Hidden Quilt Binding Tutorial–Ideal for Art Quilts

Last week someone asked me, “Do you sew for fun?” The answer: Absolutely! I love to sew landscape quilts. Here’s my latest quilt, Sunset. When it came time to bind the quilt, I choose the leftover brown fabric from the background. After laying the binding strips around the quilt, the quilt looked constrained, closed-in. My solution? Add the binding, but make it hidden.

Hidden Quilt Binding Tutorial

We chose to make step-by-step samples of this binding technique from contrasting fabrics, using a small square of quilted fabric to represent the quilt. I must admit, the red/black/cream combo is in high contrast to the Sunset color scheme! Oops.

Measure the length of the quilt sides.
Cut binding strips 2-1/2″ wide.
Cut two binding strips the measurement of the quilt sides. (Piece the strips together, if needed, to create additional length.)

Fold the binding in half, meeting long edges and wrong sides; press.

Pin the binding to the quilt, right sides together, aligning the side edges.
Stitch with 1/4″ seam allowances.

Press the seam allowances toward the binding from the wrong side.

Fold the binding to the wrong side; pin the binding to the quilt.

Note from Nancy

Rather than placing the seam along the edge of the quilt, bring the seam ever so slightly toward the back of the quilt. (Notice the red edge along the left side, representing the quilt top.) The fabric naturally folds this way, while ensuring that the binding stays hidden from the right side. 

Hand stitch the folded edge of the binding to the wrong side, only catching the backing of the quilt in the stitching.

 

Measure the top and lower edges of the quilt.
Cut two binding strips the measurement of the top and lower edges plus 2″.
Pin the binding to the top and lower edges with 1″ of the binding extending at both ends.

Stitch the binding to the quilt with 1/4″ seam allowances.

Fold in the 1″ extensions and pin.

Fold the binding toward the back of the quilt, again allowing the seam to extend slightly to the back of the quilt.
Hand stitch.
Repeat the technique, adding the binding to the lower edge.

The binding is hidden!

Intrigued by Landscape Quilting?

Natalie Sewell and I wrote the book,  The Art of Landscape Quilting. I think you’ll enjoy the easy, creative process of landscape quilting.

More Binding Options

This is just one of several ways to bind a quilt. For additional techniques, see my book, Fearless Quilting Finishes. Or, check out this blog!  Fearless Quilting Finishes—Binding. (Note: The Hidden Quilt Binding is not included in the above book.)

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswoman, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s Blog at NancyZieman.com/Blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, & Creating.
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