How To Bind A Quilt Using Bias Tape

How to Bind a Quilt Using Bias Tape: A Step-by-Step Guide

Binding a quilt is the final, crucial step in creating a beautiful and durable heirloom. While there are several methods, using bias tape offers a clean, professional finish that's relatively easy to master. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step, helping you achieve a perfectly bound quilt.

Why Choose Bias Tape for Quilt Binding?

Bias tape, cut on the diagonal of the fabric, offers several advantages: it stretches more easily than straight-grain strips, making it easier to negotiate the curves and corners of your quilt. This flexibility results in a smoother, more professional-looking finish. Additionally, it's readily available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, allowing for a customized look to match your quilt perfectly.

Materials You'll Need:

• Your Finished Quilt Top: Make sure it's pressed and ready for binding!
• Bias Tape: Calculate the amount needed – generally, you'll need 2.5-3 times the perimeter of your quilt. Account for extra for mistakes and matching patterns. Pre-made bias tape simplifies the process, but you can also make your own.
• Iron and Ironing Board: Crucial for crisp folds and a neat appearance.
• Rotary Cutter and Mat (Optional but Recommended): For precise cutting.
• Scissors: For trimming excess tape.
• Pins: To secure the bias tape to the quilt.
• Sewing Machine: (or needle and thread for hand-sewing, though this method is time-consuming.)
• Matching Thread: Choose thread that complements your quilt's colors and blends seamlessly with the binding.

Step-by-Step Guide to Binding Your Quilt with Bias Tape:

Step 1: Preparing the Bias Tape

If using pre-cut bias tape, simply press it open along its entire length to create a crease down the center. This crease will serve as your guide during sewing. If using self-made bias tape, you will need to press your bias strips in half lengthwise, then press again to create a precise center crease.

Step 2: Attaching the Binding to the Quilt

Starting the Binding: Begin attaching the bias tape to one edge of your quilt, usually a straight edge. Pin the raw edges of the bias tape to the raw edge of the quilt, aligning them carefully. Stitch close to the folded edge of the bias tape, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Mitering the Corners: When you reach a corner, carefully fold the bias tape to form a 45-degree angle. Pin it in place, ensuring a neat, square corner. Stitch across the corner, again maintaining a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Continuing Around the Quilt: Continue sewing the bias tape around the perimeter of your quilt, mitering the corners as you go. Keep the bias tape taut but not stretched to prevent puckering.

Step 3: Joining the Binding

When you reach the starting point, overlap the ends of the bias tape by a few inches. Trim the excess so that the two edges neatly align. Stitch the seam securely, then fold the ends underneath to create a clean, invisible join.

Step 4: Finishing the Binding

Once the bias tape is stitched to the front of the quilt, fold the bias tape over the raw edges of the quilt and to the back. This should create a neat, encased edge. Pin the folded edge in place all the way around the quilt.

Step 5: Stitching the Binding to the Back

Using a blind stitch (by hand) or a very close stitch on your sewing machine (following the edge of the folded bias tape on the back), secure the bias tape to the back of the quilt. This final stitch keeps the binding firmly in place.

Tips for Success:

• Press as you go: Regular pressing prevents wrinkles and ensures a professional finish.
• Use plenty of pins: This will keep the bias tape in place and prevent shifting while stitching.
• Take your time: Rushing will likely lead to mistakes. Patience is key to a beautifully bound quilt.
• Practice on scraps: Before working on your precious quilt, practice the mitering corners and joining technique on scrap fabric.

By following these steps, you can create a beautifully bound quilt that you'll cherish for years to come. Happy quilting!