Today we are going to talk about binding! I love binding so much, it's fun to make and I love being able to sit down on the couch and hand stitch the binding to complete my quilt! Let's get started...
How much fabric do I need for the binding?
To
figure how much fabric needed for binding (based on width of fabric) take the total number inches of
all four sides and add 15” (for turning corners and connecting ends). Take that
measurement and divide by 42” (42” is the width of the fabric). That will tell
you how many binding strips you will need and the amount of fabric yardage.
Example: Brick Road Quilt Size: 63” x 78”
63 + 63 + 78 + 78 = 282” + 15” = 297”
total
297 ÷ 42 = 7.071 (round
off to next highest number)
You will need 8 binding strips
Cut binding strips 2 ½” (this is your preference, but I like to cut 2 1/2" binding strips, I find that this width works the best)
Multiply 2 ½” x 8 (number of strips = 20”)
You will need to purchase 5/8 yard (or
22.5”) of binding fabric
Preparing the Binding:
- Cut 8 – 2 ½” x width of fabric
strips. Before moving strips, cut off selvage.
- Take 7 of the strips and on one
short end of each strip, fold a 45° angle towards
the right, wrong sides together. Press. (the pressed crease will be your
stitching line) See diagram.
3. Lay one end of the strip not
pressed right side up with 1 short end at top.
4. Open up one end of the pressed
strips and lay on top (of strip from step 3) right sides together to the
left side of the unpressed strip. Pin. Stitch on the 45° pressed line. See diagram.
5. Take
the next 45° pressed strip, placing on the unpressed end of the previous
sewn strip. Repeat until all strips are sewn to make one continuous strip.
6. Trim
off excess fabric ¼” from seam of all sewn strips. Press all seams open.
See diagrams.
7. Take
the long continuous binding strip and fold in half wrong sides together.
Press entire strip being careful not to distort.
8. Now
you will square the binding strip to 1 1/8” wide by placing the 1 1/8”
ruler line on the fold side of the binding strip. Trim off excess binding
(raw edge). Do this for entire binding strip.. This is an important step
to ensure a straight, even binding. See diagram.
Sewing
the Binding to the Quilt:
2. Use
a walking foot to attach binding to quilt to avoid puckering of quilt
layers.
3. Start
on front of any side of quilt (not at a corner) by laying binding strip on
edge with raw edges of binding on edge of quilt. Start by leaving 6” – 8”
of binding as a tail that will be joined at the end. See diagram.
4. Sew
strip with ¼” seam allowances all the way to the first corner, stopping ¼”
short of edge. Cut thread. See
diagram.
5. Fold
binding away from quilt to form a 45° miter at corner. Fold binding back
over quilt square to the edge going down the next side. See diagram.
6. Start
sewing from the edge all the way down to the next corner. Repeat Step 5
for all corners and stop sewing 15” – 20” short of where you started. See diagram.
7. To
connect ends, lay binding loose ends down on quilt and fold back leaving
¼” gap between folds. See diagram.
Cut one end off
at fold on right side. Open out cut piece and lay under other folded side to
measure cut line of left strip. To join, open right side strip end and lay
right side up. Open left side and fold left end corner over wrong sides
together and press as you did in joining strips together. Open, lay on other
strip right sides together, pin, and sew on pressed line. Be careful not to get
strips twisted. Cut off excess fabric ¼” from seam, press seam open and sew
strip in half wrong sides together. Lay strip to edge of quilt and finish
sewing down. See diagrams.
Hand
Stitching Binding to Back of Quilt:
1.
Hand
stitch to back of quilt using hand quilting thread color that matches the
binding fabric, being sure not to stitch all the way through to the front of the quilt. I like to stitch every 1/4" or so to secure nicely!
Ok, that's it for the Brick Road Sew Along! Now, go finish your quilts and upload them to the
Flickr Group to be in the drawing for all of the awesome prizes including: RJR Fabrics and SunFlower Quilts patterns!!
Thank you for participating in the Brick Road Sew Along and I've loved watching your progress and seeing your photos!
Also, a HUGE thank you to RJR Fabrics for the Cotton Solid Supreme fabrics, they are wonderful to work with and ya'll are great too! :)
