binding isn't always painful - the tutorial

You've finished the quilting on a lovely new quilt and you are just one step away from having a completed snuggly blanket ... binding.  When it comes to binding it is that last little touch you can add to give a quilt a pop of color if you so choose to.  So here we go ...

* First steps first: you have to do some math, it is simple so there shouldn't be any fear.  All you have to do is add up the length and width all around your quilt, meaning if you have a quilt that is 44"x48" the number you will get is 184 (44+44+48+48= 184).  You take that number and add 10, making the final number 194. 

* Second step:  measure and cut out enough strips of fabric 2.5" wide for a total of at least however long your math on the above step told you (ex: 194").

* Third step: attach the strips together ...

pin two strips together just like this

sew from the top corner to the bottom corner

like this

cut off the extra fabric leaving 1/4" seam allowance

* Fourth step: Once all of your strips are sewn together it is time to iron.

press seams open

fold binding in half and press

nubbins ...oops

Remove the nubbins from where your strips were connected

* Fifth step: Back to the sewing machine!

Pin binding with the rough edges lining up with the rough edges of the quilt
leaving a tail of 6 inches above the pin that you will not sew
as shown

sew all the way down to the corner of your quilt 1/4" away from the edge

once you are 1/4" away from the edge of the quilt, with your needle lowered,
lift the sewing foot and rotate your quilt as shown



with the foot up you will aline the binding along the new side, rough edges together,
pinching the binding in the corner and folding the excess upwards.

begin sewing down the new side and repeat steps until ...



you come 10 inches away from where you began sewing on the binding
back stitch a few times before removing from your sewing machine

* Sixth step: (I forgot to take photos I'm sorry) With your two tails shown in the above picture you are going to mark where they line up with each other.  Due to this being the end of the binding you don't have to sew on an angle, a straight line is more than fine.  You are going to open the binding (since it is folded in half prior to sewing) and with the front of the fabric facing each other you will sew the pieces together on the marks you made when you lined them up.  Trim off the excess fabric leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.  Sew the rest of the binding to the quilt. (If you have any questions please feel free to contact me)

* Seventh step: Hand sewing!

you will fold the binding over the rough edge of the quilt,
with your needle and thread you are going to go through just the top layer of fabric

bury the knot of your thread by tugging gently until you hear a "pop"
(this technique is used when hand quilting as well)
see there isn't a knot showing

 

you will take your needle and insert it through the fold of the binding that you pressed

with your needle still in the binding you will insert the needle through only the top layer of fabric on the quilt
as shown

and then back through the fold of the binding
continuing all the way to the corner of your quilt

see how pretty the blind stitches are on the binding

 

you will then fold down the unsewn binding to match up with the sewn section
take your needle and insert it through the new side of binding
as shown

you going to sew the corner a few times
ensuring you have securely attached both sides of the binding to the quilt
and then continue these steps until the binding is completed

 * Eighth step: Admire, snuggle, take a nap!