Quilting "How-To" Class

 Free Block Patterns | Free Quilt Patterns | Quilting "How-To" Class | Patterns, Corrections & Quilting Designs | Quilt Shop Directory | Wholesale Inquiries | Home

by Nancy Roberts and Joyce Libal

Attention to detail is often the mark of excellence in quilting. One such detail is double-fold binding. Your goals are to achieve square corners that are neatly mitered and to end the binding smoothly with no additional bulk. Doing so makes the end indistinguishable from any other section of the binding.

If you'd like to perfect this often overlooked construction detail, just follow these steps. We think you'll be pleased with the results. Our General Directions have been updated to include these instructions so you'll have a ready reference in every issue. Our thanks to former staff member, Joanne Nolt, for sharing this method.

Preparing the binding

• For 1/2" finished binding, cut 2 1/2" - wide strips of fabric on the straight grain. You'll join these strips with diagonal seams to make a long binding strip. Use the pattern directions or measure the perimeter of your quilt and cut enough strips to equal that measurement plus at least 36" more. Be generous because you'll reduce the length of the pieced strip with each diagonal seam. You'll also need extra length at the beginning and end.

1

• Join the two binding strips by pinning them at right angles, right sides together. (#1)

  ---

2

• Sew them with a diagonal seam. (#2)

  ---

    
3                                                     4

• Trim and press open. (#3 & #4)
   
• Join the remaining strips in the same manner, trimming and pressing as before. Keeping the strip to be joined on top will ensure that all the diagonal seams go in the same direction.

  ---

  
  5

• Fold the long binding strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. (#5)

  ---

  PAGE 2

  Back to Current Quilting "How-To" Class.

    

QuiltTownUSA is a trademark of and is owned by Moon Over Mountain

All content © 2008 Moon Over Mountain