Quilt Binding in Six Easy Steps

A narrow strip of fusible interfacing is the secret to fearlessly binding the edges of a quilt in six easy steps. In the past, it was a trick for me to join the beginning and ending of the quilt binding. Not any more! I hope that you will enjoy this sewing tutorial on quilt binding.
I can’t take credit for this technique, fellow Sewing With Nancy team member; Donna Fenske came up with this idea. Her innovative process is one of the techniques in this week’s Sewing With Nancy featured online video. It’s the last of the three-part series, Fearless Quilting Finishes. During this 30-minute show you’ll learn assorted quilt binding finishes. Watch the process online for all the details.
Here’s how sew a quilt binding
Step One: Prepare the binding strips
Cut one end of the binding with a 45-degree angle. Press in 1/4″ at the beginning angled edge.
Press a 1/4″ strip of fusible tape on top of the folded inner edge.
Step Two: Press the binding
Fold and press the binding in half, wrong sides together, meeting lengthwise edges.
Step Three: Stitch the binding to the quilt
Stitch the binding to the quilt with a 1/4″ seam, starting about 4″ from the end of the binding. (See the white thread at the far right of the photo!)
I detail how to fold and stitch the binding at the corners. Remember, you can watch online , view the DVD , or of course, watch on Public TV!
Step four: Fuse the quilt binding ends together
Remove the paper backing from the fusible web.
When the binding reaches the starting point, tuck the end of the binding into the beginning.
Trim off the excess binding, if there is any.
With the binding end sandwiched between the starting point, press. The bias seam is secured without stitching.
Next, continue to stitch the remaining 1/4″ seam.
Step five: Turn the binding to the wrong side
Press the binding up.
Wrap and pin the binding to the wrong side, covering the stitching line.
Step six: Stitch the final time
Stitch in the ditch, sewing in the well of the seam.
Or, hand stitch the folded edges, stitching on the wrong side of the fabric. (I’ve obviously used another sample.)
There’s more to learn online or read in the Fearless Quilting Finishes book!
If the corners of your quilting project are hexagon or octagon shaped, learn the tips on how to add binding to easily finish those edges. Also learn how to add binding to curves.

Did you catch the first two episodes of Fearless Quilting Finishes?
Watch episode one and episode two online. Or, check out my blog post on borders and the blog post on stippling!
Here’s a reference to have close at hand.
All the information shown in the three-part series is written and illustrated in my book, Fearless Quilting Finishes. Plus, the DVD features all three parts of the series. The Sewing With Nancy staff makes certain that all the steps are carefully written and illustrated. Presenting sewing and quilting techniques is a team effort!
For a chance to win a copy of Fearless Quilting Finishes, please let me know your favorite quilt border technique. The random winner will be announced on March 5.
Watch Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
Have you entered your pillow into my 2015 Pillow Challenge ? Entry deadline is next Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Join the fun and learn the details at my February 3 Blog Posting .
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, and creating.
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