Change up the way you make your quilt binding

In yesterday’s post, I finished the quilt top by adding rickrack to embellish it. Today we’ll look at an interesting way to make the binding.

The finished size of the quilt is 38″ x 48″. It’s sized so that you just need one width of fabric 54″ long [1.4m]. You could also use the leftover Cosmic Fusion fabric to make a pieced backing.

Layer backing fabric, batting and quilt top, making sure to center the quilt top on the backing.

Baste the layers together. Quilt as desired.

Trim excess backing and batting to square-up the quilt top.

For the binding I decided to use the leftover dark blue and green fabrics. I like to use a ½” finished-size binding, so I cut strips 3″ wide x WOF (width of fabric). I cut enough strips so they would go all around the quilt with about 8″ extra.

Here’s how you can make this binding too.

Cut the ends of all binding strips on a 45° or 60° angle.

Sew the 3″ binding strips together, end to end, to make one strip long enough to go all around the quilt. Press seams open.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together. Press.

Press under ¼” on one angled end of the binding.

Lay the binding on top of the quilt so the folded cut edge is approximately at the center of one side. Align the cut edge of the binding with the edge of the quilt.

Starting about 10″ from the corner and using a scant ½” seam allowance, start sewing the binding. Stop sewing ½” from the edge of the quilt and backstitch to secure. Tip: Use a walking foot or even-feed foot.

Fold binding up and then back down on itself to create a mitered corner. Sew from the edge of the quilt toward the next corner. Stop sewing ½” from the corner and back stitch to secure. Continue sewing the binding on the remaining sides in the same way.

When you come to the last side, sew for a few inches and then stop.

Tuck the unfolded end of the binding inside the folded end.

Adjust the binding so it fits along the edge of the quilt. Trim off excess binding. Finish sewing binding.

Fold the binding over to the back and hand-stitch in place. At each corner, fold the binding to create a 45° mitered corner. This can be stitched down or not, as desired.

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how this modern baby quilt will look using the other colorways from the Northcott Cosmic Fusion fabric collection.