Binding Quilts and Other Sewn Projects

These instructions are for double-fold binding.

1. Measure the perimeter of the piece you want to bind, and cut enough 2¼ “-wide binding strips to equal the perimeter plus at least 14".

2. Sew the binding strips together end to end using diagonal seams. Trim as shown and press the seam to one side.

3. Press the binding in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

4. Working on the right side of the quilt top or other project, align the raw edges of the binding with the raw edges of the project piece, leaving at least a 6” tail. Begin sewing, starting in the center of one edge, using a ¼” seam allowance.

5. If you are binding a quilt or other project with 90° corners, you’ll want to miter the binding corners. As you approach a corner, stop sewing and backstitch ¼” from the end. Clip the threads.

6. Turn the quilt so that it’s ready for you to sew the next side. Fold the binding strip away from you at a 90° angle to the side you just sewed. The point of the fold should be in alignment with the corner so the fold is at a 45° angle.

7. Fold the binding strip back down on itself, toward you, to create the mitered corner. Stitch from the end of the second edge again to ¼” from the end of the side and repeat the mitering process at each corner. Repeat all steps for all sides of the project.

8. When you are approximately 12” from where you started sewing on the binding, stop and backstitch. Open up a piece of the binding, fold the end in at a 45° angle, and trim it off to create a square piece. You will use this piece as a guide for how much the 2 ends should overlap.

9. Overlap the 2 ends and place the piece you cut as a guide over the 2 overlapping pieces. Trim both pieces so they overlap only for the length of the guide piece.

Make sure that when you overlap the 2 binding ends, you pull tightly to test that they fit. Don’t test fit with the fabric sitting loosely, or you’ll end up with too much fabric left over on the binding, causing a rippling effect.

10. Open up the binding and place the ends at right angles to each other, right sides together. Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew the 2 pieces together at a 45° angle.

11. Continue sewing the binding to the quilt.

12. Wrap the binding to the back side and blindstitch it in place by hand. Press.