10 simple steps for binding with perfect corners

Yesterday on QUILTsocial I finished up machine quilting a modern baby quilt using a decorative kite stitch on the Dreamweaver XE from Brother. Today I’m trimming the quilt and I’ll show you 10 simple steps for binding with perfect corners.

The first thing I do is trim the edges of the baby quilt using a rotary cutter and ruler.

It’s always a good idea to label quilts, but I have to admit, it’s my least favorite part of quilting!! This is the solution I’ve come up with.

I ordered embroidered ribbon labels from It’s Mine Labels and I pin one of them to the back of the quilt in one of the corners. I make sure that the raw ends of the ribbon almost reach the raw edge of the quilt. Once the binding is sewn on, the label is secured and there’s no hand stitching required!

Now that I have this Dreamweaver XE embroidery machine, one of these days I’ll try embroidering my own ribbon labels!

I’ve made my binding using a grey Colorworks Solid from Northcott following the same technique I’ve shown in previous QUILTsocial posts.

Now I’ll select the “quilting stitches” key on the LCD screen.

The screen shows that I need to attach the “J” presser foot.

Step 1

Start by sewing the binding to the raw edge of the first side of the quilt and stop ¼” from the end. Back-stitch to sew reinforcement stitches before cutting the thread.

Step 2

Flip the binding to the right of the corner, so that the raw edge of the binding makes a continuous line with the raw edge of the second side of the quilt.

Step 3

Fold the binding over so that the fold is lined up with the first side of the quilt and the raw edge of the binding is laying along the raw edge of the second side of the quilt.

Step 4

Starting right at the folded end of the binding, back-stitch at the edge of the quilt and then sew along the raw edge of the binding using a ¼” seam until you get to the second corner of the quilt. Repeat Steps 1-4.

Step 5

Once the binding is sewn to all four sides of the quilt, go to one corner and fold one side of the binding over to the front of the quilt.

Step 6

Fold the second side of the binding to the front and pin both sides in place, making sure that the edges meet in the corner.

Step 7

Select a decorative stitch on the Dreamweaver XE. If necessary, adjust the width and length of the stitch. I’m using Utility stitch 3-16 which looks a lot like a hand stitched cross-stitch.

Step 8

Working from the front of the quilt, line up the edge of the binding under the presser foot, then press the “Reinforcement Stitch” button to start sewing.

Step 9

Keep sewing along the binding, allowing the decorative stitch to stitch the edge of the binding down. When you get to the corner, use an awl to hold down the corner of the folded binding to make sure that it doesn’t move before it gets stitched.

Step 10

Use the needle down feature on the Dreamweaver XE to drop the needle where the two corners of the binding meet and then pivot to stitch the next side.

Here is my binding, sewn down with stitch 3-16 on the Dreamweaver XE.

And here’s my finished baby quilt, pieced and machine quilted with the Dreamweaver XE from Brother.

I really love how my baby quilt turned out and I’m really happy that I was finally able to use one of the charm packs that my friend Nellie brought me when she returned from Quiltweek in Lancaster last year!

The Brother Dreamweaver XE made piecing and quilting this quilt a delight! I can’t wait to discover more of its great features in next month’s project! Have a great month, see you next time.