(tutorial) binding a quilt

My mother-in-law taught me how to quilt, and thus, also taught me how to bind a quilt.  I've since noticed that there's more than one way to bind, so I thought I'd share how we do it!  It's very easy, and I've even heard some people enjoy this part the most! :)

I hope you find this tutorial helpful!

Quilt or tie your quilt as you please, trim off the excess fabric and batting and iron to prepare to bind.  Binding is your very last step.  

To begin, cut 2 1/4 inch strips of your desired fabric (2.25 x the length of your fabric)  The number of these depends on the size of your quilt, and you'll just have to do the math...

 After all of your strips are cut into 2 1/4inch strips, sew them all together, end to end, right-sides-together, to create one long strip!  Then fold in half and iron.

you don't have to wind it around a piece of cardboard...but it made me smile! (you're cute, laura!)

To begin, never start on a corner!  Always start anywhere but a corner, and it doesn't matter where!  and leave a little bit of a tail before you start stitching!

Line up your binding on the top of your quilt (yep, I said top) with the raw edges matching the raw edges of your quilt.  My pin is marking where I wills tart sewing...I left an inch or more space (this is to help you at the end!)

Begin stitching 1/4" from the raw edge, making sure to keep the raw edges of the binding lined up with the raw edges of the quilt.  (if you need to pin, PIN!  pinning is not my favorite activity...so I choose not to!)

 When you get to a corner, stop stitching 1/4" from the perpendicular edge of the quilt.  Make sure that your needle is down, pick up your presser foot and turn it 45 degrees so that you will be sewing away from your quilt, in the direction of the corner...(see picture)

 Sew right on off the edge of the binding/quilt and cut your threads, this is what you should get:

 Next, you will create the corner of your binding.  (A picture is worth a thousand words)

Using your finger, make a diagonal crease at a 45 degree angle to your binding, and bring the next section of binding up to line up, square with the edge of the quilt.  

(that makes no sense, but check out the next few pictures for a step-by-step process of what to do!)

 get it?

You just have to be able to line up the raw edges of your binding with the raw edge of the quilt again...and you need a little excess room when you turn the corner.  

Next, stitch from the very edge of the quilt, with 1/4 inch seam just as you did previously.

 This is what it should look like after it's been stitched down.  

  Continuing sewing just as you did until you come to another corner...and then lather, rinse, repeat until you've conquered all corners!

Once you turn the last corner, think ahead to where you started!  Make sure to stop a few inches before your starting point to prepare.  (we stopped a little too close in these pics, but you'll get the point!)

You're basically going to tuck one end into the other and sew it down, but in order to prevent raggedy edges, and fraying, you just need to fold one side under before you tuck the other side into it.  See the pictures below:

We stopped exactly at our starting point.  Ideally, you'd stop a few inches before that.  

 Trim off the remaining end of your binding...making sure to leave enough binding so that when you tuck it in, you'll have enough to fold, and still cover the quilt.  

 Here's our cut piece.  

 Fold one end under about 1/4 inch.  (it doesn't matter which side you do)

 Here's the folded edge laying on top of the binding we started with.  

 Next, you'll just tuck the beginning piece inside the folded piece...

 and sew right on top of it!

 When you flip it over, this is what it should look like:

 This is what your corner should look like when you flip it over

 All you have left to do is whip-stitch the binding that you just sewed on, to the back of the quilt.  Here's a little review of the whip stitch.(the faux tie tutorial)

Fold your binding over from the front of your quilt, to the back, you should get this.  

 make like your granny and handstitch it all the way around:

 You should barely see your stitches!

 When you come to a corner, stitch until you get to the perpendicular seam and tack it down.  the fold the excess binding over to meet the other seam, and stitch that down.  

 ta-daaaa

I hope this was helpful!

happy binding!

ps...find linkys here!