How to Self Bind a Quilt
Ever get tired of messing with quilt binding? Sometimes you can’t find the right color or if you do, you have to buy multiple packages and then have to sew them into continuous binding. Such a hassle!
But, there is another way! Try self binding! With this method- problem solved, money saved, and (most importantly) the binding automatically coordinates with the quilt!
For this tutorial, I worked on a quilt for my dinosaur obsessed son. When I say obsessed, I mean OBSESSED. His excitement about all things dinosaurs rivals my own passion for sewing. This gave us the best of both worlds- I get to quilt, he gets a dinosaur blanket, and I don’t have to mess with binding. Everybody wins :) Follow along with me to learn how to make your very own self-bound quilt!
Materials needed are:
- Pre-tied/quilted blanket
- Thread that matches or coordinates with the back fabric (I used black thread to match the background of the backing)
Tools used:
- Stitch Guide Foot (presser foot #24 in the Madam Sew presser foot set)
- Scissors
- Seam guide
- Pins
Step #1:
Lay out your quilt and trim the batting to fit the top of the quilt. This makes it so the binding isn’t so bulky.
Step #2:
If needed, trim the top of the quilt to make sure the back is even all the way around. With this blanket, I needed to trim about ½” off the top and bottom edges to make sure I had the same amount of backing showing all around the blanket. Not all blankets are the same, so just adjust the measurements to your preference.
Step #3:
I wanted a ½” wide binded edge for the finished look so I made sure to have about 1 ¼” as my back to top edge width.
Step #4:
Next, I folded ½” in to start. I didn’t cut the selvage edge off because I knew that it would get folded under and not show when I was finished.
Step #5:
Fold it over again, this time bringing the edge over the top of the blanket. I made sure to measure it again to make sure it was ½” wide. Better to measure twice (or three or four times) than to have an uneven edge.
Step #6:
Pin in place. Do steps 5 and 6 all the way around the blanket. Don’t prick yourself with the pins. I have done that SO MANY TIMES. #quilterlife, am I right?
Step #7:
When you come to the corner, you want to make sure that you have enough “work room” -so don’t pin right up to the corner on one side. If you pin all the way to the edge, you won’t have enough room for Step #8. Personally, I leave 5-10 inches of unpinned fabric, to give myself enough room.
Step #8:
You take the folded edge and bring it diagonally to the edge to form a triangle. This will create your mitered corner, giving you that crisp-edge look to your final project.
Step #9:
Next, you fold ½” in on the unfolded side and then fold it again, in-casing the triangle. Make sure the fold is ½” wide or that it matches whatever width your binded edge is. Pin in place. Do this for all corners.
Step #10:
Once your quilt edge is all pinned, now you’re ready to sew! When sewing binding, I like to start about halfway down one of the sides. That way I’m not starting or ending right at a corner.
With the stitch guide presser foot, there are two ways to get it set up to give you that perfect seam. If you prefer to sew with your needle set to the left, line up your blanket so the outside edge is lining up with the 6th notch from the right. If you prefer your needle centered, then line up the outside blanket edge with the 4th notch from the right. (See below for images)
Step #11:
When you come to the corners, sew halfway to the edge of the blanket, making sure to catch the fold. Keeping your needle in the fabric, lift your presser foot, and turn the blanket to make sure the seam width is the same.
Once the binding is all sewn, you can now enjoy your quilt! Or in this case, my son can, since it’s his summer blanket. I can already hear him roaring his approval, T-Rex style :)
And there you have it--self binding. It’s a beautiful thing. Madam Sew’s stitch guide presser foot makes it sew easy and sew simple. I love it. Self binding is a breeze.
When you have finished your self-binding project, feel free to share it with us! You can find us on Facebook or you can comment here. What is your favorite thing to do with YOUR presser foot?
Happy quilting!!
10 comments
Thank you for the wonderful instructions. I am making an heirloom quilt with our family crest painted on it, will be hand quilting a diamond pattern with stitching around the crest parts. I will also make matching pillow shams. I have done this before back in the 1970’s for my in-laws with Tri-Chem paints. This time I am using Fabric Ink and just outlining the parts with black Ballpoint Fabric Paint. I have used a Queen-sized sheet for the top and will put another white on white fabric for the back. The previous quilt was finished with a 2" binding, folding for sewing to 1-1/4" finished binding. I hand quilted this binding also with a whip stitch. I do NOT want to do that binding again. It is starting to wear and I should probably replace it, but that is not a project I look forward to. I don’t know if I should make the same sized self-quilted edge with this quilt. I still plan on finishing the edging by hand with the same whip stitch I used before. I appreciate the instructions on mitered corners. I did not do that on my earlier project, but will this time. I’m NOT a quilter per se. I am best at crochet and other crafts. However, I want this to be raffled off at our National Family Reunion next year and I want it to be looking it’s best. I am also making matching pillow shams and quilting them by hand. I could use some advise on making the pillow shams. The last ones I did in the 1970’s were not the best quality. The quilting was okay. It was the construction that was not done right. It was my first attempt at such an undertaking of that whole project. Thank you for all of you input, expertise and I love the sewing machine feet. I use them a lot on other projects.
I finished a quilt for my grandson this last Christmas with the same material you used. It was flannel with a dark blue on the other side. It was not a true quilt with pieces, just two sides with batting in the middle. I was ecstatic that it turned out as well as it did. your post gives me hope that I can do better.
What a great idea to do a mitered corner. Thank you
that is very good instructions but don’t have a stich guide presser foot
Looks really good to a lefty like me!