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To bind a quilt, prepare a continuous fabric strip, sew it around the quilt edge, miter the corners, join the ends, and finish the binding on the opposite side. Single-fold binding needs little preparation; double-fold (French-fold) binding is folded in half lengthwise. You can finish by hand or machine, choosing which side to attach first based on where you want the visible stitching.
This guide covers both preparation methods, attaching binding, joining the ends, and finishing the edge.
Before you begin: check the quilt edge and binding length
Binding should be added after the quilt has been quilted and its outside edge trimmed reasonably straight. The quilt layers should be secure at the perimeter, with no loose batting or backing extending unevenly beyond the quilt top.
Prepare enough binding to travel around all four sides, turn the corners, and leave tails for joining. If you are making binding from yardage, square the fabric first and cut consistent strips. Utah State University Extension recommends crosswise-grain binding for straight-edged quilts and bias binding for curved edges. These grain choices are separate from the single-fold and double-fold preparation methods.
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- The product has a wide range of applications, perfect for your bias tape maker kit, machine and hand; Satisfies your needs for sewing, trimming, binding straight and curved raw edges, hemming, garment making and sewing,Christmas aprons, hats, ties, Different requirements for quilts, placemats, cups, and tent materials.
- Package contains: 1 x Double Fold Bias Tape Width: 1 Inch (25mm) Length: 10 Yards Color: Black Material: Polyester Cotton
- The product is made of polyester and is bevel-cut with folded edges of equal width and folded in the center; It has no stretch, so it is not an elastic band and is suitable for sewing;The product is not stiff and is soft after washing and does not require ironing; Does not fade; Machine and hand washable; Odorless.
- The product is easy to use with a variety of fabrics, easy to match cotton, polyester, leather, canvas and linen, and you can cut the tape to any size you want.
- Due to the length and nature of the textile, the tape is not completely continuous, but our extra wide bi-fold bias tape sews well and is strong, durable and continuous.
Join strips end to end with diagonal seams and press them open to distribute bulk along the binding.
Choose single-fold or double-fold binding
| Method | Preparation | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Single-fold | Fold under 1 inch at one end and press. Optionally press a 1/4-inch turn-under along one long edge. | The prepared edge can be hand-stitched to the quilt back. |
| Double-fold/French-fold | Fold under 1 inch at one end, then fold the strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press. | The folded strip is attached to the quilt; the folded edge is turned over the quilt edge for finishing. |
Neither method is universally better. Choose based on the construction and finish you want. Both can use the same basic attachment and mitered-corner sequence.
How wide should quilt binding be?
Choose a strip width that works with your quilt thickness and seam allowance. Utah State University Extension gives 2 1/4 inches as an example, but the sources do not establish one width as right for every quilt. Keep the seam allowance consistent and check early that the folded binding covers the attachment stitching on the opposite side.
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Method 1: prepare and attach single-fold binding
Prepare the strip
- Fold under 1 inch at one end of the binding strip and press.
- Optionally press a 1/4-inch seam allowance under along one long edge. That prepared edge can be hand-stitched to the quilt back.
If you do not pre-press the long edge, turn its raw edge under as you hand-stitch it.
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- The product has a wide range of applications, perfect for your bias tape maker kit, machine and hand; Satisfies your needs for sewing, trimming, binding straight and curved raw edges, hemming, garment making and sewing,Christmas aprons, hats, ties, Different requirements for quilts, placemats, cups, and tent materials.
- Package contains: 1 x Double Fold Bias Tape Width: 1 Inch (25mm) Length: 10 Yards Color: Navy Blue Material: Polyester Cotton
- The product is made of polyester and is bevel-cut with folded edges of equal width and folded in the center; It has no stretch, so it is not an elastic band and is suitable for sewing;The product is not stiff and is soft after washing and does not require ironing; Does not fade; Machine and hand washable; Odorless.
- The product is easy to use with a variety of fabrics, easy to match cotton, polyester, leather, canvas and linen, and you can cut the tape to any size you want.
- Due to the length and nature of the textile, the tape is not completely continuous, but our extra wide bi-fold bias tape sews well and is strong, durable and continuous.
Sew the binding to the quilt
- Align the binding’s raw edge with the raw edge of the quilt top.
- Start near the center of an edge, leaving a tail for joining the ends later.
- Sew with a consistent 1/4- or 3/8-inch seam allowance. The allowance affects how much binding shows on the quilt front.
