How to machine bind a quilt?
Whether you are a beginner, expert, or somewhere in between, we all know how frustrating it is to learn to sew and not know how to do the most basic of tasks, such as binding a quilt.
In quilting, there are a lot of different ways to use your sewing machine. Some people learn to sew by sewing straight seams, others by sewing curves.
While others learn to sew by cutting out pieces to fit the spaces around the curves. However, in order to do any of these things, you must learn how to bind.
Quilting is an art form that has been around for centuries. It involves piecing together fabric pieces to create a beautiful piece of art.
Yes, if you want to learn how to quilt, then you should start with learning how to bind a quilt. Binding a quilt is the last step before you put it away. It is also the first thing people see when they open the package.
In this article, I am going to teach you how to bind a quilted project using a simple method that works every time.
Guide to Bind a Quilt on the Sewing Machine
The following list will help guide you through making a professional-looking bound edge:
1. Read the instructions carefully so that you can make sure everything goes smoothly. If anything seems odd, ask questions. You might need more information than what was provided.
2. Start at one corner of the top and work toward the other end. This way, no matter which side you choose, you always have something to hold on to while stitching.
3. Use basting stitches to keep the layers from shifting during the final stages of sewing. These stitches will be removed later.
4. Once you reach the beginning point of the next row, remove the thread tail and bring up another new needle.
Then continue across the entire length of the seam until you’ve reached the opposite corner. Continue working along each line of stitching in the same manner.
5. Finish the last stitch and trim the excess threads. Be careful not to cut too close to the actual raw edges.
Then fold back over the ends of the rows and press them flat. They now become the finished outer edges of the quilt.
6. Now, take both sides of the quilt and pull down firmly to secure the two layers into place. Do this by holding the outside edges against either side of the quilt with one hand and pulling down with the other.
Make sure the bottom edges stay tucked inside the body of the quilt.
7. Check the results closely and adjust accordingly. Remember, you don’t have to finish binding perfectly; just get it done!
Here’s How To Bind a Quilt Step By Step
You can bind a quilt on your sewing machine by using a walking presser foot. Here’s how.
Step 1: Set up your sewing machine. Set your machine to a regular stitch and a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Make sure your machine is in a zigzag stitch setting.
Step 2: Prep your quilt project. Line up your quilt top and batting and pin them together.
Step 3: Prepare your sewing machine. Put the batting on top of the quilt top, making sure it’s smooth and flat. Insert the quilt in your machine.
Step 4: Sew the quilt pattern. Sew the quilt by following a diagonal seam line.
Step 5: Sew the binding. Choose a fabric strip that coordinates with your quilt. Sew it onto the quilt in small sections.
Step 6: Finish the binding. Iron the binding to make it look nice and flat.
Step 7: Enjoy! Support your finished quilt by hanging it on a wall or laying it on a bed.
Additional way to bind a quilt
- To begin, lay the backing right side down on a table or countertop. Next, pick the width and height of the machine binding.
- Then decide if you want your binding to extend all the way around or stop short as shown below.
- Next, determine where you’d like the raw edge of the binding to start and mark these points with pins.
- After doing so, draw lines connecting the starting and ending points. Cut out the fabric between the drawn lines.
- From here, use an iron and pressing cloth to flatten the newly cut strip. Fold it longways, then unfold again.
- Repeat this quilting process four times until the strip has been flattened completely.
Now comes the fun part – attaching it to the front of the quilt by machine.
- First, position the binding so that the straight grain runs parallel to the centerline of the entire quilt by machine. Take care not to stretch the binding when positioning it properly. It should overlap the previous section of binding slightly.
- This means there will be a small gap created between the sections of the original piece of fabric. That said, do not worry about making things perfect. Just try to ensure that the pieces remain aligned smoothly.
- Once everything looks correct, pin the first segment of binding to the front of the project. Begin stitching near the leftmost raw edge of the binding. Leave several inches unbound before stapling the rest of the binding.
- When stapled, check the result carefully. Adjust any loose areas with tailor tacks if necessary. For best results, staple every 2-3″ along the entire piece.
- Then finish the binding. Iron the binding to make it look nice and flat.
What Stitch do you used to Bind a Quilt?
Are you ready to make a machine quilt? Maybe you want to try hand quilting or maybe you want to try sewing a normal quilt on a sewing machine or maybe you are looking for a good stitch for hand quilting.
The stich used to bind a quilt is known as the Chain Stich or the Herringbone Stich. This decorative stitch creates a very durable and tight diagonal seam between two layers of fabric, which makes it perfect for quilts.
From machine sewing to hand-stitching process to delicate embroidery, there are many methods available to the quilter.
When quilting, you can use a zigzag stitch to improve the stitch quality by using a stitch length of 0.3-0.5 mm. Make sure the larger needle is always moving in the same direction.
Few Tips
Bindings are usually made of cotton because it is strong yet soft enough to prevent fraying. In fact, even though some people like polyester bindings better, they still recommend using high quality cotton since it provides years of service without having to replace it.
If you prefer a lightweight binding, buy low-weight cotton but remember, you may replace it sooner rather than later.
Even though you may think that a certain type of material would look great, it won’t stand up well to constant wear and tear. Therefore, it makes sense to invest in materials that will give you many years of good service.
You don’t have to spend a fortune buying supplies for quilt binding. There are plenty of options available to anyone looking to save money.
Here are a few suggestions:
• Buy pre-cut strips instead of purchasing readymade ones.
• Create custom patterns for easy measuring.
• Find old clothes and repurpose them.
• Look online for free quilting tutorial about how to make homemade binding.
