How to Sew Binding on a Quilt

So you’ve labored intensively to create the most beautiful quilt top ever to be seen.  It’s all quilted, and the only thing left to do is to bind that sweet thing!!

A lovely fabric binding is the perfect way to finish off your hand-made quilt!

You are going to learn how to bind your quilt on this page.  There are several ways to sew a binding on a quilt, and we will even show you how to self-bind a quilt. 

And if you are adventurous, we have a fantastic tutorial on making a prairie point binding!  Stay with me here!

I’ve made several large quilts, baby quilts, wall hangings, and smaller mug rugs.  Each and every time, I search for a new way to attach my binding to a quilt.  I still haven’t found my favorite way to bind a quilt yet, but I sure am having fun playing with the many ways to do so!

Binding Calculators

The first thing you need to know is how much binding you will need to make it all the way around the project, including the mitered corners and the extra binding needed to attach the binding together at the end.

We have several binding calculators in which you can type your quilt measurements and find the amount of binding needed. I would highly recommend looking at the various binding calculators we’ve listed to find the one you like best. 

And then use it!!!!  Having too little binding is something you want to avoid. (And I prefer to let someone else do the math for me!).  We have a whole collection of quilting calculators available on our Free Online Quilt Calculators and Charts page.

What Fabric to use for your binding

Another thing you’ll want to decide is what you will use for binding, and if it is not purchased, you’ll have to make it. 

You can purchase blanket binding, and we have a tutorial on how to sew blanket binding to your quilt project. 

Satin Blanket binding has a lovely soft, smooth, and silky texture and is great if silky binding is the look you are going for.  Another plus is that its woven edges won’t fray, and it’s already folded for you.

Most quilters make their own binding from quilting fabric.  We will show you how to cut continuous bias binding, giving you one long continuous binding without having to sew the binding strips together.

There is also a video and tutorial showing you how to sew smaller strips of fabric together on the diagonal, creating a beautifully seamed binding strip. 

You can use a machine to make your bias tape binding or do it the old-fashioned way without the fancy machine and without too much stress.  We have tutorials for both methods. 

And leave it to some wonderfully creative person to show you how to easily make your own bias tape with a quick and easy homemade bias tape “machine”.

French Fold Binding

We will show you how to sew a French fold binding, also known as a double-fold binding. This is the binding I use most often, and from what I see in my quilt guild, it is the most common binding.  

However, it involves hand sewing which makes it time consuming. Our video tutorial has very clear instructions on how to sew this French fold binding to your quilt.

Single Fold Binding

If you are interested in a single-fold binding which uses less fabric, we can show you to do that too!  This binding is best for small projects and is believed by most to be less durable than the French fold, double binding above.

Flange Quilt Binding

Another binding is the flange quilt binding. This double-fold quilt binding is attached by machine and completely cuts out the hand sewing portion you’ll find in French fold binding.

Self-Binding

You can learn the fold over quilt binding method as well on this page. It is also known as self binding, where the backing is folded over and used as the binding itself. It’s most often used for small projects, like baby quilts, wall hangings, and table runners. 

Pillowcase Binding

A very quick and easy way to finish a quilt is without binding at all!  This is known as the pillowcase technique or the envelope method.  It’s easy peasy and best used for the smaller quilt projects you create.

Also included on this page is how to make mitered corners, binding a pot-holder with a hanger using only your machine, and binding quilts with non-square corners.

Once you hold up your finished quilt, complete with a binding, it will be a monumental moment!