- Before sewing far, fold the binding over the edge and check that it covers the attachment stitching on the other side.
Make each mitered corner
- Stop one seam allowance from the corner and secure the seam.
- Fold the binding upward and away from the edge just sewn, creating a diagonal fold.
- Fold it down along the next edge so the raw edges align.
- Resume stitching at the top of the fold, using the same seam allowance.
Repeat at each corner. Keep the strip flat and avoid stretching it around the quilt edge.
Turn and finish the binding
For hand finishing, turn the binding over the raw edge to the back and position it to cover the attachment stitching. Hand-stitch the folded edge to the backing with small, even stitches, securing the corner folds with an additional stitch or two if needed.
Method 2: prepare and attach double-fold (French-fold) binding
Prepare the strip
- Fold under 1 inch at one end of the binding strip and press.
- Fold the strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and press.
The folded edge becomes the outside edge of the finished binding. The raw lengthwise edges are sewn to the quilt first.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAttach the binding around the quilt
- Place the folded binding on the quilt top with its raw edges aligned with the raw quilt edge and its folded edge pointing toward the center.
- Start near the center of an edge. If you prepared a folded starting end, begin sewing about 2 inches from it, leaving the tail free.
- Sew with a consistent 1/4- or 3/8-inch seam allowance. Check after the first inch or two that the binding will cover the attachment stitching when folded over.
- Stop one seam allowance from each corner and secure the seam.
Miter the corners
- Fold the binding upward and away from the edge you have just sewn, creating a diagonal fold.
- Fold it down along the next edge, aligning the raw edges with the quilt edge.
- Resume sewing at the top of the fold. Use the same sequence at each corner.
Join the binding ends
You can tuck one raw end inside the folded starting end, or join the tails with a diagonal seam. The diagonal seam avoids an overlapping join and spreads the seam across the strip.
Rank #3
- Edging Fabric Bias Tape: The polyester double bias tape or cinta bies de tela holds shape better than cotton bias tape and has no sheen like satin bias tape & silk bias tape. The colorfast thin bias tape is washable, and makes the perfect flat bias tape sewing trim.
- Professional Sewing Bias Tape with Simplicity: The shrink-resistant pre double folded bias tape negates the need of ironing. Unlike single fold bias tape or fusible bias tape, the shrink resistant double wide bias tape installation is more forgiving and efficient.
- Versatile Hem Binding, Edge Binding, & Piping Sewing Double-Fold Bias Tape: The odorless black trim for sewing makes great blanket black fabric trim, pillowcases, purse, sofa, and quilt edge binding tape, and edging sewing tape for binding apparel.
- Easy to Sew Non-stretch Double Binding Tape for Sewing by Hand or Machine: The wide ½ bias tapes match cotton, polyester, fleece, leather, denim, canvas, and linen. The flexible bias fold tape creates straight or curved fabric edging without puckering.
- Bulk Bias Tape Roll: The 13mm or half inch bias tape has consistent width. The 55 yards or 50M large bias tape spool is easy to dispense. The sturdy double sided bias tapes for sewing will expedite the sewing and hemming process.
Diagonal-seam join
- Leave a tail at the start and stop sewing with enough room to handle both tails comfortably.
- Lay the tails flat without stretching them and mark where they meet.
- Use the binding width as a guide when trimming the tails to fit.
- Open the tails and place them right sides together at a right angle.
- Sew diagonally across the overlap. Check that the joined strip will continue in the same direction around the quilt, without a twist.
- Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch and press it open.
- Refold the binding and sew the remaining gap closed with the same seam allowance used elsewhere.
If the join twists after refolding, reopen it and check that the tails were placed right sides together at a right angle before sewing.
Finish by hand or machine
For hand finishing, turn the binding over the quilt edge to the back and hand-stitch its folded edge to the backing so the stitches cover the attachment line. Form the back-side corner miters and secure their folds with a stitch or two.
Machine finishing is also an option. Utah State University Extension advises attaching the binding to the front first if you plan to hand-stitch the back, and to the back first if you plan to machine-stitch the front. Machine stitching can be visible on the side you sew from, and you need to catch the binding on the other side as you sew.
