Binding the Quilt

To determine the length of binding needed, add all four sides of the quilt plus 15" to account for mitered corners and extra binding if needed. If the quilt top measures 50" x 70", the amount of binding needed is 50 + 50 + 70 + 70 + 20 = 260".

To determine the binding yardage, divide the width of the fabric into the amount needed. 260 divided by 40 = 6.5, or seven strips. Multiply the number of strips needed by the binding width (typically 2 1/4" or 2 1/2"). 7 x 2 1/2" = 17.5". Add 3" for miscuts or straightening the fabric. 17.5 + 3 = 20.5". 20.5" divided by 36" = .569" or 5/8 yard.

1. Join the binding strips on short ends with diagonal seams to make one long strip; trim the seams to 1/4" and press the seams open (Figure A).

Leaving an 8" tail, begin sewing the binding to the quilt top in the middle of one side, matching raw edges and using a 1/4" Stop stitching 1/4" from the corner and backstitch (Figure B). Clip the thread.

Fold the binding up at a 45-degree angle to seam it and then fold it down even with the quilt edges, forming a pleat at the corner (Figure C).

2. Resume stitching from the corner edge (Figure D) down the quilt side, backstitching /4" from the next corner. Repeat stitching to within 15" of the starting point and mitering all corners.

3. Trim one end of the binding in the approximate middle of the unsewn space. Lay the other binding end over the trimmed end. Using the end of the trimmed end as a guide, measure 2 1/4" (for 1/2"-wide binding or 2" for 2 1/4" binding) from the end of the trimmed end and trim so there is a binding overlap of 2 1/4".

4. Unfold one end of the binding strip and lay it right side up.

5. Unfold the other end of the binding strip and lay it right side down perpendicular to and on top of the other end of the binding. You may need to fold the quilt out of the way.

6. Use a small ruler to mark a 45-degree line on the binding edges.

7. Place pins on either side of the marked line. Sew on the marked line.

8. Before trimming any excess fabric, test the binding to make sure the seam was sewn correctly by folding the binding flat to make sure it’s not twisted.

9. Trim the excess to 1/4" and .

10. Finish sewing the binding to the quilt.