How much binding do I need for a quilt?

Add the lengths of all four sides, add 10 to 12 inches for corners and joining, then divide by the usable width of one strip cut across your fabric (often about 40 inches) and round up.

Should I bind a quilt by hand or by machine?

Hand binding leaves no visible stitches on the front and suits heirloom quilts. Machine binding is faster and holds up well to frequent washing. Both are correct.

Can Krafty Bandit make a quilt for me?

Yes. Krafty Bandit makes custom memory quilts, traditional quilts, and blankets by hand in Belle Vernon, PA, and accepts mailed-in clothing and fabric from anywhere in the United States. Start with the custom order form.

How to Bind a Quilt: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Binding is the last step in finishing a quilt. It wraps the raw edges in a narrow strip of fabric so the quilt holds up to years of use and washing. This guide walks through the most common method, a double-fold binding, step by step. If you would rather have a finished quilt made for you, we sew custom and traditional quilts in our Belle Vernon shop in the Mon Valley. Start through our custom order form.

What is quilt binding?

Binding is a strip of fabric folded over the outside edge of a quilt. It covers the raw edges of the quilt top, batting, and backing, and it frames the quilt like a border. Most quilters use a double-fold binding, which is a strip folded in half lengthwise so two layers of fabric protect the edge. That extra layer helps the edge last, because the edge is the part of a quilt that wears first.

What you need

A finished, quilted quilt with the excess batting and backing trimmed even with the quilt top
Binding fabric (cotton is the usual choice)
A rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat
A sewing machine and thread that blends with your binding
Pins or binding clips
A hand-sewing needle, if you plan to finish by hand

How much binding do I need?

Measure the perimeter. Add the lengths of all four sides of the quilt.
Add extra for corners and joining. Quilters commonly add 10 to 12 inches.
Count your strips. Divide that total by the usable width of one strip cut across your fabric (often about 40 inches), then round up.

Many quilters cut binding strips 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inches wide. A wider strip is a little more forgiving for beginners.

Step-by-step: how to bind a quilt

Join the strips. Lay two strips right sides together at a right angle and sew a diagonal seam from corner to corner. Trim to 1/4 inch and press the seam open. Repeat until you have one long strip. Diagonal seams spread the bulk so the joins lie flat.
Press it in half. Fold the long strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
Sew it to the front. Start in the middle of one side, not at a corner. Leave a tail of about 8 inches. Line the raw edges of the binding up with the edge of the quilt top and sew with a 1/4 inch seam.
Miter the corners. Stop 1/4 inch before a corner and backstitch. Fold the binding up at a 45 degree angle, then fold it back down along the next edge, and start sewing again from the top. This makes a neat folded corner on the front and back.
Join the ends. Stop sewing several inches before your starting point. Overlap the two tails, trim, and sew them together so the binding lies flat. Then finish the seam.
Fold to the back. Wrap the folded edge of the binding around to the back of the quilt so it just covers your stitching line. Clip it in place.
Finish the back. Hand-stitch the fold to the backing with a small blind stitch or ladder stitch for an invisible finish, or machine-stitch it for a faster, sturdier finish that suits quilts that get washed often.

Hand binding or machine binding?

Hand binding takes longer but leaves no visible stitches on the front, so many quilters choose it for heirloom and gift quilts. Machine binding is faster and holds up well to frequent washing, which makes it a good fit for kids' quilts and everyday throws. Both are correct. Pick the one that fits how the quilt will be used.

Common binding mistakes to avoid

Starting at a corner. Starting mid-side makes the final join much easier.
Stretching the binding. Pulling the strip as you sew can make the edges wavy.
Skipping the trim. Uneven batting or backing under the binding makes the edge lumpy.
Bulky seams. Straight seams on the strip pile up fabric. Diagonal seams lie flat.

Caring for a finished quilt

Once the binding is done, gentle care keeps it looking new. Our handmade quilt care guide covers washing, drying, and storage.

Want a quilt made for you?

Not every project needs to be a DIY project. We make custom memory quilts, traditional quilts, and blankets by hand in Belle Vernon, PA, serving the Mon Valley and Greater Pittsburgh area, and we accept mailed-in clothing and fabric from anywhere in the United States. Begin with our custom order form, read what a memory quilt is, or browse quilts, blankets, and keepsakes.