French double-fold cross-grain binding is my favorite method to bind a quilt. I use 2" strips cut the width of fabric, and join with mitered seams to distribute bulk. The folded binding is stitched to the front side of the quilt using a 1/4" seam allowance, with raw edges aligned (greatest invention ever: 1/4" sewing machine foot!); corners are mitered, and binding is hand-stitched to the back of the quilt. The 2" binding strips with 1/4" seam allowance makes a consistent finished binding width on both front and back of the quilt.
PLEASE NOTE: This method may be applied to ANY width of binding strip. You may need to experiment to find the ideal seam allowance.
PLEASE NOTE: This method may be applied to ANY width of binding strip. You may need to experiment to find the ideal seam allowance.
3) ALIGN raw edges of binding with edges of quilt front. Leave about an 8" tail. Begin to STITCH, using 1/4" seam allowance. |
4) Place a PIN 1/4" away from first corner to indicate stopping point. |
5) STOP stitching about 1 stitch away from pin, BACKSTITCH. Remove the quilt and trim threads. |
6) FOLD the binding strip at a 45-degree angle to create miter. The raw edges should form a straight line. |
7) FOLD binding strip back down, even with the next edge of the quilt. Fold should be aligned straight with the previous side. |
8) Begin to STITCH at the edge of the quilt. BACK- STITCH to secure, and continue sewing. REPEAT at all corners. |
9) After last corner is mitered, STOP stitching about 8" from beginning stitches. |
11) TRIM a little slice from the discarded binding tail to use as a measuring tool. |
12) OPEN slice of binding and place on trimmed binding, aligning ends. |
13) OVERLAP remaining binding strip, using the slice of binding to measure, then CUT left binding strip at the right edge of the measuring strip. In this case, 2" from clipped notches. |
14) UNFOLD and flatten the right binding tail RIGHT SIDE UP; Left binding tail WRONG SIDE UP. (Remember: Right side, RIGHT Side, Left side, WRONG side) |
15) FOLD the end of the left binding piece at a 45-degree angle and crease to find the stitching line. |
16) MARK, then STITCH on the line. |
17) CHECK to make sure binding did not twist, then TRIM seam allowance. PRESS seam open. |
18) Re-ALIGN binding with edge of the quilt and STITCH emaining seam. PRESS binding away from quilt front. |
19) TURN binding to back of the quilt, forming identical miters on the back as on the front. PIN to secure. |
20) HAND-STITCH binding to the back of the quilt. Use thread color that matches binding. |
Prize-Winning binding every time!! |
fabulous!! I have never seen a concrete way to finish (connect) the ends of the binding. I always just guess and check (what a pain) Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI wish wish wish I could come to the next SLC modern quilters mtg. to see your class but I guess I should go to my daughter's family birthday party. Love my daughter. Dis-love Chuck-E-Cheese :).
Lorinda
P.S. check out my blog. I am going to blog about my latest quilt... soon.
www.mikeandrindy.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for these instructions - they are very clear, concise, and the pictures are great! I put the binding on a table runner today and it was the only perfect part of the quilt. The instructions for the runner were completely wrong and it was a bear to put together. Your instructions for the binding were the shining part of my runner, so thank you!!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought of doing a video on this process.
ReplyDeleteYou can find a video of the same process HERE: https://youtu.be/i9riC03FNRQ
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