Binding a quilt
 

I just finished a quilt and am ready for the binding. Because of caregiving and the death of my husband, it has been several years since I have done the binding on a quilt. Because things change over time and my memory is a little fuzzy on technique, I would like to know how wide to cut the binding and how much batting beyond the quilt top should I leave when trimming so that the binding is full.

I am in the process of stitching down the binding on my first quilt. I cut my bindings 2 1/4" wide.

I trim batting, backing, and top all the same, and cut my binding 2 1/4" wide. I also don't press my binding in half lengthwise before sewing it on. It's easier to wrap the binding around the quilt edge nice and snug for a full binding, and I get to skip a step. :thumbup:

So sorry for the loss of your husband. It's very hard to move on.
I like the binding wide, so I cut 2.5 inch width cutting on the width of fabric, connecting it at an angle instead of straight. I cut the back and batting down to about 1-2 inches, then sew the binding on and trim it as I sew the binding to the back.

I now machine sew on bindings. I donate quilts to foster kids and think machine stitches will hold better than hand stitches. I cut my bindings 2-1/2" or 3" Fold in half, press, sew to the back, turn over and sew to the front.

I leave the rough edges on my quilt until it is done being quilted, typically 2-6 inches all around.

I prefer a slightly wider binding than most, I cut at 3". I put on the binding on the front and then use the seam line to cut 1/2" above the seam (so 1/4" above the fabric). Gives me a nice full binding. Hand skills are not my strong suit but I still stitch down the back by hand, it's my favorite finish.

For most of the last year I've been doing the not-ironing my binding technique. It doesn't seem to make much difference to me, and if it is a top I won't be quilting down for awhile, I like storing it folded better (I cut cardboard into 18" pieces and wrap the binding around it. Gives me an easy way to measure.

However, next quilt I finish will probably be a donation quilt with flannel back and flannel binding. I'm thinking non-ironed is the way to go with flannel.

Hello and I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. My mom is adjusting to life without my dad and I mourn for her because of her loneliness and the abrupt change in her way of life. I hope quilting can help,you find your "new normal."

I just posted the second half of a tutorial explaining how I bind entirely by machine. Maybe it can help you.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/tutori...d-t288233.html

It is in two parts separated by a couple of years. I trim my quilt first, and use 2.5" binding strips. Like Peckish/Peggi I now skip the pressing of the length of the binding.

Darren

Thank you for your answers. You are so helpful.

I too am sorry for the loss of your husband.

I trim the batting and backing to the edge of the quilt top. I cut my binding at 2.5", and when sewing to the front of the quilt I experiment a bit to be sure the binding will be full and just cover the seam when turned to the back. (I rarely have points at the edge of the quilt, so this approach does not cut off any points if the seam is a skosh more than 1/4".)

I am so sorry for your loss, I know I just lost my father 2 weeks ago. As for the binding I pretty much do it exactly as Peckish and Tartan. There are so many good tutorials on YouTube that would refresh your memory. If I'm not mistaken Jenny Doan has one on her channel. Good luck and prayers to you and your family.

I do the same.

I trim to the edge and bind with 2 1/2 “ strips,. I fold in half, press and sew to the top of the quilt, press again and hand stitch to the back.

Lots of help here. Find a video (a recent one) for more inspiration. Missouri Star has good directions in their Block Magazines.

I can't seem to machine quilt both sides of binding. I've watch a million tutorials and mine never look right. So I machine sew the front, turn over and hand sew the back. I don't mind but a lot of people don't like to hand sew.
I use 2.5 inch binding.

So sorry you lost your husband.

Everyone seems to have their own "formula" for how wide to cut strips. Here's a little math I was taught to help me decide. Because some quilts "like" as smaller binding than others,,,,and some like a bigger one, try this.

For a folded double binding (French?) - Determine how wide you want your finished binding to be (I use 3/8's for most of my larger quilts) then multiply that by 7 to determine how wide to cut your binding. 3/8th inch times 7 is 2 5/8ths. that will do for a hand finished binding. If, like me, you finish your bindings by machine, add 1/4 inch to the finished dimension: 2 5/8 + 1/4 = 2 7/8 inches to cut. Why the extra quarter inch for a machine finish? when strip is folded in half, this gives me an extra 1/8 inch to allow for stitching in the ditch.

Use a 1/4 inch finished binding? 1/4 inches x 7 = 1 3/4" for hand finish, 2" for machine finish.

This makes a lot of sense.

