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Saturday, April 18, 2015

Piped Binding Tutorial

Machine stitched piped binding is a great way to add a wow! factor to binding. I've applied it on several quilts, so it's time for a tutorial on stitching piped binding.


Piped Binding

Binding Preparation:


Start by choosing the main color for the binding, and the accent color. Cut enough main color strips at 1 1/2" wide, and the same amount of the accent color at 1 3/4" wide.


Piped Quilt Binding main and accent strips
Join all of the main color strips together as usual, and do the same for the accent color.


Piped Quilt Binding main and accent strips
Stitch the two strips together, using a 1/4" seam.
Press the seam toward the main color.


Piped Quilt Binding press towards the main color


Fold the edges together, revealing 1/8" of accent color, and press.


Piped Quilt Binding press to reveal the accent color

Applying the Binding:


Starting midway down the quilt's side, apply the binding to the back of the quilt, with the main color face down. This allows the binding to be folded to the front to show the accent color.



Continue stitching binding to the rest of the quilt, stopping to within at least 6" of the starting point, leaving enough for joining.


Joining the binding:

Snugly lay each strip along the edge of the quilt, folding each at an angle at the join. Mark this fold on each piece. I used a chalk marker on this darker fabric.


Piped Quilt Binding folded at joint
Straighten out the top binding piece, right side up. Lay the bottom binding piece on top, perpendicular to the other. Match the angled markings.


Piped Quilt Binding aligning markings
The line in the picture denotes where the marking is underneath.

Carefully lift an edge to line up the seams of the binding. The arrow shows the match.


Piped Quilt Binding matching seam and markings
Holding everything in place, carefully replace the piece, and put a pin at the joint.


Piped Quilt Binding pinning match point
At the sewing machine, take a few longer stitches at this point to check for alignment.


Piped Quilt Binding match point test stitches
This looks pretty good - maybe off a smidge, but it's okay for this quilt. If this quilt was for show, I would definitely redo it until it was spot on.


Piped Quilt Binding match check
Now to just sew the whole joining seam - almost done!


Piped Quilt Binding stitching the joining seam

Check for correct orientation and length against the quilt.


Piped Quilt Binding checking final length
Trim off the excess, press open the seam, and continue applying the binding.


Finishing the binding:

Press the binding on the backside to create a nice crease, then fold the binding to the front. I use school glue to hold the binding down on the front (the quilt police should be arriving any time!). Pressing with a hot iron helps to set the glue. Since I wash my quilts, I'm not worried about glue residue - it's a starch product and washes out.


Piped Quilt Binding using glue to hold the front
Now to stitch it all down! Choose a thread that matches the binding accent color, then stitch-in-the-ditch between the accent and the main color. 


Piped Quilt Binding stitch in the ditch of the accent color
And ta-da! A beautiful piped binding, adding that extra special something to a quilt!


Piped Quilt Binding finished

Happy Quilting!

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9 comments:

  1. I'll have to try your method of joining the binding. That's been a troublesome part of attaching binding for me. That piping looks great.

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  2. Thanks for the great tutorial - I will definitely try this. And your photos are wonderful - they catch every detail perfectly!

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  3. Great tutorial, great photos!! I think I could do this.

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  4. Such a well written tutorial and with great pictures, Susan. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  5. I love the look of piped bindings. I'll have to try it some time.

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  6. Nice tutorial. I like the suggestion to tack the binding down with glue and ironing. I struggle with machine binding but think that would help. Like the piping too.

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  7. Looking really good! Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Thank you for a great tutorial! I do have a question-why do you clip the fold and trim that triangle? I've never seen this before. Thanks!

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Thank you so much for commenting...you just made my day!