Today I make binding for 4-5 quilts – I like to do it all at once. It is somewhat mindless so I can listen to a TedTalk or audio book when working.. quite nice really! But with that in mind I thought I would share this with you – first published a year ago.
Making Quilt Binding-
Preparation – Starch your fabric and cut your strips with the method of your choice. I cut my strips 2.5 inches wide using an Accuquilt Studio but rotary cutting also works.
1) On ONE end of each strip fold back the end on a 45 degree angle being careful to have fabric correctly oriented- give this a firm pressing. Do this to all strips.
2) Using Washable Roxann’s Glue Baste put a VERY thin line on the very edge of the fold. ( pssst. click the link I found it on sale!)
3) Lay the FLAT END of the next strip over this turned back area in straight alignment with the previous strip and press with hot iron. This will heat set and dry the glue.
4)The glue and the ironing gives you the perfect line the follow when it comes time to sew the strips together. The pressing gives the line, the glue controls any stretching. Do all strips end to end in this fashion.
5) Using the fold line as your guide chain sew all the segments and then snip the connecting threads.
6)Pop open the bit of the seam that has some glue by peeling the two right sides away from each other down to the stitching line. It is important to so this before trimming since otherwise they are VERY hard to get apart.
7) Trim of excess to 1/4 inch
8) Press open seams as you fold the band in 1/2 wrong sides facing. Use a light spray of HEAVY spray starch .. this will lightly glue your binding together adding more stability for attaching it to your quilt.
9) To store binding I have made ahead of time I wrap it loosely around a foam core board and store it with the supplies for the project I need it for.
Got questions?.. leave them in the comments and I will be happy to answer them- just make sure to check back to see the answer or leave your e-mail for a personal reply.
#8 says: Press open seams as you fold the band in 1/2 right sides facing.
Are they facing each other or facing out?
Well crap I mean wrong sides facing!.. fixing it right now!.. Thank you.
The glue doesn’t interfere when pressing open the seams?
It dries very fast so not a bit of trouble. I “pop” open the glued and sewed seam then trim.. then press it open.. easy and clean.
Do you cut the strips on the bias, lengthwise grain or crosswise grain?
Gene unless it is a curved edge quilt I cut across the bolt..so each strip is 44ish inches long which feels more manageable to me some how. I know there is a lot of division of thought on this topic so I am cool with what each person likes to do.. this just works for me 🙂
Glue! What a great idea. I always starch but hadn’t thought of using temp glue on the 45 degree joins. Thanks for an awesome tut!
I’ve never used starch when doing a binding, but what a great idea! I will be starching for sure in the future. Thanks for the great tutorial.
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