Hints and Tips on Bindings by Kaye Wood

A binding finishes off the edges and forms a frame around the quilted piece. Binding strips may be cut on the straight of grain or on the bias. If the edges of the quilt are straight, use a straight cut binding.

How wide should the binding be?

The binding can be very narrow (1/8") to extra wide. If your finished binding (the width showing on the quilt top) is 1/2" , then the seam allowance used to join the binding to the quilt or patchwork strip must be 1/2" because the binding must be padded with the edge of the quilt. Keep this in mind when planning the width of your last border - it will look narrower if you decide on a wider finished binding. For a double fold binding, cut the strips 6 times the desired finished width of the binding.

Here's a chart

Finished Binding 1/4" Then strip width is 1-1/2"
Finished Binding 1/2" then strip width is 3"
Finished Binding 3/4" then strip width is 4-1/2"

How much binding do you need?

Add 2 times the length of the quilt plus 2 times the width of the quilt plus 1 extra foot (just in case).

Quick-fold

Fold the bias or straight binding in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together, using a long straight pin, an iron, and an ironing board: Stick the long pin into the ironing board cover, up over the folded strip, and back into the ironing board. Place an iron to the right of the pin. Pull the strip under the pin and under the iron. It will come out folded and pressed perfectly.

Mitered Bindings

Cut the beginning of the binding strip on the diagonal (bias). Leave a 6" tail at the beginning of the binding and start sewing on one side of the quilt - never at the corner. Sew with both raw edges of the binding even with the edge of the quilt.

Look for more of Kaye's Tips and Techniques in all of her books!

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