I almost always use a cross-grain binding, unless I have a curved quilt, in which case I use bias binding. That is a tutorial for a different day. Today we'll be doing cross-grain. Cross-grain binding is cutting the fabric perpendicular to the selvage. It has a little more stretch than length-wise binding (cutting the fabric parallel to the selvage making the strips very stiff), so it's more durable, but not as stretchy as bias binding, so it's easier to work with. Plus, this method is very cost-effective, and so easy.
Materials needed:
Rotary cutter and mat
Fabric
Sewing machine
Walking foot
Hand-quilting thread and needle
Binding clips (they look like those hair clips that snap on), or pins
Scissors
First,
I cut the excess batting and backing from the quilt. You can either
discard the scraps, or save them. I discard the scrap batting and keep
the fabric scraps.
Next,
you will want to cut your strips approx. 2.25"-2.5", perpendicular to
the selvage.. I tend to cut mine 2.25" because I use cotton batting that
has a low loft (it's thinner), but if you use a high loft batting, you
will need to cut your strips to 2.5" to account for the bulk. Remember
to cut your selvage after you cut your strips!
To calculate how many strips you will need, there is some math involved (ew). I hate math too, but it's a necessary evil.
You will want to measure all four sides of your quilt and add them together plus 12. So for example, my quilt is 51.5"x56". So your math should look like this - 51.5 + 51.5 +56 + 56 + 12 = 227.
227 is the amount of inches of binding I will need.
Now, divide this number by 40 (an approx. measurement of the width of your fabric, as most cottons are 40" wide). So, 227/40= 5.675.
This number is the amount of strips I need, which you should always round UP to the next whole number. So for my quilt, I will need 6 strips of 2.25"x40" fabric.
It's okay if your fabric is a little wider than 40 inches, as this will just be overlap.
Now that you have your strips cut out, I will sew them together into one long strip of fabric.
Line up the two ends of 2 strips of fabric, at a 90 degree angle, pretty sides together, like the picture.
Next, fold the corner of the top piece down on itself, like the picture, and press with a hot iron (no steam).
When
you fold the corner back, you will see a line from the iron. This will
be the seam guide when you sew the two pieces together.
Pin the two pieces together
And
sew along the seam guide. Be sure to back-stitch at the beginning and
end of your seam to ensure the stitches lock. I use my walking foot for
the entire tutorial, and it's a good idea so your fabric feeds evenly.
Press the seam to one side with a hot iron (no steam).
And
now you've attached two pieces of your binding together! Continue to do
this to the rest of the strips, using the same method, making one long
strip of fabric.
Once
your strips are attached together, iron your strip in half,
length-wise, making sure the strip has the pretty side facing out.
Now, you are ready to attach the binding!
Begin
by placing the start of the strip about 10 inches from the top of the
front of the quilt. You will then start sewing approx 10 inches from the
start of the binding strip. (hint - if you don't want to worry about
getting stuck with pins, use binding clips. They look like hair clips,
and you can clip the binding to your quilt quite easily). Using a
walking foot, continue sewing until you get approx 1/4" from the next
corner.
When
you get 1/4" from the first corner, turn the quilt 90 degrees and
back-stitch, and front-stitch to lock your seams. Cut your threads.
Flip
your binding strip straight up, and bring it down again, making a
square (this is what makes the mitered border...well, mtered). Start
stitching again approx. 1/4" from the top of this side.
It
should look like this when you've sewn it (this picture was taken after
I had attached the entire binding and after I had cut the corners. DO
NOT cut the corners until you've attached the entire length of the
binding).
Continue
attaching the binding, using the same method, along the perimeter of
your quilt, until you get approx 8 inches from where the binding strip
begins, NOT where you started sewing.
When
you get approx. 8 inches from the beginning of the binding strip, back
stitch and cut your threads. You will now have two long (ish) flaps of
binding, overlapping quite a bit. Cut the end of your binding so that it
overlaps by about 1/2" over the beginning of your binding.
Open your binding and sew, right sides together, using a 1/4" seam.
Now, your binding is attached, end to end.
You
will now finish attaching your binding to the quilt, laying the unsewn
strip flat against the quilt. Starting where you left off,
back-stitching and continuing on until you get to where you started
sewing, and back stitch again.
And now your binding is attached!
Hand stitching the binding.
This is not as intimidating as you might think! Just pop in a movie and your done in no time.
At
this point, your binding is attached to the front of the quilt. Snip
each corner off, being careful not to cut any stitches that hold the
binding to the quilt.
Take
your quilting thread, thread the needle, and tie a knot. Pull the knot
through the binding seam. The white dot just under the binding stitches
is the knot. I don't recommend using thread more than 18" long. Much
longer than that, and your thread will knot as you pull it through the
fabric.
Flip
your binding over, and clip it to the back of the quilt using those
binding clips we used earlier. At the corners, you will want to turn the
binding so it goes over the corners as neatly as possible.
Start
sewing. Take your needle through the backing fabric, and up into the
binding. Repeat this until you get to the first corner. I recommend
starting in the middle of a side. It's much easier than to have to miter
a corner first thing
Once you get to a corner, fold the flaps as neatly as you can and tack a few stitches to hold it together.
Continue to do this through the length of your quilt, and your binding is done!!
Tip
- When you have to tie a knot when you run out of thread, I tie it
underneath the binding, so as to not create a yucky mess on the
outside.
I
am not, by any means, a professional quilt binder. I don't put my
quilts in shows, they are meant to be curled up on the couch, snuggled
underneath when sick, and a comfort to those who need it.
If you have any questions or comments, just send me a message, email, or leave a comment in the comments section!!
