quilt binding

This article is part of a two-part Quilting Basics series. Part one is available here.

Quilting

Quilting is the stitching that holds the quilt top, batting, and backing together.

The quilting (stitching) of the three layers of fabric can be done simply by tying the three layers together with yarn or heavy thread. Most quilts are quilted utilizing one of these common methods of:

Free Motion Quilting

This is usually performed utilizing a domestic sewing machine (the kind that you use to sew the top). This is where the quilt sandwich (quilt top, batting, and backing) is moved “under” the sewing machine needle. To learn a few of the basics of Free Motion quilting, watch this short video by Leah Day.

Long Arm Quilting

Another method of quilting is using a “sit down” Long Arm machine. These machines have a large arm opening and large table surrounding the sewing machine head that allows for the ease of moving the quilt around. these are specialized quilting machines designed specifically for the quilting process. Long Arm Quilting machines have a large frame where the quilt layers are attached to rollers. The sewing machine head is driven “over” the quilt sandwich. These machines can be driven manually by the quilter or be fitted with a computer that drives the sewing machine head.

Hand Quilting

Hand quilting is the oldest method of quilting and is still done today. The quilter assembles the quilt “sandwich” and then will baste or pin the three layers together loosely to hold it in place. The quilting pattern is then marked with a removable marker. The quilter places the sandwich loosely in a frame or hoop and a very short quilting needle called a “between” is used to stitch the quilting pattern.

Quilting Patterns

Quilting patterns can be very simple, such as just straight lines, or can be very fancy and intricate.

Simple Grid Quilting Example

Quilt made and quilted by Diana Quinn, Marietta, GA

Custom Intricate Quilting Example

Quilt made by Diana Quinn, Marietta GA; Quilting by Terri Taylor, Marietta, GA

Binding

Binding is strips of fabric that wrap from the front to back of the quilt, finishing the raw edges.

Once the three layers of a quilt are quilted, the quilt is then trimmed to remove any excess batting and backing fabric. That leaves “raw edges” that need to be covered to finish the quilt.

To create the binding, strips of fabric are sewn together to be one long piece of fabric. The most common widths of binding strips are 2 ¼” and 2 ½”.

After being sewn together, the strips are pressed in half creating a “double fold.” The double folded fabric is then sewn to the front of the quilt and wrapped around to the back of the quilt.

Quilt with Binding attached; Quilt by Diana Quinn, Marietta GA

There are many different methods of making and attaching binding. To learn more on how to Make Quilt Binding and How to Bind and Finish a Quilt here a couple of videos from Sew Very Easy:

Border

The border is strips of fabric that surround the center of the quilt top.

Borders are used to “frame” a quilt much like one would frame a picture. The border around the center of the quilt may be a single piece of fabric or may be made of up of pieced pieces of a fabrics (blocks). Some quilts may have multiple borders to provide more interest. Not all quilts will have borders, and that decision is left up to the discretion of the quilt maker.

Quilts by Diana Quinn, Marietta. GA

Sashing

Sashing is the strips of fabric between the quilt blocks.

Sometimes quilt blocks are stand alone and are not connected to adjacent blocks in the quilt. To give each block its own space strips of fabric are sewn in between the blocks and this is known as sashing. In the sashing example below, it should be noted that the square blocks (dark red) in between the sashing strips are known as “Corner Stones.” Corner Stones are used to keep the blocks aligned.

Quilting is such an artistic expression of the art and skill of sewing and there is much to say and learn about the topic. Hopefully, this discussion of a few of the fundamentals has piqued your interest in quilting. To begin learning, reach out to your local ASG Chapter to meet members who quilt or look up local quilts shops in your area and start taking classes!

~Diana Quinn, ASG Atlanta Chapter

I consider myself a very novice quilter although others have said I’m more intermediate to beginner-advanced. I’ve been sewing for years, I can read a pattern, sew an accurate seam allowance, and love using software and a long-arm to do my quilting. My goal has been to “perfect” (for my little quilting world) a quilt binding “join.” That said, I have tried various different methods (see videos in the members only area) and think I’ve landed on something that pretty much comes out correctly time and again.

Developing my own method

Years ago I was watching Marianne Fons (Fons & Porter) demonstrate her method of binding. I didn’t care for the trial-and-error methodology but used that as a base to create a method that works for me every single time. I use a low-loft cotton batting in most of my projects; if I were to use a different batting, a little more experimentation would be needed to figure out the measurement of the gap to leave to be sure the join is smooth.

1. Start by applying the binding as you normally would, mitering the corners.

2. Sew the binding to the quilt sandwich leaving about a 12″ area un-sewn. Find the center of the un-sewn area and place a pin.

3. Turn the piece so the un-sewn binding is now at the top facing you. Bring the right side binding to the center pin and create a fold in the binding at the pin as shown.

4. Bring the left side binding to within 3/16″ of the right side binding and fold in place. After trial and error, I figured out this measurement works for the low-loft cotton batting I use for most of my projects. If I were using a higher loft batting like a wool, I would test and discover what that measurement would be for that particular batting.

5. Now cut off a section from the end of the binding—about a 2”-3” piece will do. This little piece is going to be used as a measuring tool.

6. Lay the folded edge of the piece just cut, on top of the right binding, at the fold line. Make sure the folds align exactly.

7. Cut the loose part of the right binding even with the cut edge of the measuring piece.

8. Remove the excess right binding and the measuring piece; they are no longer needed.

9. Next, take the end of the right binding

10. and flip it to the left over the left binding.

11. Trim the excess left binding loose-piece even with the cut edge that was just flipped from the right.

12. Remove the excess left binding. Next will be to sew the join.

13. Position the right binding out of the way. We’ll work with the left binding section first.

14. Open up the left binding piece. Flip the left binding piece over so the right side of the fabric is facing up.

15. Open up the right binding piece.

16. Meet the right binding piece over the left, right sides should be together, and cut edges should match as shown; pin the binding sections together.

17. The seam will be sewn from the upper left corner to the lower right corner.

18. Using a 2mm stitch length, sew from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. Be sure the cut edges remain aligned.

19. This is what the sewn seam looks like. Before trimming the binding,

20. Fold the binding down as it will be once finished. The join should be smooth and the binding should match the quilt sandwich 1:1 with no extra ease nor should the binding and join be too short to cause the quilt sandwich to bunch up.

21. If everything is satisfactory, then open up the binding again and trim away the excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

22. Fold the binding back into position and stitch the remaining section to the quilt sandwich. Begin a few stitches from where the stitching ended,

23. and continue to sew the seam, sewing a few stitches over the beginning stitches. Complete the the binding by sewing it to the project as you normally would either by hand or by machine.

I hope the few additional steps of actually measuring the gap left and using the binding itself to measure and cut, will result in a smoothly joined binding for you as it does for me.

Sew ‘til next time…enjoy the journey of sewing!

~Ramona

P.S. If you’d like to learn more sewing, machine embroidery, and quilting tips and tricks, join an ASG Chapter! There are free classes on the website and the chapters have events, classes; neighborhood group have members eager to share and help with your sewing.

Quilting Terms: Quilting, Borders and Sashing