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| Easy Endless Binding |
| Here's a step-by-step method to create what I call Endless Binding. It does not use a bumpy, folded overlap where the ends meet, but a mitered seam that matches all the others in the binding. When you're done, it's next to impossible to tell where you started and where you stopped. As an added bonus, the process of joining the two ends virtually eliminates accidental twisting, which we all know can happen far too easily. |
| CHESTER COUNTY QUILTING 206 Village at Eland, Route 113, Phoenixville, PA 19460 Phone - 610.917.2527 Fax - 610.917.0141 Contact - ChesterCountyQuilting@verizon.net |
| Cut your fabric strips, selvage to selvage, to the width you prefer. 2.25, 2.5 and 2.75 inches are the most common sizes. Cut as many strips as you need to go around the circumference of your quilt, plus an extra 10 to 12 inches. |
| Trim off all the selvages. The extra-tight weave of the selvages won't shrink at the same rate as the rest of the fabric, which will cause puckering. |
| Take the first two pieces of binding fabric, and lay them at 90 degree angles to each other, lining the top and right-hand edges together. |
| Trim the seam allowance to 1/4". |
| Here is the properly sewn seam. |
| Draw a line across the fabric, connecting the corners of the strips to each other. Stitch the seam. |
| Starting about 6 inches from the end of your binding, start attaching the binding to the quilt top (right side) by sewing in 1/4" from the raw edges. |
| Once all your strips are sewn together, fold and press the binding in half lengthwise. |
| To minimize bulky seams, gently press the seam allowance open. Repeat the joining steps until you have the total length of binding required for your project. |
| Next, flip the binding down along the top side of the quilt top, making sure that the raw edges of the binding and the second side match. |
| To turn the binding, fold the strip up at a 90 degree angle. The raw edges of the binding and the quilt top should be in a straight line with each other. |
| Stop sewing 1/4" from the edge of the quilt. Backstitch to reinforce the end of your seam. Cut the threads and remove the quilt from your machine. |
| Fold the left edge up at a 90 degree angle, and fold the right side down. Leave about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch of space between the two sides. |
| Repeat these last four steps until you get to within about 8" of where you first started stitching. |
| Begin sewing at the top edge, reinforcing your first few stitches. Continue until you get to within 1/4 inch of the next corner. |
| Press. |
| On the TOP half of each fold only, carefully cut 1/4" away from the pressed fold. |
| Repeat for both sides. |
| Open out one side of the binding, and finish cutting the fabric to remove the excess binding. You can mark the cut, or eyeball it. |
| Repeat for both ends. |
| Taking advantage of the slack, bring the two raw ends together. Pin. |
| Here's the pinned seam. |
| Carefully sew the seam, taking care not to stretch the bias edges any more than you have to. |
| Remove the pins before you sew over them. |
| Here's the sewn seam. |
| Press the seam allowances open. |
| Refold and press the binding into place. |
| Finish sewing the last part of the binding into place. |
| Trim off the 'dog ears.' |
| There should be no puckers on the completed binding. |
| Using thread that matches the color of the binding, thread your needle and knot it. Push the needle through the binding to the back side of the quilt, just inside the seam allowance. I stitch counterclockwise, usually starting about 3 or 4 inches away from the first corner. |
| Fold the binding over to the back side of the quilt. Make the first stitch close to the edge of the turned binding, making certain that the edge of your binding covers the seam allowance. |
| Using a simple whip stitch, continue stitching until you get to the turned corner, stopping at the seam. |
| Poke your needle to the front side of the quilt, and stitch down the front of the mitered fold. |
| Stitch along the mitered fold to the corner of the quilt. |
| Fold the left side of the binding over to the back, manipulating the corner to create a nice miter. |
| You will end up with a beautiful, even binding, and no one will ever be able to tell where you started and where you stopped. |
| Poke your needle through to back side close to the mitered corner, and continue stitching until your binding is completely turned. |