I trim the sandwich before I put the binding on, so I do a "sample/test" stitching with a longer stitch for about six inches to make sure that the binding "ends up" where I want it. Sometimes I have to move the needle a click or two one way or the other.

I prefer a smaller binding. I cut mine at 2". I press a 1/2" fold down the length of the binding, sew the unpressed raw side to the front so when I turn it over to hand stitch the back closed I need not worry about folding it under to hide raw edge. Works well for me.

Recently I have been trying different binding techniques and the one I found to be the simplest uses an nice 2/5" stripfolded in half and sewn onto the quilt in half and folded over and hand stitched down. There are many different ways to bind quilts. To me this one does the job the best without having to stress about it fitting correctly.

I cut my binding 2 1/4” wide. To determine the amount of binding needed: Measure the circumference of your quilt and add 20” this will leave you enough to create the corners and join the ends easily. When sewing the binding strips together I always lay the first piece right side up horizontally in front of me at the machine the bulk of it to my left. Take the next strip wrong side up with most of it in my lap arranging the ends so they have 1/4” excess from where they cross each other. I lay a 6” ruler across where they meet and draw the diagonal line as I can’t seem to sew this angle without the line. Stitch. Without twisting fold and lay the second strip in front of you horizontally right side up and repeat. If you always do this the same way you will know the correct angle when you join ends together on quilt.The critical point in width of binding and stitching is to have the same amount of binding showing on the front and the back. I like to press my binding in half so I don’t have to mess with it at the machine. I spray the inside of the binding with starch then press in half. This helps hold it together.

When trimming your quilt for binding there is no Oon solution on whether to trim to the edge of the quilt top or to leave an amount of batting on the edge. The thickness of the fabric and the type of batting will determine how much to leave. For a test run: Using 2 1/4” binding I start trimming leaving 1/4” for a short distance then pin the binding on approximating a 1/4” seam, turn to the back and see if I will need more or less batting to cover the binding stitching. I leave an 8” or so tail then use the little red clips and clip the binding all the way around the quilt folding the corners as described below. I prefer the clips as they are easy to remove and readjust the binding. I never want the joined seam of the binding to come at a corner. Backstitch when you begin sewing on the binding. Leave a 10” gap between the beginning and ending of the binding.

A walking foot makes sewing on binding easier. If you are using 1/4” seam stitch binding to within 1/4” of the end. When I am close to corner I mark this, stitch to the mark and back stitch. Remove the quilt from machine and turn for next side. Fold the binding straight up at right angle, then bring it back down over itself. Keep adjusting so the fold exactly matches the raw edge of your previously stitched binding. If you make sure the two folded edges lay exactly on top of each other your corners will be easier to align when hand stitching the to the back.

Backstitch when you get within 10” of where you started. Remove quilt from the machine. With the body of the quilt toward you pin put a pin in the middle of the space you left. Bring each folded binding edge to within 1/8” of pin and place a pin in the fold. If you put your binding strips together as described above put the left opened piece right side up vertical to the quilt. Squeeze that 10” together so you can bring the right opened strip with pin horizontal to the left piece matching the fold where the pins are. I try to stick a pin or two in the top corner to hold it in place. Remove the marking pins, draw diagonal line and stitch. Bring this down to the quilt edge to be sure it fits correctly. If it’s ok trim excess off leaving seam allowance. Double and triple check to be sure you are cutting the on the excess side of stitching not the binding side, finger press seam open and fold wrong sides together. Lay against quilt and stitch.

Sounds more complicated than it is. But it never fails and always lays perfectly. Going camping til next week but if this method sounds interesting and you would like pics I would be glad to do some next week.

My sympathy is with you. Caregiving is a total constant and unyielding consumer of time. The loss of a loved one is almost unbearable. The two combined can take it's toll on you. So be kind and gentle to yourself and I hope with all my heart that your passion for sewing and quilting will fill in some of the gaps. Bless you.

I use 2 1/2 strips for my bindings. I now machine bind and find I really enjoy it. I trim the edge of the quilt sandwich and attach the un-pressed folded binding on with a wider stitch than the typical 1/4 inch. When I wrap it around there is just enough binding to sew close to the same seam used to attach the binding. My stitches are then on the binding on both sides of the quilt. This works great for me.

Good luck on your bindings and enjoy the finish!

This is how I do my binding.

I cut my binding 2 1/2'' if it thin you can cut 2 1/4'' - but that's me :)

I cut my binding 2 1/2" wide and my batting is about 3" beyond the edges of the top on every side. This is what my long arm quilter likes.