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.

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.

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

Stitch the two strips together, using a 1/4" seam.
Press the seam toward the main color.

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

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.

Straighten out the top binding piece, right side up. Lay the bottom binding piece on top, perpendicular to the other. Match the angled 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.

Holding everything in place, carefully replace the piece, and put a pin at the joint.

At the sewing machine, take a few longer stitches at this point to check for alignment.

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.

Now to just sew the whole joining seam - almost done!

Check for correct orientation and length against the quilt.

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.

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. 

And ta-da! A beautiful piped binding, adding that extra special something to a quilt!

Happy Quilting!

Share this with your friends so they can add piped binding to their next quilt!