5 tips to create the best ever quilt binding finish

In yesterday’s post, I quilted my table runner so in this final blog post of the week, I want to share my 5 tips to create the best ever binding finish. This project, made with the beautiful Kayana Autumn Collection by Banyan Batiks is the perfect example of how you can play with the fabric in your binding to get the final touch just right in your table runner.

I usually make a binding by adding the strips at an angle so that it’s virtually impossible to determine where the binding process actually began. But I wanted it to be different for this piece as I had a beautiful corner block showing off a light fabric along with the main piece that changed color along the way. So I needed the binding to showcase the same changes.

Now for the record, I always cut my binding strips at 2¼” and fold in half so that I have a double layer binding to ensure longevity. For this project, I started by picking the fabrics and setting them beside the table runner in order to determine which should go where for a better visual impact.

Once I had determined which strip went where, I was able to see which needed to be joined at an angle and which needed to be joined in a straight line. Usually, I don’t recommend joining the strips end to end as the joining area will be bulkier. But the visual impact of adding a light fabric binding edge along the corner block area on this piece outweighed the bulkiness.

I still joined all the other pieces at a 45° angle and sewed them to the table runner before making that corner. Here are the steps:

• Lay the two ends that are to be joined, with right sides together, at a 90° angle. I usually ensure that they overlap each other so that I can clearly see the corners.
• Sew corner to corner across. Look closely at the picture to ensure you’re sewing on the correct angle.
• Cut off the excess fabric, open the seams, and press with an iron.

Repeat to join all the binding strips, with the exception of the light colored binding. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and iron the fold.

Begin stitching on the top side of the table runner. Now you’ll want to sew the strip clockwise, so start about 6″ – 8″ from the edge of the light colored block and sew all the way until you reach 6″ – 8″ from the other edge of the light colored block.

Stop sewing at a ¼” from the actual corner, leaving the needle down in the table runner.

Rotate the table runner to sew out to the corner edge.

Take the loose end of your binding and fold away from the table runner, using the seam you just made sewing to the edge of the corner.

Take the long end of the binding once more and fold it back so that the raw edge of the binding lines up with the raw edge of the next section of the table runner.

Begin sewing from the corner edge.

Align the binding to the side of the table runner and overlap the other binding edge.

I like to use the Omnigrid Marking Ruler to make this part. I set the center of the ruler on the seam of the block and I then mark the ¼” seam along each binding.

Ensure the mark is in excess on the right side (see picture below). Cut on the mark and sew binding edge to edge. Then sew the binding to the edge of the table runner.

Here’s my final trick that I just love when I’m in a hurry to finish a project and really want a perfect binding finish.

I use ¼” HeatnBond Quilter’s Edge Iron-On Adhesive Tape on the edge of the back of the table runner and position the edge of the binding over the tape and iron to hold.

Position the binding as you want it to look once finished as the iron sets it to the tape and the back of the table runner. Then position the table runner top facing you and stitch in the ditch of the binding. This will be the final step to a perfect finish.

Hope these 5 tips will help you create your best ever binding finish. Hope you enjoyed this beautiful project using the Kayana Autumn Collection by Banyan Batiks. I think this is the best weekend project ever!