Friday 28 February 2014

How To Join a Quilt Binding: My 3-Pin Method





Sew your binding onto your quilt leaving a space
between the beginning and end of approx. 20".
Leave long tails of at least 18" on both ends of your binding
to accommodate for the join.
Use a 2 1/2" binding, folded in half.
(Update February 2017:  This also works for 2 1/4" bindings).
These photos show a machine sewn method that is attached from the back,
then folded over and machine topstitched to the front of the quilt.
 

Supplies:  2 long straight pins and a safety pin.


     


Bring the ends of your bindings together, pulling taut (but not stretching), 
folding them back where they meet.   Center these folds along the 20" opening.  


Holding taut, pin the left side of the binding to your quilt where it meets the right fold.  
Pin thru one layer of the binding fabric as in the photo.  


 Fold the left side back.  
Using this photo for reference, pin the right side of the binding to your quilt
where it meets the left fold that you have just pinned,
 
The 2 pins should be next to each other, pinned to your quilt. 


Fold the right side back. 


Open the binding.  
Insert the safety pin thru both layers of the binding fabric, 1/4" from the edge.  
Close the safety pin.  
This becomes your pivot point.   



Remove the 2 straight pins.  


Pivot the binding ends, perpendicular to each other,  using the safety pin as your pivot point. 
Make sure the fabric at the safety pin stays together.  
The safety pin will now be on the seam line.  


With the 2 straight pins, secure your bias seam line.  


Sew the bias seam as in this photo, 
removing the straight pins and safety pin as you sew.  


Trim the ends of the seam and finger press open.  


Pull the binding apart for a perfect fit 
with a beautiful bias seam!


I am happy to share all information, images and tutorials from this blog,  
with links and credit given to Quilters…Enjoy Color!   
The contents on this blog are the property of Melanie Rudy at Quilters…Enjoy Color!    
Email:  quiltersenjoycolor@gmail.com



Tutorial: HOW TO APPLY QUILT BORDERS
 



6 comments:

  1. Thank you so very much for this explanation. You make it look so simple.

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  2. Thank you for these instructions. This is the easiest and quickest way I have found to make that last bias seam.

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  3. I will definitely try this technique on my next binding! Thanks!

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    1. You are most welcome. Thank you for reading my blog :)

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  4. I always have trouble joining these even when I use the binding tool. I'm going to try this. First I've read where I actually understood it! Thanks so much.

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    1. I'm so happy that you understand. The pivot point is the key. Happy sewing.

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