt top and with your other hand tug on the binding.). Flatten out the binding side you're working on.
5. Fold over the next side of binding and secure with a clip. Continue in this manner until you've finished pinning down the whole quilt. Be sure to move in the same direction (I always do this in a clockwise direction) around your quilt top in order to get nice corners.
6. Now we're going to topstitch your binding in place. Align the inner edge of your binding with the edge of your presser foot (mine is lined up with the left side of my presser foot). Move your needle over until it is about 1/16" from the edge of the binding. (This doesn't need to be exact!)
7. Backstitch and start sewing. I recommend lowering your needle so that when you stop, it stays in the quilt. This will be vital for the corners. There is not a lot of room for error here, so sew SLOW! Slower than you normally would.
8. When you reach a corner, slow down, and sew until you have a stitch into the next side of binding. Now lift your presser foot and turn your quilt. Start sewing again. Continue until you've finished your binding!
As you can see, the back ends up a little messy. If this is NOT what you want, I recommend binding the traditional way. Personally, this doesn't bother me, but it might bother you, so do what you are most comfortable with! If you get it all folded under just right with the right seam allowance, there won't be any stitching on your binding, it will be all on the quilt back.
The back may be messy, but the front is perfect! I love they way this method makes the front look. For me, this method is the least painful with the best results. Which for binding, is a must! ;)
Happy Quilting!