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- Quilted quilt ready for edge finishing
- Fabric cut into binding strips long enough to go around the quilt with tails for joining
- Thread, needle, and sewing machine for the attachment seam
- Iron and pressing surface
- Optional clips or pins to hold the binding during finishing
Troubleshooting common binding problems
The binding is wider on one side than the other
Check that the seam allowance is consistent and that the binding covers the attachment stitching evenly on the other side before finishing.
Rank #4
- Edging Fabric Bias Tape: The polyester double bias tape or cinta bies de tela holds shape better than cotton bias tape and has no sheen like satin bias tape & silk bias tape. The colorfast thin bias tape is washable, and makes the perfect flat bias tape sewing trim.
- Professional Sewing Bias Tape with Simplicity: The shrink-resistant pre double folded bias tape negates the need of ironing. Unlike single fold bias tape or fusible bias tape, the shrink resistant double wide bias tape installation is more forgiving and efficient.
- Versatile Hem Binding, Edge Binding, & Piping Sewing Double-Fold Bias Tape: The odorless white trim for sewing makes great blanket white fabric trim, pillowcases, purse, sofa, and quilt edge binding tape, and edging sewing tape for binding apparel.
- Easy to Sew Non-stretch Double Binding Tape for Sewing by Hand or Machine: The wide ½ bias tapes match cotton, polyester, fleece, leather, denim, canvas, and linen. The flexible bias fold tape creates straight or curved fabric edging without puckering.
- Bulk Bias Tape Roll: The 13mm or half inch bias tape has consistent width. The 55 yards or 50M large bias tape spool is easy to dispense. The sturdy double sided bias tapes for sewing will expedite the sewing and hemming process.
The corner does not form a sharp miter
Stop one seam allowance from the corner. Fold the binding up and away, then bring it down along the next edge, aligning the raw edges before sewing onward.
The binding puckers around the quilt
Avoid stretching the binding while attaching it. Check that the quilt edge is smooth and that the strip lies flat with a consistent seam allowance.
The final diagonal join twists
Unpick the join and reopen the tails. Place them right sides together at a right angle, sew diagonally, trim the seam allowance, press it open, and refold. Check that the joined strip follows the same direction around the quilt.
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Use small stitches close to the folded edge and catch only a small amount of backing fabric. Avoid pulling stitches so tightly that they draw the binding inward.
Best Value
- The product has a wide range of applications, perfect for your bias tape maker kit, machine and hand; Satisfies your needs for sewing, trimming, binding straight and curved raw edges, hemming, garment making and sewing,Christmas aprons, hats, ties, Different requirements for quilts, placemats, cups, and tent materials.
- Package contains: 1 x Double Fold Bias Tape Width: 1 Inch (25mm) Length: 10 Yards Color: Dark Green Material: Polyester Cotton
- The product is made of polyester and is bevel-cut with folded edges of equal width and folded in the center; It has no stretch, so it is not an elastic band and is suitable for sewing;The product is not stiff and is soft after washing and does not require ironing; Does not fade; Machine and hand washable; Odorless.
- The product is easy to use with a variety of fabrics, easy to match cotton, polyester, leather, canvas and linen, and you can cut the tape to any size you want.
- Due to the length and nature of the textile, the tape is not completely continuous, but our extra wide bi-fold bias tape sews well and is strong, durable and continuous.
FAQ
What is the difference between single-fold and double-fold quilt binding?
Single-fold binding needs little preparation and may have one long edge turned under separately for hand finishing. Double-fold, or French-fold, binding is folded in half lengthwise before attachment.
Which side should I attach quilt binding to first?
If you plan to hand-stitch the back, attach the binding to the front first. If you plan to machine-stitch the front, attach it to the back first so the final stitching can be done from the front.
Should I use straight-grain or bias binding?
Utah State University Extension recommends crosswise-grain binding for straight-edged quilts and bias binding for curved edges.
How far from a quilt corner should I stop sewing?
Stop one seam allowance from the corner. Fold the binding up and away, then bring it down along the next edge to form the miter before sewing onward.
How can I join binding ends without an overlap?
Join the tails with a diagonal seam: place them right sides together at a right angle, sew diagonally, trim the seam allowance, press it open, refold the strip, and sew the remaining gap.
The Bottom Line
Single-fold binding needs little preparation; double-fold binding is folded lengthwise and pressed. Keep the seam allowance consistent, check that the binding covers the stitch line on the other side, and form corners by stopping at the seam-allowance distance and folding the strip up and down. Finish by hand or machine, and choose which side to attach first based on where you want the visible stitching.
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