Part 6: Create your binding

Part 6 - Create Your Binding

Quilting is the process of stitching those three layers together. The stitching can be plain and utilitarian, a straight line, or you can use curves or stitch in shapes.

In this lesson, you will need:

• Batting
• Quilt top
• Masking tape
• Quilter's pins
• Thread
• No 8 cotton pearl thread
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Pressing mat
• Scrap fabric for your binding
• Rotary cutter
• Scissors

Create your binding

You want to join your strips together to create a long, continuous strip of binding. You will join diagonally to hide the join better and reduce the bulk.

Align your binding strips right sides facing

1. Align your binding strips right sides facing, perpendicular to each other.

Tip: when using a patterned fabric, check which is the right side.

1. Pin the two pieces in place, making sure to overlap them by about 1 cm (⅜ in) on each side.
2. Line up the two binding strips.
3. Line up the needle of your machine with the point of the top binding strip. Lower the foot of your machine.
4. Do a small backstitch to secure your stitches.
5. Take your stitches across the diagonal binding strip.

Tip: once you've sewn two strips together, you can keep going. You don't need to remove it from the machine.

1. Take the tail of your next binding strip, making sure the right sides are facing.
2. Take your next strip and layer it to the right side facing the right side of your previous strip. You are just going to repeat.
3. Repeat steps 4–6 for each binding.
4. Once you've finished, remove your binding from your sewing machine.

Align your binding strips right sides facing

Tip: when stitching your binding together, use thread that matches your binding, so your seams are even less visible when you come to bind your quilt later.

1. Take some snips or scissors and disconnect the two bindings from each other.
2. Trim off the excess binding strip, trimming off about 1.5 cm (just over 0.5 in) of seam allowance.
3. Press open your seams with an iron.
4. Once all your seams are pressed, fold the long strip in half lengthways.
5. Press along the folded edge to create a continuous length of binding ready to attach to your quilt.
6. Once it's sewn together, wind it up and make it nice and tidy.